Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

25 reviews

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Moving and heartwarming tale about connecting to one’s culture, overcoming generational family conflict, and learning how to love and be loved in return. Along with the beautiful illustrations that connect readers to the heart of the story, both of the main characters, Val and Jae, each get their own moments to address their pasts and what their futures could look like together. Side characters also get their own little moments, but is balanced with the main characters. While it’s a bit longer than other YA graphic novels, you definitely get the heart and connection that Yang puts into this story. Definitely will check out Yang’s other works.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief

Minor: Cancer, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

readandfindout's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

3.75

Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Art: 4 stars

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer, Violence, and Death of parent

clarabooksit's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

megreads12's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

booknerdery's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

robinks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This graphic novel is so beautifully illustrated, and the plot had so many twists and turns. It included a lot of different topics but in a way that didn’t feel too overwhelming.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent

tinysierra's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Cute

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

jehansen127's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 Lunar New Year Love Story is a delightful YA romance told in graphic novel format. The illustrations are great and I especially appreciated the variety in the colour palettes that were used. The story also had depth and breadth exploring addiction, family secrets, identity and a variety of teen relationships without shame or judgement. Val was such a lovely character, tender and vulnerable while her grandmother was a real force of nature. One of the highlights was the pan Asian nature of the story. At least where I live Lunar New Year and the Lion Dance are often solely portrayed as Chinese so I really valued the Vietnamese and Korean angles. I also loved getting an inside peek at all the effort that goes into a Lion Dance. Just thinking about this book still brings a smile to my face. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent

katievallin's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I loved this! A good story, great illustrations, lovable characters. The ending was a bit rushed, but otherwise I really enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol