Starred Review Former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Yang and award-winningly prodigious Pham join forces in this highly anticipated graphic novel. Valentine's Day was Valentina's "favorite day of the year," a day she "anticipate[d] the way other kids would anticipate Christmas." Her name is even an anniversary reference (TMI as that is) to her conception. But a fateful Valentine's Day during freshman year in high school changes everything: her father has been lying, her mother is actually alive, and her estranged grandmother has returned to take Val to church, of all places. Time somehow moves on, though Val leaves her adoration for love behind. Val might be ready for romance herself when she meets rich, popular Les, who gets her involved with lion dancing ich quickly becomes her "everything." Although, what about Les' cousin Jae? Val's entire family has been broken by love ll she also be forever fated for hurt and suffering? Yang's storytelling is a multigenerational, multilayered, multicultural masterpiece of searching for lasting, empathic connection. Pham's art embodies every essence of his narrative, every page enhanced with unstoppable, Technicolor energy. Especially notable is her brilliant dual layout of scenes of Val's Roman trip with her grandmothers, which flows freely across the top of the pages while looming above panels depicting what's happening back home. Enough effusive praise just isn't possible here for what is sure to be a runaway hit.High-Demand Backstory: Yang and Pham boast impressive credentials in the graphic novel space, and together they'll be unstoppable.

A teen girl has one year to break a curse that's kept generations of her family from experiencing true love.Vietnamese American Valentina Tran loved Valentine's Day until freshman year, when her handcrafted cards were mocked by classmates, and her father told her she was too old to still be making annual valentines on behalf of her long-dead mother. Then, during a surprise visit, her estranged paternal grandmother revealed a devastating family secret. Suddenly, Valentina's invisible childhood companion, a sweet cupid she'd always called Saint V, transformed into an ominous specter, Saint Valentine. Now, two years later, a jaded Valentina suffers through a disastrous date, the revelation of another family secret, and Saint Valentine's return. The spirit demands that she give up her heart forever to avoid the pain of loss; inspired by the spark she felt with a lion dancer at the Têt new year festival, Valentina bargains for a year to fall in love. Set against the backdrop of Oakland, California's rich Asian American community, Valentina's quest is full of swoony moments that will satisfy romance readers, while her fearless journey of personal growth will win over everyone else. Full-color spreads effectively use a range of color schemes to shift readers between past and present, realistic and supernatural, and are most impressive when capturing the frenetic energy of the lion dances. Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean words are woven throughout the text.A sparkling romance anchored by a poignant coming-of-age story. (Graphic romance. 13-18)

Gr 6 Up— Readers will fall in love with this heartwarming, fun rom-com. Yang ( Dragon Hoops ) brings another delightful addition to graphic novels that blends culture, love, and family dynamics in a relatable way. Valentina's family is fated to be unlucky in love. Wanting to break the curse, Valentina makes a deal with the spirit of Saint Valentine: she has one year to find true love and "prove that you do not share your family's fate." If she fails, she must give her heart away to Saint Valentine and will never fall in love. Yang takes readers to Lunar New Year celebrations with Valentina and her friends and family, employing characters who are relatable and endearing. The attention to detail and color work by Pham, for example, in the intricate details of the festival decorations, create a visual feast for readers and add depth and strong emotion to the story. A wide audience of readers will relate to the universal themes of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and familial bonds. VERDICT A positive and beautiful work of art that will make an impression on readers.— Jacquetta Etheridge

A teen girl has one year to break a curse that's kept generations of her family from experiencing true love.Vietnamese American Valentina Tran loved Valentine's Day until freshman year, when her handcrafted cards were mocked by classmates, and her father told her she was too old to still be making annual valentines on behalf of her long-dead mother. Then, during a surprise visit, her estranged paternal grandmother revealed a devastating family secret. Suddenly, Valentina's invisible childhood companion, a sweet cupid she'd always called Saint V, transformed into an ominous specter, Saint Valentine. Now, two years later, a jaded Valentina suffers through a disastrous date, the revelation of another family secret, and Saint Valentine's return. The spirit demands that she give up her heart forever to avoid the pain of loss; inspired by the spark she felt with a lion dancer at the Têt new year festival, Valentina bargains for a year to fall in love. Set against the backdrop of Oakland, California's rich Asian American community, Valentina's quest is full of swoony moments that will satisfy romance readers, while her fearless journey of personal growth will win over everyone else. Full-color spreads effectively use a range of color schemes to shift readers between past and present, realistic and supernatural, and are most impressive when capturing the frenetic energy of the lion dances. Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean words are woven throughout the text.A sparkling romance anchored by a poignant coming-of-age story. (Graphic romance. 13-18)