This book discusses the many differences between languages and how they impact how people interpret the world around them. Focusing predominately on the Indigenous languages of the Amazonian area, Everett describes the linguistic differences in aspects like grammar, time interpretation, direction interpretation, and sound. He then goes on to describe each of these differences and how they influence how people think about the world around them.

This is an important resource for anyone working with language learners, as it shows just how complex languages really are. It shows how sometimes, miscommunications with someone who speaks a different language can be caused by completely different ways of viewing the world. It also shows how each of these differences are unique and valuable perspectives to add to the global understanding of how language and culture interact and shape one another. I would be remiss to not point out the translation error when discussing familial relationship terms in Mandarin, but this book does so much more when looking at it from the bigger picture. By examining how language and culture interact, the reader can gain a bigger appreciation for linguistic differences and the challenges someone faces when they learn a language.

I have also posted this review to my Goodreads page and my LibraryThing page.

This middle grade novel follows 12-year-old Jingwen and his 9-year-old brother Yanghao as they secretly make cakes while their mom is at work following their move from China to Australia. While Yanghao seems to quickly learn English, adapt to their new home, and make friends, Jingwen seemingly lags behind his peers as he struggles with English, is bullied for not understanding them, and struggles to process the grief of losing his father and moving to Australia without him.

In this cathartic and fast-paced novel, written in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Lai shows her readers a wide range of emotions and a glimpse into a child immigrant's experience learning a language for the first time. The language-learning process is depicted extremely well, with the illustrations showing alien-like characters and meaningless symbols whenever someone says something Jingwen does not understand or whenever he feels excluded. It challenges the false assumption that just because a language learner is a child, they will automatically learn quickly, instead showcasing just how much time and effort is required, both by the child and the adults around them to support their learning journey. It also shows how libraries and schools can work to support parents of language learners, providing a wide range of learning experiences and opportunities.

I have also posted this review to my Goodreads page and my LibraryThing page.