Threads

Clara is still grappling with the death of her adopted sister when she finds a note from Yuming in a bag at the mall. Across the world, in China, Yuming is desperately trying to escape from the handbag factory, where she is the victim of trafficking, child labour, and abuse. The two girls’ stories interweave as Clara decides that she wants to travel to China to help Yuming and return to the city where she first met her adopted sister. This timely and engaging novel is suitable for intermediate-level students and lends itself well for independent reading, a whole-class read-aloud, or as part of a literature circle. The stories of Clara and Yuming and how they navigate their situations broach themes of family, belonging, culture, identity, illness, and loss. Teachers may also choose to invite students to reflect on topics around immigration, human trafficking, and child labour.