Age 16
Sixteen-year-old Roz and her girlfriends contemplate attending the Forever in the Stars Prom at their high school. Roz imagines losing weight and stunning her classmates with her transformation, but her nemesis, the scale, always taunts her into believing that the only way to be beautiful is to be skinny. She finds little support from her mother, Lydia, or her por por (grandmother), who has suddenly appeared from Hong Kong for a surprise visit. What follows is a lot of uncomfortable fat-shaming (and well-crafted humor) as Roz slowly uncovers the family secrets that led to a string of generational struggles.
The stories of these three strong female characters, set in Guangdong in 1954, Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000, intertwine seamlessly as we revisit key moments in their youth that led to their present misunderstandings of one another. Fung uses color to help the reader identify each place and time period, alternating between purple, orange and teal palettes, which near the end begin to mix in a satisfying emotional way. Back matter includes historical references and essential resources for eating disorders and mental health support. A fictionalized memoir, this graphic novel is full of heart, culminating in a powerful message for young people who struggle with self-acceptance. Young adult.
