AUNTIE Q'S GOLDEN CLAWS NAIL SALON

When Dominique Pham’s parents send her to work in her aunt’s nail salon, it feels like her summer will be ruined.

Twelve-year-old Domi made one mistake, but it was a big one, and as a result she’s stuck in Albuquerque, New Mexico, working at Auntie Quyền’s nail salon to earn the $500 she owes her parents. Domi isn’t happy to be away from her friends back home in Irvine, California, with no way to communicate except letters (as part of her punishment, she’s lost access to all her electronics). But as she spends time at the nail salon, she finds her place among the aunties and uncles who work there. As Domi becomes more involved in the community, she also becomes more aware of the problems her aunt and the nail salon are facing—and determines to solve them. Domi is a fun, spirited protagonist, who’s smart, witty, and relatable as she reflects on and ultimately shares with new friend Bobby (whose parents own the phở restaurant next door to the salon) the events surrounding her mistake. Domi’s story is engaging and quirky while also incorporating authentic elements of second-generation Vietnamese American identity and the impact that refugee experiences can have on whole families. These heavier themes don’t dim the sense of optimism, instead grounding the story and demonstrating that we can all grow and change.

A sparkling exploration of identity and belonging.