Parachutes

In a contemporary immigrant tale by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang, the story unfolds as two young women navigate the complex worlds of affluence, authority, friendship, and past trauma. This narrative, reminiscent of "Gossip Girl," introduces readers to the concept of "parachutes"—teenagers who are sent to the United States to live in private residences while they pursue their studies, as their wealthy families remain back in Asia. Claire Wang never imagined she would become one of these parachutes. Unexpectedly pulled from her luxurious life in Shanghai, she finds herself relocated to a high school in California.Living in a stranger's home provides Claire with an unprecedented sense of independence, and she quickly becomes accustomed to this newfound autonomy. Her excitement grows when she captures the attention of Jay, a popular and desirable parachute student.Meanwhile, Dani De La Cruz, Claire’s new host sister, is far from pleased about sharing her home with Claire, whom her mother decided to host. An accomplished student on the debate team, Dani is focused on securing her place at Yale. This goal requires her to navigate a competitive landscape where some students use their family wealth to secure academic advantages. Dani’s ambitions take an unexpected turn when her debate coach begins to mentor her individually.The narrative weaves together Claire and Dani’s individual journeys as they continually cross paths in unexpected ways, leading to encounters that ultimately reshape the course of their lives.