The mirror structure of the book is so clever and makes for a wonderful classroom discussion. The same words (“squirmed,” “jittered,” etc.) appear again in the story, but this time they reflect Kylie’s excitement instead of her nervousness. When Kylie connects with Amah during a swim in the hot springs, her feeling towards Amah and Taipei begin to transform. Words like “squirmed” and “jittered” and “jiggled” and “100 butterflies in her belly” show how nervous Kylie feels about traveling to a new place and being with her grandmother in person after only chatting with her on the computer. It’s a joy to read Amah Faraway and watch the relationship between Kylie and her Amah develop after Kylie and her mom travel to Taipei. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah-Come see! Lái kàn kàn!-back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN! And when it is time to go home, the video chats will be extra special until they can visit faraway again.īackmatter includes author and illustrator notes and a guide to some of the places and foods explored in Taiwan. However, after she is invited by Amah-Lái kàn kàn! Come see!-to play and splash in the hot springs (which aren't that different from the pools at home), Kylie begins to see this place through her grandmother's eyes and sees a new side of the things that used to scare her. And in Taiwan, Kylie is at first uncomfortable with the less-familiar language, customs, culture, and food. Even though they have spent time together in video chats, those aren't the same as real life. When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah.

Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother-her Amah-who lives SO FAR AWAY.

A story of a child's visit to a grandmother and home far away.

Amah faraway