Newbery Buzz #5: Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

Megan and Janie discuss Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller. (See our starred review, HERE.)

Megan: Janie, this book builds on a common experience: the whereabouts of one sock lost in the laundry. Magnolia and her new friend, Iris, are using clues in each sock to track down its owner. Do you have a pair of idiosyncratic socks that would make someone think, “Those belong to Janie!”

Janie: I’m not really a sock collector, though I know there’s a sock for every taste out there. My most emblematic were given to me by Betsy, and they feature (wouldn’t you know it) books! One sole has the word “Book” and the other reads “Nerd,” so if I put my feet up, my secret identity is revealed.

Magnolia isn’t a book nerd, but she has a lively imagination which comes in handy while trying to kill time at the Bing Qi Ling Bubbles, her parents’ laundry where she has spent most of a hot summer. As the story opens she’s celebrating her tenth birthday with red bean ice cream and a single candle to blow out (her mom sees no sense in ten little candles when you can blow out one big one), trying to extend the moment before her parents have to get back to work. But there’s a surprise: Mrs. Wu’s old friend is moving to New York City from California, and she has a daughter about Magnolia’s age–the two can be friends! Magnolia is doubtful, especially when she meets the girl. Iris is a “grass person,” meaning she doesn’t feel at home in an environment made of concrete.

But Iris is the one who suggests they track down the owners of each sock, using what Magnolia knows of the regular customers and what kind of socks they might wear. It’s an idea only a ten-year-old girl might think of, but it allows the two to get out on the street and experience what the Big City has to offer. I really enjoyed this book, Megan. How about you? What would you say is the main appeal?

Megan: It’s an intriguing idea, to think about what kind of socks people prefer. Is it a form of creativity and individuality, or just a way to keep your feet dry and comfortable? People aren’t always who we expect them to be. I have knitted myself several lovely pairs of socks, but the ones I usually wear are rather boring. I need to collect some bookish socks!

I loved this story. If it were written for a younger audience, like Nate the Great or King and Kayla, it would have ended with successfully reuniting each lost sock with its grateful owner. Magnolia Wu was more than that. It’s about developing better relationships and learning to see your neighbor (or friend or parents) with more understanding eyes. It was more a story of Magnolia’s growth as a person than solving sock mysteries.

We recently compared Olivetti with the Vanderbeeker books because of the similar family dynamics, and we could also compare Vanderbeekers with Magnolia Wu because of the distinctive New York City neighborhood culture. It also reminds me of All-of-a-Kind Family (my girlhood favorite), except that Magnolia is an only child. All four books are about different family cultures and how they overcome challenges, and three of them take place in New York City. As a rural girl who only hears about New York City when it’s in the news and would be lost on the subway, the distinctive neighborhoods sound as warm and friendly as my local small community in Virginia. Why do you think New York City makes such a great setting for stories like these?

Janie: I think it’s the variety of people and cultures. In hunting down sock owners, the girls visit neighbors of different nationalities, some of which Magnolia hasn’t met or has only a passing acquaintance. She’s defensive about her city when Iris seems less appreciative, but as you mentioned, she grows up a lot in the course of the story: from defensive to more open, from quick judgment to more sympathy. An obnoxious cousin turns out to have an interesting creative side, the class bully harbors secret sorrow, a rich girl lacks things Magnolia has in abundance, and Iris herself is a friend worth cultivating. I enjoyed seeing all the characters develop, a well as the quirky humor displayed in the text. Another thing: the narrative is third person, past tense. In this day of first-person-present, that return to tradition feels fresh and new!

As for Newbery odds, I’d say they are probably better than average. Newbery committees often seem to have a soft spot for debut authors, and the cultural diversity should be a point in its favor. What do you think, Megan?

Megan: I appreciated the interaction with adults who offered wise insight, especially when Magnolia was struggling to appreciate her parents and when her new friendship with Iris was at risk. Magnolia needed to solve her own problem, but she listened to the adults who cared and were kind. I would really love to see this one with a shiny sticker on it! I’m glad I added both Magnolia Wu and Olivetti to my home library, because they’re both delightful. I’m glad it’s Miller’s first, and I hope it won’t be the last we hear of Magnolia and Iris.

Curious what other titles we’re discussing? Check out our 2025 Newbery Buzz.