Two Asian American teens meet when sophomore Caroline is assigned to be senior Kim's math tutor. The pair quickly form a bond and share some details of their stressful lives. For Caroline, this includes the isolating pressure of her mother's exacting demands, an older sister who seems to have met them, and a father working overseas, while Kim is pulled in too many directions between part-time jobs to support her family, helping care for younger twin siblings, hiding her sexuality from her mom, rushing to her friends' rescue, and trying to keep her grades up for graduation. The novel's title shows up literally in background artistic details but more impactfully in the changes the girls, particularly Caroline, undergo. Self-discovery and rebellion go hand in hand with seeing the sunrise together and finding the perfect outfits for prom. Readers will root for these two to explore their individuality, become comfortable in their own skins and with each other, and figure out what the future holds for them and their relationship. A beautiful coming-of-age story.

A Korean American teen's stifled life changes when she makes an unexpected friend.When sophomore Caroline Kim agrees to peer tutor another student, she doesn't expect it to be the outgoing, charismatic, and beautiful Korean and Filipina American senior Kimberly Park-Ocampo. The friendship that grows between them mirrors their slow-burn attraction, depicted through teasing dialogue, blushes, and emotive moments. As Caroline and Kim grow closer, the depictions of Caroline's ongoing struggles with low self-esteem, anxiety, and self-consciousness about her body are masterfully woven into their romance. Similarly, Caroline's complicated family dynamics with her mother, overseas father, and older sister are realistically shown, particularly her mother's controlling and emotionally distant parenting style. By contrast, Kim works as a team with her mother to run the household, watch her younger siblings, and work side jobs while still being available for her friends. The stark contrast between the two teens, their families, goals, and experiences as Asian Americans creates intriguing thematic parallels. As Caroline discovers positive aspects of herself through her relationship with Kim, the firebird as a symbol of transformation is somewhat successfully depicted through red feather motifs that stand out from the largely black-and-white art. However, the story's impact is diluted by haphazard flashback scenes. Despite an otherwise engrossing emotional journey, the finale peters out.Gripping and thoughtful, but the clunky ending disappoints. (Graphic fiction. 13-16)

Asian American high school sophomore Caroline Kim is struggling to fit in with her classmates when she begins tutoring lesbian senior Kimberly Park-Ocampo, also Asian American. Everyone warns timid Caroline that Kim—who sports chipped nail polish, multiple piercings, and a grunge aesthetic—is a loose cannon. It turns out, however, that the two share much in common, including having absent fathers, demanding mothers, and no clue who they want to be (“These days I feel so lost and distant from everyone,” Caroline says. “My brain’s like, on fire all the time”). Soon, they are meeting up outside of school, going on late-night drives, and bonding over their mutual love of music and desire for freedom. As the girls grow closer, they help each other navigate their respective interpersonal troubles, and Caroline, having never been attracted to another girl before, is shocked when she finds herself crushing on Kim. Debut creator Sunmi’s grayscale graphic novel artfully captures the trials and tribulations of one teen’s experience wrestling with who she’s always been and who she wants to be via emotive facial expressions and youthful language, making for a sensitive and meditative character study. Ages 13–17. Agent: Susan Graham, Einstein Literary Management. (July)