In the early 1950s, Chinese American Artie is eight, the youngest cousin in his large extended family. Tired of being picked on at the kids’ table at a family dinner one day, Artie boldly announces he’ll provide fireworks for the Chinese New Year. But Artie has no money, and he isn’t even sure how far off Chinese New Year is. Enter Uncle Chester. He has a huge heart but can’t hold down a job. He never arrives at family functions on time. He isn’t even married, to the dismay of some adults in the family. But Artie loves him, and Uncle Chester promises to help Artie with the fireworks. As the New Year approaches, however, Artie begins to doubt whether Uncle Chester can really come through. Yep wonderfully conveys both the time period and place (San Francisco’s Chinatown) while getting the family dynamics just right in a satisfying story that ends—of course!—with a bang. (Ages 7–10)