Review by Booklist Review
ldquo;Tomorrow is the first day of middle school. I was hoping for a fresh start," announces 11-year-old Ming Lee. But Mom's giving him the same old "bowl" haircut and still limiting his wardrobe to thrift store "red-dot sales" items. Mom and Dad--Chinese speaking immigrants via Thailand where they met and married--don't seem to understand Ming's desire to just fit in. Dad expects Ming to study hard, get good grades, and go to Stanford. "Don't cause trouble" is a constant parental refrain. "But I've got different dreams," Ming silently insists. Middle school doesn't start particularly well when he's placed in an ESL class, even though English is his only language; "Dad didn't want me to learn" Chinese, he thinks, but, on the plus side, "At least I'm on my way to an easy A!" What Ming enjoys most, though, is drawing--it's "never boring"--and (aspirationally) playing basketball (wearing Air Elevates, of course). He eventually jumps from ESL to Honors English and makes good friends, but, alas, doesn't manage to avoid that dreaded trouble. "Real life" inspired Chung's graphic novel debut, which uses vibrant, vivacious, full-color panels. His dynamic characters' expressions are particularly affecting, although Mom just might be the title's star player. For wannabe cartoonists, Chung appends an accessible, meticulously detailed "How to Make a Graphic Novel" instructions, complete with well-deserved back pats.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Despite English being the first--and only--language he speaks, middle schooler Ming Lee is placed in ESL. But with his parents pressuring him to get good grades and not "cause trouble," he stays quiet about the assignment, rationalizing, "At least I'm on my way to an easy A!" Later, as he watches other kids play basketball, Ming fantasizes about proving himself on the court while wearing his dream pair of Air Elevates shoes. After moving out of ESL, Ming befriends classmates Vikrum Patel and Marcus James; the trio bond over their love of video games and plan money-making schemes to help Ming save for Air Elevates. Depictions of Ming's mother, once a nurse in Thailand who now earns money cleaning, and his largely silent Chinese father's expectations that Ming do well in school so he can attend Stanford highlight how underemployment affects Ming's immigrant parents, their focus on providing better opportunities for him, and this pressure's impact on his sense of self. In this candid graphic novel debut informed by personal experience, Chung (Remixed: A Blended Family) utilizes crisp, character-focused artwork that features clever visual cues to smoothly transition between exterior events and interior thoughts, as when solid-black-lined panels give way to wavy, loose-inked flashbacks. Ages 8--12. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--7--As 12-year-old Ming starts his first day of middle school, his parents leave him with one clear message: don't cause trouble and get good grades. Ming typically worries about his hair, which his mother cuts, and his shoes and clothes, which come from the thrift shop. Chung's graphic novel eloquently portrays Ming's feelings as a child of immigrants. He wants to be like all the other kids at school and struggles to understand his parents' different approaches to being American and the American Dream. Ming and his two new friends, Vikrum and Marcus, begin to navigate the middle school student body hierarchy, finding their social positions with awkward interactions aplenty. Ming, like all kids, makes poor choices and must face the consequences head-on. Because the story is somewhat autobiographical, it is no surprise that Ming likes to draw. Chung's illustrations capture Ming's feelings of being an outsider after Ming discovers his father's Resident Alien card and begins to draw himself as an actual alien from outer space in his journal. Chung thoughtfully includes notes at the end of the book to show what goes into writing and illustrating a graphic novel. VERDICT Perfectly capturing the experience of navigating middle school as the child of immigrants, this heartfelt and funny title is a must-have for all middle grade graphic novel collections.--Kim Gardner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Being a first-generation American makes school more challenging for a plucky tween boy. Ming Lee faces middle school with his usual bowl haircut (administered by his mom), the embarrassment of thrift store shopping for back-to-school clothing, and a fervent wish to just get through it all unnoticed. His other deep desire is a pair of Air Elevates sneakers--much too costly for his extremely frugal Chinese-immigrant parents to ever buy him. After initially being assigned to an ESL class (even though English is his first and only language), Ming is placed in Honors English. He makes two new friends, Vikrum (who's cued Indian) and Marcus (who's Black). The trio support each other through Halloween hilarity, Ming's crush, basketball mishaps, and school candy sales turf wars. But the real test of friendship comes when Ming, in a desperate move after his sneaker fund is stolen, involves his buddies in a bungled shoplifting attempt. In the aftermath, Ming learns about the power of family, religion, friends, and self-acceptance. His parents, grappling with their own tribulations around finances, racism, and familial duty, gain insight into Ming's situation, improving their family bonds. In this graphic novel inspired by the author's life, Chung inserts humor and love beside moments of pain and frustration in a way that meshes stylistically with the straightforward dialogue and clean, simple drawings. This humorous and heartwarming glimpse into an immigrant family's experiences entertains and educates. (author's note, how to make a graphic novel)(Graphic fiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
