Wai Chim, a celebrated Chinese-American-Australian author best known for her fabulous YA novel The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, became a fixture on our TVs while she was a participant in Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn. Her experiences on this intense TV show inspired the creation of her first picture book, Last-Place Lin.

Lin is excited to participate in her school’s Sports Day. She tries her best in all the games, but through the expressive and inclusive illustrations by Freda Chiu, we see that Lin comes last.

It doesn’t seem that Lin can do anything right; she thinks about hiding, quitting. Then it’s time for the fun run and everyone has to compete. Lin ends up in last place again, but this time, Lin is determined she will finish.

It’s a gorgeous story that celebrates the spirit of enduring and continuing to try. For ages 3+.