Review by Booklist Review
On a sightseeing bus tour of the desert, a sorrowing tween girl seeks distraction and solace while secretly hoping for a miracle at a legendary underground lake. En route to this final destination, Pia and an appealing gaggle of idiosyncratic fellow tourists visit wacky attractions like the World's Smallest Corn Maze, Prickly Park (a Cactus Cruise), and the Stairway to Nowhere. Sepia-toned flashback scenes reveal Pia's family struggling after her younger brother's drowning, an accident for which she feels responsible. Through her growing friendship with the irrepressible Sam, and in connecting with the personal journeys of her fellow travelers, Pia ultimately finds the redemption she needs from the magical lake. The quirky, wryly humorous vibe of Fong's distinctive and charming art suggests Roz Chast channeling Chris Ware--using a simple line, uncomplicated shapes, and mostly flat colors, the accomplished illustrator deftly evokes a world both spare and nuanced, just right for this graphic novel fable. With its humor and poignancy mixed with moments of real magic, readers will find Pia's pilgrimage both hilarious and uplifting.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
To take her mind off changing family dynamics, middle schooler Pia Xing goes on a bus tour to visit quirky roadside attractions in this solo graphic novel debut by Fong (How to Be a Person). Pia has been obsessing over mystical Lake Cessarine ever since she heard about it following a tragic accident. She's excited when her grieving father gifts her tickets for a tour of curious attractions, including the World's Smallest Corn Maze and the World's Largest Melon, which will end at Lake Cessarine. Though a broken leg prohibits him from going, Pia embarks with a promise of safety from a family friend. As the bus tour commences, Pia likens the trip to "being part of a big family" and befriends fellow attendees, depicted with varying skin tones, including the tour guide's daughter, Sam Martins. Throughout the tour, Fong inserts flashbacks in reverse chronological order that detail Pia's accumulating traumas and her hopes for Lake Cessarine. Cartoony illustrations depict increasingly surreal scenery along the route, highlighting Pia's disconnect with her surroundings. Still, Pia remains hopeful, and her trip serves as a meditation on grief, a catalyst for healing, and a reminder of the importance of friendship, family, and connection. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--With touches of magical realism, a slice-of-life road trip story gradually transforms into a profound journey of loss, grief, guilt, and healing. Pia, a withdrawn and guarded middle schooler, embarks on a bus tour through a desert landscape, stopping by quirky roadside attractions en route to a luminous underground lake said to have mysterious--even miraculous--properties. Every traveler on the tour has their own reasons for seeking out this lake, and Pia's secret hope to resolve a family tragedy unfolds through a series of flashbacks. Through deftly crafted plotting and pacing, the emotional tension increases incrementally as each part of Pia's story is revealed. Readers will root for her as she processes her pain, finds solace and friendship among her fellow travelers, and begins to move toward acceptance. Thoughtfully sparse dialogue is paired with expressive line drawings to create a thoroughly absorbing and emotionally resonant reading experience. An effective use of color conveys setting and mood: While road trip scenery is awash in vibrant colors, Pia's lonely motel nights are rendered in somber grays, and flashbacks are indicated by a muted palette. Extensive back matter includes an author's note and several pages detailing her artistic process. Pia is of Asian descent; other characters on the road trip represent a variety of ethnicities and ages. VERDICT Endearing, heartbreaking, and uplifting in turns, Fong's unforgettable debut is a first purchase for youth graphic novel collections.--Allison Tran
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Review by Horn Book Review
Fong's deeply moving graphic novel opens with an intriguing premise: Pia Xing, a reserved and lonely middle schooler, says goodbye to her father and embarks on a multi-day bus tour through the desert with a bunch of strangers. Their destination is the subterranean bioluminescent Cessarine Lake, billed as having mystical, wish-granting powers. During stops at diners and kitschy roadside attractions, Pia gets to know her fellow passengers, all of whom have their own reasons for making the journey. Pia isn't ready to share hers -- not even with new friend Sam, who's grudgingly accompanying her tour-guide mom. Daily phone calls home to her father and flashbacks from the previous year gradually reveal what led to this solo trip, including the tragedy that left Pia and both her parents mired in grief. In varied panel and full-page illustrations, Fong's spare cartoon style is well suited to the setting and the main character's bleak emotional landscape. The trip offers moments of peace and lightheartedness: "I'm actually having a lot of fun! It kind of feels like being part of a big family." The story begins to take on elements of magical realism the closer the group gets to the lake, making the impossible begin to seem possible. Pia's miracle looks different from what she set out looking for, but the magic is transformative all the same. With a sympathetic protagonist navigating unimaginable pain, fully realized and engaging secondary characters, and a skillfully crafted narrative, this is a remarkable debut. Kitty FlynnJanuary/February 2024 p.94 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The tragic loss of a younger sibling sends a middle school student on a journey of redemption and healing. A year after the drowning of Pia Xing's younger brother, Ben, and nine months after her family relocated to a new town so they could start over, the family is still fully in the throes of grief. Pia's mother continues to blame Pia for what happened to Ben, while Pia's father is trying to balance work demands, a broken leg, his wife's fragile mental health, and Pia's social struggles in her new school. After a conversation with her school librarian, Pia (who's determined to right the wrong she feels responsible for) sets her heart on visiting the mystical local attraction Cessarine Lake, which is known for making "IMPOSSIBLE things happen." The story alternates between vividly colored present-day adventures on a bus trip through the desert--highlighting the excitement of newfound friendship and escape from the weight of Pia's everyday reality--and flashbacks in muted tones that get readers up to speed on what happened to Ben. From the Copycat Geyser to talking vegetation and the wishes that come true for visitors to Cessarine Lake, the book doesn't outright reject the possibility of the mystical, leaving room for hope. Pia and her family appear to be of East Asian descent; there is racial diversity among secondary characters. A poignant story that delicately balances youthful delight and naïveté with profound mourning. (author's notes, character sketches, process notes) (Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
