Like Spilled Water

  • Interest Level: Grade 8 - Grade 12
  • Reading Level: Grade 6

Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. Years ago, Na’s parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education.

But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China’s all-important college entrance exam? Na learns that Bao-bao had many secrets and that his death may not be what it seems. Na’s parents expect her to quit her vocational school and go to work, forcing Na to confront traditional expectations for and pressures on young women.

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978-1-5415-7290-4
$14.24
978-1-7284-0469-1
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Interest Level Grade 8 - Grade 12
Reading Level Grade 6
Genre Young Adult
Category Diverse Books: Feminism, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity, SEL: A Self-Awareness, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2020
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Lab ®
Language English
Number of Pages 216
Publication Date 2020-09-01
Text Type Fiction
BISACS YAF046030, YAF058050, YAF018070
Dewey [Fic]
Dimensions 5.5 x 8.25
Lexile 830
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Awards, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Author: Jennie Liu

Jennie Liu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She has been fascinated by the attitudes, social policies, and changes in China each time she visits. Her young adult novels have won honors including a Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention and an In the Margins: Best Books for Teens award. She lives in North Carolina with her family.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

Like Spilled Water

Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. Years ago, Na’s parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education. … View available downloads →

Meet the Imprints: Carolrhoda Books & Carolrhoda Lab

We kick off our Meet the Imprints feature with Carolrhoda Books (middle grade fiction) and Carolrhoda Lab (young adult fiction). The mission of Carolrhoda Books is to publish distinctive books with heart, including picture books (which we’ll cover later) and middle grade novels that… View →

Awards

  • YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Nominated, 2022
  • In the Margins: Fiction List, Short-listed, 2022
  • Freeman Book Award Title Of Note, Commended, 2020

Reviews

Booklist

“[A] powerful tale of a brave young woman who dares to question when others simply accept.”—starred, Booklist

Kirkus Reviews

“[F]ilters detailed depictions of filial piety, funeral rites, grief, romantic relationships, and parental support through a modern teenager’s perspective. . . . Will lead readers through a quiet revolution.”—Kirkus Reviews

Jennifer Moffett

“[A]n immersive, riveting book…Liu weaves an inspiring story through compelling characters.”—Jennifer Moffett, author of Those Who Prey

Amber Smith

“Full of suspense and honesty, Like Spilled Water is an illuminating and heartrending examination of cultural norms, gender roles, and the complexity of family relationships in China today.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be and The Last to Let Go

Amelia Brunskill

“Family obligations, personal desires, and secret lives collide in this tense yet graceful novel about a girl seeking the truth behind her brother’s unexpected death.”—Amelia Brunskill, author of The Window