#rosena fung

[richincolor]

We've got four titles on our radar for today! Which ones do you want to get your hands on?

Age 16 by Rosena Fung Annick Press

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about three generations of mothers and daughters passing down and rebelling against standards of gender, race, beauty, size, and worth, for fans of Mariko Tamaki. Sixteen-year-old Roz is preoccupied with normal teenage navigating high school friendships, worrying about college, and figuring out what to wear to prom. When her estranged Por Por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, the already delicate relationship between Roz and her mother is upended. With three generations under one roof, conflicts inevitably arise and long suppressed family secrets rise to the surface. Told in alternating perspectives, Age 16 shifts seamlessly between time and place, exploring how this pivotal year in adolescence affects three women in the same family, from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000. Award-winning creator of Living with Viola 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.

Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis Harper Teen

Euphoria meets Girl in Pieces in this coming-of-age story of a girl trying to put a grief-stricken past behind her, only to be startled by the discovery of a long-lost sister who puts into question everything she thought she knew. Amélie Cœur has never known what it truly means to be happy. She thought she’d found happiness once, in a love that ended in tragedy and nearly sent her over the edge. Now, at seventeen, Mel is beginning to piece her life back together. Under the supervision of Laurelle Child Services, the exclusive foster care agency that raised her, Mel is sober and living with a new family among Manhattan’s elite. It’s her last chance at adoption before she ages out of the system and she promised, this time, she’ll try. But a casual relationship with a boy is turning into something she never intended for it to be, causing small cracks in her carefully constructed walls. Then the sister she has no memory of contacts Mel, unearthing complicated feelings about the past and what could have been. As the anniversary of the worst day of her life approaches, Mel must weather the rising tides of grief and depression before she loses herself, and those close to her, all over again.

The Second Chance of Darius Logan by David F. Walker Scholastic Press

Darius Logan is far from a hero. Since his parents were killed, he has spent most of his life navigating foster homes and shelters, abandoned neighborhoods and decaying buildings. All Darius knows is survival. Life was hard enough, but now he finds himself being hunted by the police after a drug deal he never should have been involved in goes bad. And when they catch him, Darius is positive he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. But in place of a long prison sentence, Darius is handed an opportunity almost too good to be true: the chance to get away from his circumstances by joining the Second Chance program of the Super Justice Force, a league of people with special powers who strive to do good and protect the world from harm. Darius soon discovers a strength he never knew he possessed, but evil forces manifest and threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. Will Darius be able to save the world when he faces a deadly--and all too familiar--enemy? This incredibly powerful YA debut by Eisner award-winning author David F. Walker, dives into matters of social justice and identity, courage and second chances, in a world where heroes loom large and what seems ordinary is anything but.

We Don't Have Time for This by Brianna Craft Disney Hyperion

Lemonade Mouth meets climate change activism in this enemies-to-lovers YA romance. A tied election throws two rival teen activists together to lead their school’s environmental justice club, and they are taken by surprise when their clashes reveal deeper feelings hidden beneath their antagonism. What's more romantic than saving the earth? Two presidents. One club. A sizzling connection. Isa Brown wishes her life would slow down. She doesn’t want to leave for college. Not now that her dad finally gets to spend some time at home. Not now that she’s finally been in one place for longer than a year. But nothing lasts forever. With wildfires ravaging her community and a new natural gas pipeline threatening her dad’s job, the last thing Isa can do is relax. The school’s environmental justice club seems like a promising way to make real change. If only her annoying co-president Darius would stop being such a control freak. Darius Freeman can’t stop hustling. If he does, how will he beat the other honors kids to be valedictorian? How will he get into the top schools in the country? How will he launch his political career? No. Darius can’t stop, and the next step in his plan is leading the environmental justice club this year—putting on a policy summit and rounding out his college applications with a leadership role. But then Isa joins the club and becomes co-president. Is she the stumbling block on his road to success? As Isa and Darius clash over the best way to lead the environmental justice club, deeper feelings emerge. About what’s at stake for their communities if they can’t figure out how to work together. And about the sparks they feel between them. Will Darius and Isa figure out how to burn brightly together? Or will their flames leave nothing but ashes behind?

[bloodmaarked]

➸ reading list

just added:

the berry pickers, amanda peters

i who have never known men, jacqueline harpman

cultish: the language of fanaticism, amanda montell

the sympathizer, viet thanh nguyen

age 16, rosena fung

masquerade, o.o. sangoyomi

things fall apart, chinua achebe

whereabouts, jhumpa lahiri

please stop trying to leave me, alana saab

saints of storm and sorrow, gabriella buba

[vulpixbookpix]

Age 16 by Rosena Fung

3 out of 5 stars

I think this was a good story that needed to be told. It touched on how trauma from certain events can cross generations, even if it doesn't manifest in the same way for each person. The timeline bounces from Guangdong in the 1950s, 1970s Hong Kong, and Toronto in the early 2000s. The color palette for each timeline makes it easy to keep track of which story is being told.

Rosalind in the 2000s is struggling with her weight, the pressures of high school, and the idea of prom. Her mother, Lyndia, doesn't help matters by constantly telling her that she's too fat. However, we see in Lyndia's storyline that she suffered under the same pressures that she's replicating with her daughter. Going back even further, we see Lyndia's mother and her family struggling to survive after a war breaks the country in the 1950s.

At the end of the book, it's implied that there is healing in the works after decades (and generations) of struggling. One of the best scenes is when Lyndia brings out an item that was hers as a teenager and shares it with Rosalind.

The story did have me wanting more background, especially on Por Por (Rosalind's grandmother) and the life she left behind, but, overall, this was a solid read. It touched on the diaspora of the Chinese people in the 1950s, the cultural shifts between generations and how women want best for their daughters, but are caught up in the struggles of trying to survive their own womanhood.

[roesolo]

Three generations of women tell their stories in Age 16

Age 16, by Rosena Fung, (July 2024, Annick Press), $24.99, ISBN: 9781773218335 Ages 12+ Fung’s story reminds readers that 16 isn’t always sweet. Set in three areas of the world in three different decades, Age 16 tells the stories of a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter at age 16: In 1954, Mei Laan dreams of getting out of Guangdong, China. An arranged marriage may be her ticket to Hong Kong,…

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down—and rebel against—standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guandong, 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 of Living with Viola 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.

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

Review:

A amazing coming of age story about how mothers and daughters pass down and rebel against standards of size, gender, race, beauty and worth. The story follows 3 times: 1954, 1972, and 2000 and follows three women. In Guandong 1954, sixteen year old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom and hoping to use her beauty to get an arranged marriage... maybe she'll find happiness in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, 1972 sixteen year old Lydia wants nothing other than to pursue dance and to gain her mother's approval.... which has been hard since her mother is extremely critical and mostly absent... especially sharp about Lydia's weight. In Toronto, 2000 sixteen year old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be and how she wants to look. Roz thinks that if she were thinner, everything would be better. When Roz's grandmother, Mei comes to town abruptly.... the three generations of women are all under one roof and all three of these women have a strained relationship with each other. Can they find a way to finally mend the rift between them? This was such a touching and beautiful coming of age story that really resonated with me. The generational trauma and the body image issues that we can pass down to each other was so well depicted. This story really touched my heart and it was so well written. I would absolutely recommend this book!

*Thanks Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd., Annick Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[winningthesweepstakes]

Age 16 by Rosena Fung

Age 16 by Rosena Fung. Annick Press, 2024. 9781773218342 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: ARC (publication date 7/2/24) graphic novel Genre: Realistic fiction  What did you like about the book?  It’s Toronto in the year 2000 and 16-year-old Roz struggles with both her weight and her relationship with her mom. As the interlocking story of three generations of women…

[grapesodadarkchocolate]

Trust. Betrayal. 

COVID-19 this week: 

“This is now. This is today. This cluster of hours is the present and is all we can be sure of. Embrace it. It is the most precious thing we have.”—Call the Midwife

Trust: choosing to make something important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else. — Charles Feltman 

“Trust is a product of vulnerability that grows over time and requires work, attention, and full engagement. Trust isn’t a grand gesture—it’s a growing marble collection.” — Brené Brown

Betrayal is its opposite. Lean in or lean back. Put in a marble or take one away. Engage or disengage. The daily choice. Building up or tearing down. Relationships are always in play whether you engage in them or not. You step away without explanation --- go silent, ignore or simply step over. The game hasn’t ended. You may have left but the other player is still on the court. 

Betrayal of disengagement: not caring, letting go of the connection, and not being willing to devote time and effort in the relationship. — Brené Brown 

Additional Resources:

Related blog: “Sliding Door Moments”: Read January 2020 🍇🥤🍫

“How to Build Trust in Your Relationship” by Zach Brittle: Read 📝

Unlocking Us podcast “The Love Prescription” with John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman: Part 1 ; Part 2: Part 2, September 28, 2022 🎙

The Love Prescription by John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman 📘

This Week: 

On Being podcast with Amanda Ripley: Stepping out of "the zombie dance" we're in, and into "good conflict" that is, in fact, life-giving: Listen , February 9, 2023 🎙

Squirrel Moment: Elgar: Nimrod: Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Listen 🎶 🎻

On my reading shelf: 📙📕📗

Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell Smith 

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram 

Living with Viola by Rosena Fung 

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Here's Livy, reading in the library with a plush unicorn!

from Living With Viola by Rosena Fung

[koyamapress]

Check out Rosena Fung’s Kickass Annie! She is a friend to small creatures and ghosts alike! Check out Rosena’s work here! 

[cheshirelibrary]

6 Fabulous Middle Grade Novels With Neurodivergent Characters

[via Book Riot]

Middle grade novels with neurodivergent characters have become increasingly more prominent. This reflects a larger phenomenon: the growing acceptance of neurodivergence or neurodiversity, a concept coined in the late 1990s to signify that not all brains function the same way – and that this is okay.

It is safe to say that it’s good for children to see themselves and others on the page. The benefits of representation are plenty and well-known, after all. In this round-up, you will find eight middle grade novels with neurodivergent characters. Some of them are the protagonists, others side characters. Some are #OwnVoices, others are not. But they’re all delightful.

Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry

Living With Viola by Rosena Fung

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera

The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel

...

Click through to see more titles.

[zissou-review]

We hope that both of these local activations will help to inspire a sense of togetherness and resiliency throughout our neighbourhood and across the city, during a period of uncertainty and insecurity.

Activation Locations + Dates

Window Clings

This activation will be on display at vacant shops along the street. This activation will breathe life back into spaces that are temporarily empty, and ultimately help to promote the unique cultural experience of Little India Toronto.

📍 Our discovery walk signage can be found at 1415, 1424, and 1447 Gerrard Street East

Decals

📍 Approximately 100 pieces are being printed and placed throughout the entire Bazaar. Look for 4 variations of style, with unique colours and designs.

Organizers

BIA Staff

Anna Zissou

Tasneem Gandhi Bandukwala

Artists

Rosena Fung

Roshni Wijayasinha

STEPS Staff

Alexandra Lambropoulos

Alexis Kane Speer

Anjuli Solanki

Wandy Cheng

Selina McCallum

Photo and video credit: Anna Zissou (@_annazissou) for Gerrard India Bazaar BIA (@gerrardindiabaz)

This project is supported by STEPS Initiative (@STEPSInitiative) as part of their Main Street Art Challenge

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Middle School Monday: Living With Viola by Rosena Fung

Livy Siu Leen Tong is the new girl in middle school, and Viola is her anxiety. Because this book is written in a graphic novel format, readers can literally see Viola as she torments and teases Livy, making Livy feel more and more sad and insecure. But readers will also see the things that Livy can do that help keep Viola away, like making dumplings with her mother or reading a book in the library. Will support from her family, her friends, and her own imagination be enough to help Livy deal with her anxiety?

Give this book to older kids, teens, and even adults who would appreciate an engaging, honest, and powerful story about anxiety, mental health, family problems, and friendship.

[zissou-review]

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This inital concept inspired Rosena Fung (Toronto-based illustrator and comic) to create this whimsical and exuberant collage, which spotlights our dynamic, exuberant, and colourful neighbourhood and celebrates our diverse South Asian history and culture.

The piece includes an homage to the Naaz Theatre, where it all started: a small theatre showcasing Bollywood films that eventually led to the proliferation of local businesses, and ultimately the BIA we see today.

This activation offers a warm welcome to a neighbourhood bursting with life and a vibrant local economy. Here you will find music, films, dancing, specialty grocers, wares, spiritual items, books, art, fashion, and some of the best South Asian cuisine in the city.

[rosenafung]

Finally saw the Sherlock Christmas special in theatres last night, and now here is that epic Sherlock + Molly kiss from season (series) 3 <3 <3 <3