Initially this book intrigued me because of the art style. So I fall again to the temptation to judge a book by its cover. This, however, is more fair this time around, as in graphic novels the art is one of the most important aspects of the writing. The art style moves forward the story and every character in it, and good art can make even the worst plot compelling.
This book is yet another memoir, in a long list of recent memoirs I have read. It is about a Chinese immigrant, and her identity and life as she grows up. Born in China, and moved to America at a very young age, this book follows Laura Gao.
All the symbols in this book were fantastic. I particularly liked seeing the White Rabbit candies, which I love. It was a recurring symbol over the course of the book, and it served well to drive home the point, I think. The book also referenced the myth of Chang’e, which is my favorite Chinese myth, so it gets extra points for that.
This book was drawn in one of my preferred art styles for this sort of thing. I loved the characters, all of the little details in the background, and generally the vibe of this book. There was a lot to get into on every page, but it wasn’t necessary for the story, which I really enjoyed. Whether I wanted to take my time, or whether I wanted to just go through it, both options were there.
Overall, this was a very good book. I really did enjoy it, and would recommend that you read it, especially as it pertains to some very important topics.