Read Across McKinney

2022 Selection - Daughters of the New Year

A lively, spellbinding tale about the extraordinary women within a Vietnamese immigrant family—and the ancient zodiac legend that binds them together. What does the future hold for those born in the years of the Dragon, Tiger, and Goat In present day New Orleans, Xuan Trung, former beauty queen turned refugee after the Fall of Saigon, is obsessed with divining her daughters' fates through their Vietnamese zodiac signs. But Trac, Nhi and Trieu diverge completely from their immigrant parents' expectations. As the three sisters begin to encounter strange glimpses of long-buried secrets from the ancestors they never knew, the story of the Trung women unfurls to reveal the dramatic events that brought them to America. Moving backwards in time, E.M. Tran takes us into the high school classrooms of New Orleans, to Saigon beauty pageants, to twentieth century rubber plantations, traversing a century as the Trungs are both estranged and united by the ghosts of their tumultuous history.

Read Across McKinney FAQs

What is Read Across McKinney? 

Read Across McKinney is a month-long initiative in November to bring people together over a great book. We hold themed events and programs, book discussions, and author talks throughout the month to complement our book selection and encourage people to make new connections in the community.

What book are we reading? And why did we pick this book?

This year’s Read Across McKinney book is Daughters of the New Year by E. M. Tran, and we can’t wait to share it with you. This exciting debut book was selected because we know readers of all interests will find something to connect with. Featuring everything from zodiac astrology and reality tv references to rich histories and stories of immigrant experiences, this intergenerational novel has something for all readers.

With this year’s Read Across McKinney we’re looking forward to highlighting Asian and Asian American culture, history and mythology, and the relationships (both familial and of our own creation) that tie our communities together.

How can I get a copy of the book?

We’ve ordered several copies of this year’s Read Across McKinney book so as many people as possible will get the chance to read and participate, but because of high demand, you may need to place one on hold. You can place a hold online using your account, or come into the library and staff will help you. The eBook and eAudiobook versions will also be available on our CloudLibrary app if you prefer e-materials. You will also have the chance to win a copy of the book by attending our Read Across McKinney events!

I haven’t read the book, can I still go to the special events/book clubs?

You bet! Even if you haven’t read the book, you’re still welcome at all the events and we’ll even try to keep the spoilers to a minimum in case you decide to pick it up later.