"In this radiant pearl of a book, Li shows that we human beings are singing the very same song: a song of grace and redemption, a song of courage, a song of hope." -- New York Times Book Review "Every sentence is infused with warmth, and Li shows readers that countless moments of grace exist even in the darkest times. Masterfully conjures grace, beauty, and humor out of the tragic wake of the Vietnam War." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Li's imagery awakens the senses. Most powerful is the deep throb of regret and the thinnest wisps of hopefulness that Li conveys throughout. They touch the soul." -- Booklist (starred review) "Remarkable. Told with ample grace, Li's finely drawn narrative and resilient characters offer a memorable, deeply felt view of the Vietnam War's impact.
" -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Li writes with charm and spark, and she is especially original in her conveyance of Hng's limited English. Hng remains resilient and purposeful, characteristics that make her compelling and even heroic. Ultimately, this is a bittersweet yet hopeful story of letting go and finding new ways to come together." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) "Butterfly Yellow is so vivid and specific in its details, but truly, the power of this book is in its depiction of that universal hope of being able to find a new place to feel safe after everything has been torn apart. Timely, brutal, and full of love for life, Butterfly Yellow is a book for the times we're living in." -- NPR "One strength of the novel is the subtle character development. Another is Li's use of language. Those who hear Hng's remarkable tale can additionally think about contemporary connections to immigrant experiences, feelings of being an outsider, and the detours one's life may take.
" -- The Horn Book "Dedicated 'In memory of the thousands of refugees at the bottom of the sea,' Li personalizes history with compelling characters, lively interactions and, most importantly, engrossing storytelling." -- Shelf Awareness "Thanhha Lai's Butterfly Yellow artfully blends comedy and tragedy in a deeply moving story about refugees, siblings, and youthful dreams. For someone who wants to know more about the Vietnamese refugee experience--or how to be a cowboy--this taut novel is a great place to start." -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer "Lai is a master of storytelling, and this tale will have you wanting to hug close every character even while you cheer for them to fly." -- Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author of The Poet X "Butterfly Yellow is a beautiful, poetic story of unlikely friendship and grit and determination. Hng is an unforgettable character. And Thanhhà Li is one of the finest writers of our time." -- Matt de la Peña, New York Times and Newbery Medal winning author of The Last Stop on Market Street.