{"title":"Books by Livia Blackburne","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780823452187","title":"Nainai's Mountain","description":"\u003cb\u003eA Taiwanese-American girl is nervous about visiting Taiwan— until her paternal grandmother, her Nainai, takes her on a mountain-climbing adventure and shows her its wonders.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTraveling from California to Taiwan for the first time, even with her parents and her Nainai around her, is a lot for a little girl to take in. The plane ride lasts forever, she can’t read any of the signs, and she’s worried there will be unfamiliar bugs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut then Nainai becomes her tour guide, and Taiwan transforms. As they huff and puff up Nainai’s favorite mountain, stomachs full of bao and juicy sausage, Nainai spins yarns about riding to the movies in pedicabs, eating frozen pineapple, and playing pinball to win snacks. Even the bugs turn out to be more cool than scary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the top of the mountain is a surprise: all sorts of people playing and exercising—and they all remember Nainai. The little girl is filled with pride when they can tell just who she is: “your granddaughter!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthor Livia Blackburne shares an author’s note about the inspiration she drew from childhood visits to Taiwan, her parents’ childhoods there, and her own mountain-climbing grandmother. The deep well of lived experience is evident on every page, and is perfectly evoked by Joey Chou’s intricate, colorful illustration. Whether it’s a reflection of home or a window into somewhere brand-new, kids, grandparents, and everyone in between will love following Nainai to the top of her mountain.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55205924274549,"sku":"9780823452187","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780823452187_cb956c40-8f79-423c-b56f-fc7674220c2c.jpg?v=1786016065"},{"product_id":"9781940584119","title":"Umbertouched","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith their cover blown and their identities revealed, Zivah and Dineas are on the run. Not only did they fail to bring down the emperor, but their betrayal has brought the full might of Ampara against their people. Now their only choice is to rejoin their kin and prepare for the oncoming war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs armies mobilize and fortifications rise, Zivah and Dineas grapple with the aftermath of their fateful mission. Dineas's fellow Shidadi no longer trusts him after his time in Ampara. And with his constant flashbacks-and lingering feelings of loyalty toward his former comrades-Dineas wonders if his kinsmen might be right.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, Zivah faces growing pressure to betray her healer's vows. Is it worth honoring the Goddess's wishes if it means the destruction of all she knows? On top of that, she's having flashes of fever-signs that her illness is returning to claim her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the world around them threatens to collapse, Zivah and Dineas must decide how they feel about each other. Was the love and friendship they shared in Sehmar City an illusion or is it strong enough to save them all?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Blackburne adds to the construction of her story with strong thematic bricks, exploring ideas such as loyalty and trust, as well as compassion and inner peace. With careful consideration of these ideas, UMBERTOUCHED stands above other fantasy stories...\" \u003cem\u003e-Teen Reads\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This is an engrossing story with potential for deep discussion on loyalty, ethics, and the true meaning of strength.\" -Booklist\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309544747381,"sku":"9781940584119","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781940584119_1cca7184-1a96-48d4-b156-610071511780.jpg?v=1786030819"},{"product_id":"9780593902813","title":"Bing's Cherries","description":"\u003cb\u003eA modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest's most delicious cherries.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou've heard of a Bing cherry, but did you know the story of the Chinese American immigrant for whom the dark, luscious cherry is named?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong ago, Ah Bing was a father who travelled across the sea from China looking for work. It was in Oregon where he met a man who hired him to work in his orchards, where eventually, Bing cultivated the delicious cherries we know of today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBut what was it that made this man and the cherries he made so special?\u003c\/i\u003e a young girl wonders as she sits together with her father, enjoying cherries from their backyard. Weaving together cultural memory, historical fact, and her own imagination, the young girl imagines a narrative of Ah Bing that is as larger than life and as sweet as his namesake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith touching text and lush illustrations, Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo forge an unforgettable Chinese American folktale that has largely been untold. The backmatter includes a letter from the author and illustrator, as well as a recipe!","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368090120565,"sku":"9780593902813","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780593902813_9bf5afe3-1292-47ff-8203-6a851f9de67c.jpg?v=1786014488"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-livia-blackburne.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}