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Ages 8 to 12
A heartwarming, funny middle-grade novel about family, resilience, and second chances, where one girl’s summer punishment turns into a mission to save her aunt’s struggling nail salon. Twelve-year-old Domi Pham had the perfect summer planned: lounging by the pool, making art with her best friend, and celebrating her escape from seventh grade. But one costly mistake puts her dream summer on hold. Instead, she’s shipped off to New Mexico to work at her Auntie Q’s nail salon to pay her parents back.
At first, Domi is miserable—surrounded by nosy aunties, constant nail polish fumes, and endless work. But as she gets to know Auntie Q and the people in the salon, she starts to see their struggles and resilience in a new light. When she discovers that the salon is at risk of closing, Domi puts her creativity and determination to the test to help save it.
Perfect for fans of
Front Desk and
Stand Up, Yumi Chung!, this heartfelt novel celebrates family, culture, and the power of seeing the world—and yourself—differently.
About the Author
Van Hoang earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of New Mexico and her master’s in Library Information Science at San Jose State University. She is the author of novels for adults and young readers including
Girl Giant and the Monkey King,
Girl Giant and the Jade War, and
Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon. She was born in Vietnam, grew in up Orange County, California, and now resides in Los Angeles.
authorvanhoang.com