Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail, Quill & Quire - Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine - Kids Indie Next Pick

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down--and rebel against--standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?

Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?

Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?

When Roz's estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.

Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.

Moving and emotional. --Victoria Ying, Harvey Award-winning author of Hungry Ghost

Crucial. --Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo

Beautiful. --Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail, Quill & Quire - Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine - Kids Indie Next Pick

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down--and rebel against--standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?

Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?

Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?

When Roz's estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.

Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.

Moving and emotional. --Victoria Ying, Harvey Award-winning author of Hungry Ghost

Crucial. --Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo

Beautiful. --Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

unforgettable . . . will shake middle grade readers to the core--School Library Journal, starred review

Beautifully illustrated, relatable, and genuine. --Molly Brooks, creator of Sanity & Tallulah

Everyone needs to buy this book now. Seriously. Buy it, read it, share it.--Colleen Nelson, author and teacher

Honest and funny, this award-winning graphic novel from a
debut creator is a refreshingly real exploration of mental health,
cultural differences, and the trials of middle school.

Livy
is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school--and then
there's Viola. Viola is Livy's anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin
that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola's
relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new
friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola's days are numbered. But
when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head
stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face
her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola.

Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the
pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to
craft a charming, deeply personal story that combines the poignancy of
Raina Telgemeier's Guts with the wacky humor of Lumberjanes.
Exuberant, colorful art brings Livy's rich imaginative world--filled
with everything from sentient dumplings to flying unicorns--to life on
the page.

unforgettable . . . will shake middle grade readers to the core--School Library Journal, starred review

Beautifully illustrated, relatable, and genuine. --Molly Brooks, creator of Sanity & Tallulah

Everyone needs to buy this book now. Seriously. Buy it, read it, share it.--Colleen Nelson, author and teacher

Honest and funny, this award-winning graphic novel from a
debut creator is a refreshingly real exploration of mental health,
cultural differences, and the trials of middle school.

Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school--and then there's Viola. Viola is Livy's anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola's relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola's days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola.

Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to craft a charming, deeply personal story that combines the poignancy of Raina Telgemeier's Guts with the wacky humor of Lumberjanes. Exuberant, colorful art brings Livy's rich imaginative world--filled with everything from sentient dumplings to flying unicorns--to life on the page.