Gr 5–8—Thirteen-year-old Mei comes face to face with the power—and limitations—of stories as she and her father,
Chinese workers at a lumber camp in the 1880s, navigate anti-Asian sentiment and laws. With expressive, muted
watercolors, this multifaceted work of historical fiction creates a delicate and beautiful balance in its depiction of
nuanced characters, interpersonal conflicts, and systemic racism.

A delight. The kind of historical fiction we need. ( )

A middle grade graphic novel featuring a queer Chinese girl cook in a logging camp, yes please- this has been on my radar for a while, and I'm so glad to have it in my hands. The watercolors are vivid, and Mei & Bee's friendship is so lovely. Though written for a middle-grade audience, it doesn't shy away from the tension and threat of violence Chinese in America faced in the Exclusion era (this takes place in 1885-6, so the early years but before people knew it was going to last for another 60 years).

I also really want pie now. ( )

children's middlegrade graphic historical fiction - follows a tween/teen Chinese girl Mei (Hao Mei Lee) living in a logging camp (her dad Ah Hao is the cook) in her belief in the protection of mythological Auntie Po (with blue ox Pei Pei) as camp residents face the dangers of logging, and as she tries to make sense of her feelings for her white friend Beatrice (who, unlike Mei, likes boys). Takes place in Sierra Nevada mountains of California (but really could be any logging location in the Pacific Northwest and beyond) during the winter (Chinese New Year) and spring.

This is one of my friend's favorite graphic novels -- beautifully illustrated full-color graphic spreads, not too many words (great for an English language learner), an interesting and moving story. Seeing that it is a 300+ page graphic novel that is already 2 years old, and that it appeared (deceptively, as it turns out) to be about a folk tale hero, I have been telling her it's "on my list" for a long time and I am just now getting to it.

I love the illustration style--the way the spreads are united by strokes of color beyond the frames--and also the information provided in the decorative (and interesting) chapter heading pages. And I love the way Mei's story flows and develops throughout the book. The violence against Chinese immigrants is sanitized somewhat in this kid-friendly story (an anti-Chinese attack by townsfolk leaves at least one man seriously injured), with acknowledgment of the (also left out of this particular story but important) Indigenous people who lived and worked in the area in the author's note at the end--with a bibliography pointing to sources for more information about Chinese immigrants and logging camps. ( )

I have been following Thor online for ages, so this was a book that I pre-ordered as soon as I knew it existed. And I'm so glad that I did!

Mei is growing up in a logging camp in the Sierra Nevadas, dealing with anti-Chinese prejudice, realizing that she is gay, and navigating the physical and interpersonal challenges of lumber camp work. Throughout all this she reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese woman -- Auntie Po. I love the illustrations, especially the coloring style, and I love Mei SO MUCH that when I showed up to social media to rate this I was ready to fight anyone who rated this any less than five stars.

I will be forcing both of my children to read this, but clearly I loved it, too! So don't let its middle grade designation scare you away. ( )