Unhappy Camper

January 22, 2024
Collaborators Lamotte and Xu (Measuring Up) reteam to deliver a bighearted graphic novel featuring estranged Taiwanese American sisters. Reserved Michelle would rather hang out with her white friends from choir than be more like her self-assured older sister Claire, whom enjoys exploring her heritage at a yearly Taiwanese summer camp just outside of the siblings’ Seattle-area hometown. This year, their parents conspire to send the girls to the three-week-long camp together, and while both object to the obvious diplomacy effort, their attendance is deemed non-negotiable. After acing an uncomfortable ropes course and helping a scared camper cross the finish line, Michelle receives some much-missed sisterly love from Claire, which inspires Michelle to embrace camp, and her background, more. She even realizes how bestie Jess often ridicules her Taiwanese heritage, and once the siblings return home, Michelle has the opportunity to demonstrate how much camp has restored her confidence in herself, her bond with her sister, and her culture. Xu’s clean, two-dimensional linework complements Lamotte’s winsome story showcasing the diversity of Taiwanese art (opera, glove puppets, folk songs, calligraphy) and toothsome culinary treats like han tsî muê (sweet potato porridge) and shaved ice with grass jelly in this feast for the stomach and the spirit. Ages 8–12.

March 15, 2024
Two sisters rekindle their relationship as they immerse themselves in their culture at a Taiwanese American summer camp. Middle schoolers Michelle and Claire were once two peas in a pod, but as they grew older, the sisters drifted apart. While Claire proudly embraces their Taiwanese heritage, Michelle wants nothing more than to fit in at their predominantly white school. To her older sister's disapproval, Michelle does everything that she can to impress Jess, the white-presenting leader of a popular clique, even at the cost of her own comfort. In the hopes of giving them some quality bonding time, their parents send them both to summer camp, where they meet new friends and learn about Taiwanese culture. Despite some early skepticism, the two begin to reconnect and see each other in a different light. After forging genuine friendships and gaining a newfound appreciation for her cultural background, Michelle rethinks her relationship with Jess. Although the dialogue is a little clunky at times, the sisters' bond feels realistic; with nuance and care, this graphic novel captures the struggles and frustrations of those caught between cultures. Michelle's awkwardness at camp and her anxiety while overthinking interactions with Jess will also feel relatable to anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. The artwork has an appealingly exaggerated, mangalike flair, vividly bringing to life the sisters' emotions. A solid tale of sisterhood, friendship, and finding comfort and pride in one's cultural identity. (sheet music) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2024
In this graphic novel set "somewhere near Seattle," Michelle and her older sister, Claire, are far from the best of friends. Self-assured Claire takes pride in and embraces her Taiwanese heritage; self-conscious Michelle is more interested in hanging out with her white friends at her middle school, eager to stay in classmate Jess's good graces to secure an invitation to her end-of-summer bash. The scene shifts when their parents send both sisters to a Taiwanese American summer camp. Immersed in Taiwanese culture, Michelle strives to forge her dual identity while struggling with the Taiwanese language, practicing calligraphy, competing in a dragon boat race, and memorizing folksong lyrics for a talent show. In this story of cultural heritage and identity reconciliation, LaMotte and Xu (Measuring Up, rev. 3/21) explore the often nebulous, isolating experience of not quite fitting in and being stereotyped based on appearance. Cultural activities, from making Taiwanese shaved ice to crafting glove puppets, occupy full-page panels packed with a lively collage of details. Moments of humor captured through playful manga-like facial expressions and gestures propel the plot forward in whimsical fashion. Jerry Dear

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2024

Gr 6 Up-When sisters Michelle and Claire start to drift apart, their parents send them to a Taiwanese American sleepaway camp together. Claire is proud of her heritage, and has enjoyed time at camp in the past. However, Michelle doesn't share her sister's comfort with her identity, having been shamed by classmates at a young age, and now as a teen, tries hard to fit in with the popular girls. Despite Michelle's protests, the two arrive on an island off the coast of WA where they learn Taiwanese songs, cook delicacies, engage with the outdoors, and interact with campers from other cultural programs. Michelle resists but eventually gives in to the engaging activities and authentic friendships that form. Once home, she has to reconcile her desire to fit in with being true to herself. Through realistic dialogue and whimsical drawings, the creators explore the universal desire for acceptance through the all-too-familiar interactions of teenage girls. Some scenes are humorous, others are heartwarming and emotional, and the book captures the range of the girls' moods, fears, and dreams perfectly. With compassion, the story teaches the benefits of embracing one's identity. Details about Taiwanese culture, including songs, symbols, and letters, are sprinkled throughout. VERDICT A worthy addition to any middle or high school library. -Karin Greenberg

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Color by Sunmi. In this graphic novel set "somewhere near Seattle," Michelle and her older sister, Claire, are far from the best of friends. Self-assured Claire takes pride in and embraces her Taiwanese heritage; self-conscious Michelle is more interested in hanging out with her white friends at her middle school, eager to stay in classmate Jess's good graces to secure an invitation to her end-of-summer bash. The scene shifts when their parents send both sisters to a Taiwanese American summer camp. Immersed in Taiwanese culture, Michelle strives to forge her dual identity while struggling with the Taiwanese language, practicing calligraphy, competing in a dragon boat race, and memorizing folksong lyrics for a talent show. In this story of cultural heritage and identity reconciliation, LaMotte and Xu (Measuring Up, rev. 3/21) explore the often nebulous, isolating experience of not quite fitting in and being stereotyped based on appearance. Cultural activities, from making Taiwanese shaved ice to crafting glove puppets, occupy full-page panels packed with a lively collage of details. Moments of humor captured through playful manga-like facial expressions and gestures propel the plot forward in whimsical fashion.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)