The latest from graphic novelist Yang (Dragon Hoops, American Born Chinese) and artist Pham, and as always, a good story with a lot of layers to it! Lunar New Year Love Story is narrated by Valentina, a Vietnamese American high school girl trying to balance her romantic side with the realities of life and family. You know that when families are involved the story gets messy most of the time, and this is true of Valentina's family as well. Her mother left her father and her when she was young, yet she still grew up in love with a very romanticized idea of love. Her favorite holiday is Valentine's Day, and she spent hours each year crafting Valentine's Day cards for everyone she knew (and even people she didn't know).
At the same time, she is visited by the spirit of Saint Valentine, who tried to help her avoid the heartbreak that she feels is her fate by accepting her heart for all time, to keep it protected. Valentina also learns truths about her family that she finds hard to understand, all the while navigating her culture and...romance, of course! It is a "love story", after all!
I don't know that I've seen Pham's work before, but I have read several of Yang's books, and have always enjoyed them! Love Story is perhaps one of my favorites! I am a romantic dog at heart, you know, so love stories always interest me...and I also love Valentine's Day! I also celebrate Lunar New Year, which moves each year based on the cycle of the moon, but which falls close to the end of January or early February - close to Valentine's Day - so this element of this book also added some fun and depth to the story. All of these elements are woven together quite well by Yang and Pham, and I would recommend this to anyone! A strong story, wonderful artwork...and romance - what's not to love? 5 paws!
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