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Author Interview with Rin-rin Yu on her book GOODBYE, FRENCH FRY

By on February 19, 2026   /   Articles   /   Leave a comment

Author Interview – Rin-rin Yu

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Rin-rin Yu today. Rin-rin is a debut Middle grade author who has written a beautiful book (with a delightfully delicious title), and today we will be discussing her book: GOODBYE, FRENCH FRY, coming out February 17th, 2026 from Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Kids.

I adore middle grade, and the synopsis sounds so compelling. I am so excited to talk to

Rin-rin about this book!

Librarians and educators- you don’t want to miss this!

About GOODBYE, FRENCH FRY:

A sparkling debut novel featuring a Chinese American girl doing her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges

Some days Ping-Ping feels like she just can’t win. She was born in the US, so it’s frustrating when people are surprised by how American she is, but her Chinese relatives feel she’s not Chinese enough. But the things bugging her the most lately are her classmate Lee Beaumont, who has taken to calling her “French Fry” because of the tofu sticks she eats at lunch, and the possibility that her family will have to relocate to Kenya for her father’s UN job. Of all the things Ping-Ping loves, her home and best friend are at the top of the list, and she’d hate to have to leave them. What’s a girl to do when she can’t be in as much control as she’d like to be? Well, good thing Ping-Ping is a wiz at taekwondo—she’s learning how to kick her frustrations away, and there’s almost nothing she can’t master if she puts her mind to it. Rin-rin Yu has written a warm and funny family story that will have kids rooting for Ping-Ping—a girl who is ready to kick all the assumptions made about her aside!

Interview with Rin-rin:

I loved getting to talk to Rin-rin about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her and Ping-Ping as well.

 

 SSS: What a wonderful title. I am so intrigued! Can you tell us a little more about it? 

RY: In real life there was a kid who bullied me and called me French Fry. As I was writing this story, I couldn’t wait to get to the part where they had a confrontation and he would finally stop harassing her. In my head I dubbed that moment “Goodbye, French Fry!” because she could finally write off that silly name. It was also nice that it rhymed. Probably for that reason, it stuck.

SSS: Tell us about the story- is Ping-Ping’s story somewhat inspired by your own experiences?

RY:

The stories are entirely inspired by my own experiences, as well as my sister’s. I dealt with that bully, a Chinese name that people often struggled to pronounce, and so so so

 many assumptions about me and my background. Every character is based on someone real, and most of the interactions actually happened. I even included moments like hiding my eyesight problems from my parents because I was afraid I’d get in trouble, and the girl who was shocked that I could speak English without an accent, even though I was born and raised in the U.S. My parents did consider moving us to one of the other United Nations headquarters around the world, too. I also fully recognized that my childhood was a very comfortable and happy one, and that some of these cultural imbalances were memorable because they were funny.

Small details came straight from my childhood, too, from the Christmas ornaments in our house to the clothes we wore. I used to keep journals when I was younger, and writing everything down helped me remember everything, and I mean everything.

 

SSS: Tell us about taekwondo! What made you want to write about it?

RY: This is one part of the book that is not about my childhood, but about my kids’. They take taekwondo, and I have sat through so many of their classes that I could have earned a few belts as well, even without having performed a single kick. When my daughter was about 6, she had to spar with another boy who said he didn’t want to fight a girl, so she basically kicked him over. I think he learned his lesson very quickly when it came to making assumptions about girls. I thought it would be a great way to resolve the conflict she had with her antagonist and prove that she could stand up for herself.

 

SSS: I absolutely adore reading multicultural stories! What Chinese cultural tidbits can we find in your book

RY:

The cultural details were actually some of the most fun to write because I realized they slipped into the story so naturally just because they were part of my everyday life. Food was the easiest, of course, along with bits of lingo woven throughout. The kids all have Chinese names, and there’s a chapter where they prepare for Chinese New Year.

But there are also more nuanced cultural elements woven in. For example, she realizes Chinese parents never say “I love you” to their kids, even though she knows they do. The adults are often very direct with their opinions, such as her aunt openly criticizing her cousin’s pimples, or Ping-Ping’s mother commenting on her piano practice. The parents also firmly believe in old wives’ tales, like reading in bed causing blindness or catching a cold from not dressing warmly enough, and ideas they pick up from free Chinese-language newspapers at the Asian grocery store. Chinese American (and Canadian) kids will instantly recognize and unitedly groan over these newspapers.

The Chinese traditional of showing respect for elders shows up in subtle ways, too: in how the children speak to their grandparents, and in the way the book’s younger siblings address their older sisters with honorific titles.

 

Link to order here.

Writing Process 

SSS: When did you start writing the story and was the process a long one?

RY: I had written shorter stories of these chapters a while ago, but from an adult’s perspective looking back. Then I decided it was more fun to see it from the perspective of a child experiencing these things for the first time. There’s something very fresh and innocent at that age. Then I assembled them with a few plot lines woven throughout. The actual writing started around the pandemic, about nine months and then I had to find an agent, which probably took longer than writing the book. Then we went through a round of edits before she pitched it to editors, and then my editor and I went through several rounds of edits and additions of chapters.

 

SSS: Are you a pantser or a plotter? And what helps you with finishing stories when you first start writing your drafts?

RY: I am a mix of both. I’d like to think I am an orderly person, which I usually am – I am a spreadsheets person, but I’ll compare my writing to building a fence. Instead of building a fence from one end to the other, I’ll put in the posts first, and I don’t even put those in order, but they serve as a strong foundation to support the fence. Similarly, I’ll write some chapters I am really excited about or have really clear ideas about first, and then add in the rest, but then I’ll keep going back and changing and revising until it’s all pretty solid. And ideas often come out of nowhere, like while I’m at the supermarket or in my car, and then I’ll have to get back to my computer and record it somewhere before I forget. For me, creativity isn’t really planned – it just happens, and it’s most fun that way.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors looking to write MG?  

RY: Middle grade is such a fun age of discovery, independence, and firsts. Some of my favorite literary heroes and role models are from that age group, so always think about how your characters could one day be some child’s role model!

 

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Tell me about this gorgeous cover!

RY: This artist lives in Vietnam, and I really liked how she depicted Westernized Asian kids as typical American kids. When my family and I saw her work, we all said, “That’s an American kid.” That’s not a phrase people often associate with an Asian-looking individual. The fact that we had that reaction felt like she was a good direction to go with.

She incorporated details of both cultures like high-top sneakers, jeans, string bracelets, and a jade pendant. She wears a shirt in a signature Chinese red, with sheets of music and a lunchbox flying around her. I believe the artist even hand-lettered the title. To me, the clouds subtly resemble those in a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Thank you Rin-rin for joining us and I hope readers and librarians enjoy your book! I know I am so excited to dive in!!!

About Rin-rin:

Rin-rin Yu (RinRinYu.com) is an award-winning print and TV journalist, magazine editor, and photographer. During the day, she works for Duke University’s communications and marketing department. Goodbye, French Fry is her first novel. Born and raised in Westchester County, New York, Rin-rin currently lives with her family and tropical fish outside Washington, D.C.

Website: rinrinyu.com

INSTAGRAM: @rinrinyutheauthor 

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Diversity in MG Lit #54: Jan & Feb 2026

By on February 18, 2026   /   Articles   /   Leave a comment
Here are seven titles from January and February, curated by Rosanne Parry, by diverse authors. Watch for in-depth interviews with several of the authors in the months ahead!

Hail Mariam

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi
Often in a MG book when the character belongs to a faith community the book centers the cultural aspects of that religion–the holidays, the cultural practices, the historical hardships. Here is a rare book which delves into Mariam’s actual experience of faith, her prayer life, consolation, and discernment. And its explores the interfaith experiences of a Muslim girl attending a Catholic school. (A more common experience than you might think. In my parents Catholic schools about a third of the student body was Jewish. My local Catholic high school had a Muslim student body president last year. It’s student body is a third religions other than Catholicism and a third students with no religious affiliation.) It’s refreshing to see religion addressed with such care and authenticity. Mariam’s thoughtfulness and moral courage as she navigates the new school and her sister’s illness makes for an appealing read.

Mythspeaker

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique
Roubique is an indigenous person, not enrolled in a tribe, who has written a work of fantasy inspired by the indigenous cultures of North America. This debut novel a sweeping adventure featuring a daring heist, a band of misfits and many magical creatures. I think it would appeal to the fans of Rick Riorden.

Goodbye, French Fry

Goodbye, French Fry by Rin-Rin Yu
Ping-Ping is a Chinese American. Like many two culture kids she feels not American enough for her school friends and not Chinese enough for her parents. But she does find physical, emotional, and social strength in the practice of taekwondo and in her piano lessons.

The Last Resort Books

This is the second in a new series, the first was The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly. They are mystery puzzle stories with an interactive virtual element. Readers use their phone to see the pictures come to life and interact with the ghosts in the book to solve an additional mystery. It’s an exciting concept and I’m eager to see if readers at our bookstore respond.

A Year Without Home

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania
Set in Laos at the end of the Vietnam War, Bidania has written an ambitious tale spanning years and hundreds of miles from wartime Laos to the refugee camps of Thailand. The use of verse keeps the story accessible, emotionally vivid, and fast moving.

Hattie Mae Begins Again

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake
A novel in verse set in the Great Migration of the 1930s when many African American families moved from the rural south to cities in the north. Hattie Mae’s is new to Philadelphia and finding both new friends and new ambitions.

Nadia Islam, On the Record

Nadia Islam, On the Record, words by Adiba Jaigirdar art by Avani Dwivedi
Nadia is a student journalist, a growing environmental activist, and a celebrating her first Ramadan when she will fast just like the other grown ups. And then her family decides to go to visit relatives in Bangladesh for the whole month of Ramadan. Trepidation becomes opportunity as Nadia finds an opportunity to report on environmental issues abroad.
This is only a small sample of the diverse books published in the last two months. Please add any Rosanne missed in the comments.
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STEM Tuesday– Chemistry– Writing Tips & Resources

By on February 17, 2026   /   Chemistry, STEM Tuesday   /   Leave a comment

Chemistry Love & The Power of (Word) Attraction

February

Can the month of love be the perfect month for a STEM Tuesday post on chemistry? 

Yes, it can. 

Love = Attraction

Chemistry = Attraction 

Chemistry = Love!

Creating a STEM-themed piece of writing or any other creative endeavor that readers love means creating an attraction, or chemistry, with the reader. Sound simple enough, right? But as we all find out one way or the other, creativity, like relationships, is anything but simple. 

So, how can we use chemistry to become more effective creators? Chemistry, in a nutshell, is the study of matter and how matter interacts. By knowing how our own creative matter interacts, we can create more satisfying work.

 

La Sorbonne. Amphithéâtre de chimie. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Building better bonds

Chemistry is dependent on the bonds formed between atoms. The quantum attractions and repulsions between atoms hold matter together in an almost infinite number of possible configurations. Different atoms form unique substances. The unique substances, for example, sodium and chloride, that react to form table salt, interact to form new substances, themselves unique in their properties.

Writing is a form of chemistry. Letters are our atoms. The way we combine letters in an almost quantum attraction binds the formation of a word. Words combine to form an idea. The ideas become sentences. Sentences become paragraphs. Paragraphs become chapters. Chapters become entire books. The possibilities are infinite!

We become better writers and creators when we learn the best ways to combine words to create the best chemistry with the reader. This is done by practice. It’s done by experimentation. Trying new and different words and combinations, tinkering with the order and meaning to produce the desired chemistry. Just as with the chemist, the process consists of trial and error. Scribbles, brainstorms, and notes become an outline. An outline becomes a draft. The draft is chisled, honed, and polished to a finished piece as we refine the chemical attractions and repulsions of different word combinations.

However, almost every novice or student chemist discovers early on that sometimes (often in my own personal case) the chemistry experiment fails. Sometimes it blows up. Sometimes it yields a stinky mass of goo that clears the laboratory and causes a visit by the local hazmat team. Sometimes it just fizzles out in utter defeat.

Writers experience much of the same with almost every first draft we create. It’s not just a novice creator thing either; it’s part of the process for every piece. And, just as the chemist needs to clean up the mess, analyze what went wrong, and plan for a different (and hopefully more positive) outcome with the next trial, the writer uses the first draft as a springboard to better things. 

The Chemical Attraction!

Writers need to find the chemistry with the reader. They need to create the attraction that keeps the eyes on the page and the reader’s boots on the story world’s ground. One learns how to use the words, sentences, and paragraphs to create an attraction that hooks the reader and then forms a strong bond to keep them reading.

In this STEM Tuesday month of February, use your time to brush up and reboot your writing and creativity by examining the chemistry in your work. Build better results by building better words, sentences, and paragraphs. When a creator uses their words with the right touch of chemistry, they create attraction to their ideas, and they might find they attract new ideas and new readers. 

Be inspired by the month of love and the somewhat questionable holiday of Valentine’s Day to create work where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

 

Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.com. Two of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101,  are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.

 

The O.O.L.F Files

This month on the Out Of Left Field (O.O.L.F.) Files, we dig deeper into the chemistry and writing connection with a dive into chemical bonding, chemical education, technical chemistry writing, and some chemistry jokes, because we all know how funny chemistry can be, right? If you doubt it, take a look at my chemistry grades in school. Now those were funny!

 

  • Atomic Hook-Ups – Types of Chemical Bonds: Crash Course Chemistry #22

 

 

 

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