“Friends have your back,” said Christina Li about the bond between two seventh-graders in her first novel, “Clues to the Universe.”
Li felt the same way about her best friend, Katia, whom she met in the fifth grade. Her characters Ro and Benji are fictional, but Li drew on her feelings about her friendship with Katia to develop the close friendship in her novel. Like friends everywhere, Li and Katia enjoyed just spending time together. They talked a lot. Li even dedicated (把...献给) this novel to Katia, because “she and her family have supported my career so much,” Li said.
Li also mined her memories about another middle school experience: the science fair. “I was not a science kid,” Li said with a laugh. She signed up for the fair on a whim (一时兴起) but ended up loving the chance to study science. “It turned out to be a defining experience and helped me become more confident,” she said.
That’s true, too, for Ro and Benji as they work on a rocket for their project. Rockets are Ro’ s passions. Benji prefers drawing, but he needs the credit to improve his science grade. Soon, though, Ro’s excitement kick-starts Benji ‘s curiosity. Then Ro decides to help Benji with his secret search: to find his long-absent father — who may be the creator of a popular comic called “Spacebound.” Actually, science and their search bring unexpected conflict in the story.
As a kid, Li loved reading. She started writing fantasy when she was in middle school. She’ s also enjoying the connection with her young readers. Recently, Li heard from a girl who was excited to read about the main character, Ro, who is Chinese American, like her. “Representation (再现) is so important, ” she said.
“And now it’s wonderful to be able to share that in my book.”
4. What do we know about “Clues to the Universe”?
A.It is a work of nonfiction. |
B.It records the stories of Li and Katia. |
C.It reveals the secrets of the universe. |
D.It is based on Li’ s personal experiences. |
5. How did the science fair benefit Li?
A.It satisfied her every whim. |
B.It built up her confidence. |
C.It helped her make friends with Katia. |
D.It allowed her to earn credits in science. |
6. What is paragraph 4 mainly about concerning “Clues to the Universe”?
A.Its storyline. | B.Its style. |
C.Its significance. | D.Its background. |
7. What might Li feel when hearing from the girl?
A.Astonished. | B.Confused. | C.Worried. | D.Pleased. |