My Bejingby Patti MartinsonReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 My Bejing is four stories about a young girl named Yu'er, living with her Grandpa in a hutong, a special type of neighborhood where homes have walled courtyards, and these courtyard walls form alleyways or lanes.While it is never quite explained, Yu'er appears to have some sort of disability, as the very first story has Yu'er undergoing some unusual training to be a swimmer in the Special Olympics. The rest of the stories focus on the gentle adventures of Yu'er, her Grandpa, and some of their neighbors. The most charming element of these stories is Grandpa's love and support of Yu'er, always being a teacher, spirit-booster and storyteller to Yu'er. That the grandfather stands out here as a character rather than Yu'er herself, shows just how important, I think, that particular character means to the creator. The love and sweetness is just so clear in the pages and that is the greatest strength of this graphic novel. The artwork complements it, colorful but not overpoweringly so, conveying emotion without going overboard. Sometimes there is something of a fantasy-like, imaginary tint to these stories, where it is sometimes hard to discern past from future or if something is really happening or not. It doesn't really detract from the story and I think it adds a bit to the overall charm. A nice, gentle set of stories with sweet characters. This might not rock your world, but it does seem quite suitable to share while in a rocking chair. Written: July 22, 2018
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