Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Starred Review "We're moving to Taiwan!" Mama breaks the news to Lily with enthusiasm that is met with the child's total panic. Emigration to care for Ah Ma marks a return home for Mama, but it's a begrudging shift for Lily, who reacts with outbursts of anger and frustration to every change until, eventually, she adjusts to the new city. Simple sentence structure and outstanding use of white space leave room for the complexity of emotions percolating beneath Lily's protestations. The delicate Photoshop illustrations, which incorporate graphic-novel panels, brim with warmth, liveliness, and culturally specific detail, including speech bubbles filled with Mandarin Chinese wildering to Lily's ear. In one particularly evocative spread, reminiscent of Trixie's boneless collapse in Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny (2004), a limp Lily is dragged by her stoic mother through a farmer's market. Striking, too, is Lily's progression through a series of wordless pages. Small shifts in wardrobe and demeanor convey the passage of time and Lily's gradual acclimatization to her new environment. This accomplished picture book is all the more impressive given that its creators are current university students. Through spare text, thoughtful illustration, and masterful artistic design, this quiet and empathetic story captures an affecting journey of gradual healing and adjustment. It is rare for a book of so few words to pack such an emotional wallop. A truly exceptional debut.

Horn Book (Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 CST 2023)

In this unique second-generation reverse immigration story, a girl named Lily and her mother move from the United States back to her mother's home -- Taiwan -- to help care for Ah Ma, Lily's grandmother. Taiwan is wildly different from everything Lily knows (backyard barbecues are replaced by Chinese banquets; the family now uses a scooter, not a car, etc.), and she repeatedly voices her displeasure. The turning point occurs when Lily, despondent, quietly tells her mother, "This is not my home." Mom hugs her and says, "I'm sorry. I know this is not your home. But this is mine...And this can be ours." Four consecutive double-page spreads (mostly wordless), with lively panels showing enjoyable activities, depict Lily's change of heart and the actions she takes to give Taiwan a chance. At the end of the story, as her family enjoys a sumptuous meal, Lily can finally say, both in Mandarin and in English, "This is my home." This is a special tale that carries an important message worth hearing. The front and back endpapers show scenes of neighborhoods first in the United States and then in Taiwan, representing the two very different but equally important identities Lily now owns. Weileen Wang

Kirkus Reviews

A young Taiwanese American girl navigates between one home and another.Lily is energetic and imaginative and loves to play chase. When Mama announces their move to Taiwan to take care of Ah Ma, Lily's grandmother, the girl's world comes crashing down as she begins to process all that she will miss: the fireflies at Parsley Park, her friend Jill. And when they arrive, things are wildly different-the welcome banquet with relatives is nothing like her backyard barbecue, the motor scooter is a far cry from her car, and so on. With humor and empathy, the simple storyline and vivid illustrations convey Lily's challenges at her new school and her struggles with jet lag, the Chinese language, and socializing. A pivotal moment with Mama opens Lily's heart; on a page filled with white space, parent and child hug and then Lily moves toward the edge of the page, ready to give her new home a chance. The artwork shows Lily's perspective broadening as she finds her way and regains her stride, eventually feeling at home in her current environment. The endpapers complement each other, portraying a sunny, palm tree–lined suburban neighborhood in the United States at the front and, on the back, a moonlit street scene in Taiwan. Given the time differences between the two countries, this juxtaposition not only reflects simultaneous realities in different locales, but also underscores the duality of existence familiar to individuals whose identities are rooted in diverse geographies and languages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Embraces "home" as a journey as well as a destination. (Picture book. 5-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

When her mother tells her that they’re moving to Taiwan, Lily immediately poses a barrage of concerns: “What about our backyard barbecues? Or our car? And the fireflies at Parsley Park? What about Jill?” Accompanying paneled illustrations show the pale-skinned, dot-eyed child gesturing wildly at each thing mentioned, and clutching friend Jill in a tight embrace. Though Mama explains that they need to care for Lily’s Ah Ma, the child remains dejected, and a warm welcome from Ah Ma doesn’t change her mood. Unfamiliarity abounds—“This is not my backyard barbecue. This is not our car, these are not my fireflies, and this is not Jill” accompanies humorous images of Lily rejecting Taiwanese cuisine and contending with a speeding scooter and a pit latrine. Growing loneliness at school is the final straw, but a heart-to-heart with Mama gives Lily perspective: “I know this is not your home. But this is mine.... These are my people.” Digitally sketched and colored spreads play with the panel format to spotlight the passing of time and bonds forged as Lily slowly transitions to a new home. Debut author-illustrator duo Chang and Yoh offer a take by turns moving and funny, capturing the heartfelt struggles that come with a significant change. Ages 4–8. Agent (for Chang and Yoh): Ellen Goff, HG Literary. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2022)

K-Gr 3— Lily, a fourth grader, is about to experience a universally stressful and anxiety producing event: moving. Her single mom tells her they are moving to Taiwan from their home in the United States to care for her grandmother. Panic ensues. Lily asks about her best friend, their car, their market, her school, their home. The move comes just the same. Suddenly, the illustrations show Lily's colorful clothes as shades of gray, clearly reflecting her mood. Nothing feels right. Lily repeats, "This is not my home." School life is the toughest. A little storm cloud appears above Lily's head. Gently, her mom tries to explain that Taiwan is her own home and that it could be theirs together. Lily's clothes start to regain a bit of color. In the following vertical panels, first one friend is made and then another. The passage of time and some shared experiences add more color to Lily's appearance. The honest and relatable prose is seamlessly integrated with the lively, colorful world swirling around Lily. Around a happy multigenerational family dinner table, Lily says "This is my home." VERDICT Yoh and Chang are in lockstep, creating a wonderful read-aloud about moving and family ties. Recommended for all collections, and especially those looking for more about Asian cultures and books about moving.— Elisabeth LeBris