Flying the Dragon, by Natalie Dias Lorenzi

Eleven-year-old Sorano "Skye" Tsuki is American. Her dad is from Japan, but she definitely does not consider herself Japanese, or even Japanese American. In fact, she has never even met her father's side of the family. She has American friends, goes to an American school, and just found out she made it on the All-Star soccer team!

Eleven-year-old Hiroshi Tsuki is Japanese. He was born and raised in Japan and knows very little of his family in America other than that there was some sort of falling out. Following in his grandfather's footsteps, he is a kite-maker, and with his grandfather's assistance, he will soon compete in the annual Kite Fighting contest for the first time.

When Grandfather becomes ill and Hiroshi's father gets a new job, they move to Washington, D.C., and cousins Skye and Hiroshi are suddenly thrown together, much to each of their dismay. Now Hiroshi has lost his chance to compete in the Kite Fighting contest. Skye's parents have forced her to attend Japanese school so she can communicate with the family she has never known, and unless she can improve her performance, she will lose the opportunity to play for the All Stars.

They're not off to a very good start.

Any time a book makes me cry, I know it must be good. Flying the Dragon, by Natalie Dias Lorenzi, was good.