Age 16
Written by Rosena Fung
Illustrated by Rosena Fung
Published by Annick Press
Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?
Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?
Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?
When Roz’s estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.
Award-winning creator, Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.
Primary ISBN: 9781773218335
Publication Date: July 2024
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback
Young Adult, Age 12 or older
Community Represented: Chinese/Chinese American
Themes: Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Canadian Connection, Coming of Age, Discrimination: Body/Hair, Discrimination: Gender and Sexual, Discrimination: Microaggression, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Format: Graphic Novel, Generation: 1st, Generational Differences, Generational Differences: Gender Roles, Genre: Historical, Identity: Body Image, Mental Health, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Trauma & Healing, Trauma & Healing: Disordered Eating, Trauma & Healing: Intergenerational
Setting: China (Guangdong, Hong Kong), Canada (Toronto)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Home Country, Immigrant, 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
Click here for details about how we define our titles.
Engagement Projects & Resources:
Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.
Engagement Materials:
Author/Illustrator, Rosena Fung Introduces Age 16
Source: Annick Press