Review | Emily Out of Focus

Summary: Emily Out of Focus

When Emily’s parents travel to China to adopt her little sister, they learn about Chinese culture and trans-racial/continental adoption. Emily also meets Katherine, a girl her age who was adopted from China and is — unbeknownst to anyone but Emily — looking for her birth mother.

The Good

The entire book is a remarkable immersion into Chinese culture for anyone who’s never visited. I loved reading about the new food and city life Emily experiences. It’s also an honest exploration of the behind-the-scenes of adoption from China, from the perspective of adoptive parents. I learned a great deal about why there’s a spike in Chinese adoptions as well as what the process is like. Emily Out of Focus is in that sense a reminder of what’s so wonderful about children’s books — a variety of subjects tackled as compassionately as possible.

[bctt tweet=”Emily Out of Focus is a reminder of what’s so wonderful about children’s books — a variety of subjects tackled as compassionately as possible.” username=””]

Still, the book is utterly realistic in the way the parents handle Emily and Katherine’s adventures and the overall ending of the story. Also, in my opinion, Author Franklin does a wonderful job of showing respect for Chinese culture, while depicting the experience through a child’s eyes. Other little details I liked about the story:

• Emily’s love for photography
• The emphasis on what it means to be a good friend
• Focus on adjusting to having a younger sibling after being an only child for a long time
• Overall sense of adventure
• Based on the author’s experience of adopting from China

The Bad: Emily Out of Focus

My only real complaint is that I found this book more educative than enjoyable. I see the need for books like this, but I also believe books can teach without making the reader feel like they’re taking a course on the subject matter. For example, I was completely lost in Alicia William’s Genesis Begins Again, despite it being a serious look at colorism.

Overall

Although I didn’t always enjoy the storytelling in Emily Out of Focus, I would certainly recommend this middle-grade novel. Readers interested in trans-racial/continental adoption (from China, specifically) will find this book enlightening. Emily Out of Focus will also appeal to lovers of books about photography, unlikely friendships, and adventures in a foreign country.

[bctt tweet=”Emily Out of Focus will appeal to lovers of books about photography, unlikely friendships, and adventures in a foreign country.” username=””]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Emily Out of Focus from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

---

Buy This Book

---

More Reviews

• Rules of the Ruff by Heidi Lang
• Wonderland by Barbara O’ Connor
• Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres

Have you read this book or anything by Miriam Spitzer Franklin? What did you think? What are your favorite books about adoption? I made a list of mine here. I’d love to know your picks!