Every Little Bit Olive Tran By: Phuong Truong

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 3-5

"Every Little Bit Olive Tran" is a Silver Birch Express 2026 nominee.  This is the story of Olive who is thrilled to be turning ten.  Turning ten means more independence, like walking to school on her own.  Olive is planning a big birthday party with her whole class invited.  But when Olive finds out that Mrs. Ly was pushed onto the street and that other Asian people have been the victims of cruelty, her happy world begins to change.  This book was not what I was expecting from a Silver Birch Express nominee.  The book deals with racism in a way that is easy for younger students to understand.  This book could be used to promote serious discussions.  It is a story of friendship and helping others out.  I recommend this to fans of realistic fiction or as a read aloud to stimulate discussions about racism.