A aweet middle grades graphic novel that I read because I had just taught Wang's Prince and the Dressmaker and some said they like this even better. I liked it, and it is more relatable than the very different Prince and the Pauper spinoff, but I still like the different kind of sweetness and goofiness of Prince a bit more. Christine is a quiet, "good girl," who is intrigued when a wilder girl named Moon moves in next door. They become friends, and Moon pushes her to be more adventurous (paint

I just love her illustrations. Heartfelt characters. And lovely representation of a proper middle grade story.The story is about coming to terms with changes and differences. It's about acceptance.We tend to assume a lot of things about people around us, even the ones we haven't met yet. There are certain parts which show vividly how parents restrict their kids of certain activities just because they're of a certain gender. The parts which I feel could have been done better are the ones which ac...

My expectations were too high going in to this follow-up to Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker, but it is still a nice, low-key kids book about a Chinese American girl who is struggling to meet her parents' ideas of perfection when a more carefree and outgoing girl with a bad reputation moves in next door. Typical friendship and school complications ensue, until a dramatic twist based on the author's own life comes out of nowhere late in the book and rushes us to the ending and what amounts to...

3.5/5Stargazing is an adorable book about friendship, providing a refreshing peek into Asian American society as well as demonstrating a diverse range of individuals, personalities, lives, and beliefs all getting along and supporting one another in difficult times.Overall a quick fun and lovely read.

This is a sweet, quiet, surprising book. Considering that it just tops 200 pages, it packs more a of punch, and more of a twist ending, than I was expecting. It starts with an orchestral performance at a church, in which Christine plays violin. She tries hard to be everything her parents want: academic, musical, and serious- never painting her nails, taking Chinese language lessons and extra math after school. Then Moon and her mother move into the granny unit behind their house. Moon is a bundl...

This was such a cute and innocent story!I had already read The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang and loved it; so going into this one I was expecting to also love it and I most certainly did! This was such a unique story and I really loved it! The artwork was stunning but I did read an ARC copy so it was in black and white instead of the finished copy which will be in colour. I plan on getting a copy of the finished copy and rereading when it’s in full colour. There was a a lot of diversity

Self discovery genre + friendship + challenges of meeting expectation of immigrant parents gone 100% right This one was so pure so beautiful that I want to recommend this book to every kid I meet. The feelings of fear, worry, loneliness, love, happiness and betrayal are portrayed so beautifully.The characters are beautifully build, relatable and super funny.Moon being my fav kid I just loved her soo much. If I was a middle grader I wanted her to be my bestfriend.And that unexpected turn at the e...

Jen Wang has such a way with storytelling that always manages to make me smile and laugh while still punching me in the heart with feels (in a good way), and Stargazing followed that trend beautifully. I absolutely adored this graphic novel! Moon and Christine are both so precious, and they feel like real kids, you know? The diversity represented is so sweet and the commentary on biracial and/or Asian-American kids feeling "not Asian enough" made my chest ache for friends who have told me they'v...

For once, my two daughters agree on something: 4 stars for this middle grades graphic novel.

Straight-laced Christine is alarmed but intrigued by her new neighbor, imaginative, weird Moon whose violent reputation precedes her.This is a charming story about friendship, familial expectations, personal expectations, jealousy, guilt, and the struggle of figuring out who you are and trying to be that person.

ugh im EMO. full review tc because i have a lot of feelings

Such a sweet and heartwarming story about young friendship. The art is really cute and captures facial expressions so well. The Chinese cultural references are a bonus—traditional Chinese characters were printed on the pages! and the Chinese food look delicious!!! I love everything about this. One of my favourite graphic novels.

I have been missing out on Jen Wang! This book was beautiful. I freaking cried! I loved this so much!This was perfectly told to span across the ages. I loved Moon's quirky little self. The art is fantastic, and the narrative is even better. The sequential art went together so perfectly; I got completely caught up in it. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem about friendship and cultural boundaries.5 STARS!

Christine doesn't know what to think of Moon Lin, the girl living in her parent's backyard carriage house. Moon is impulsive, confident, Buddhist and a vegetarian...and she beats up kids. She's everything Christine is not—and she just might be an alien. But slowly these unlikely friends become best friends, until Christine starts to question their relationship.I really, really enjoyed this book, and how it looked at Chinese-American children and how the sameness of experience makes any deviation...

When I was in high school, I had a discussion with a Chinese-American friend of mine about what we were going to do in college. She told me she envied me, because I could major in anything I wanted, but she, she had to do what was expected of her, and become a doctor, even if she didn't want to.I bring this up, because, Christine, in the story, is envious of Moon the same way, because unlike her family, where she is supposed to do well in school all the time, Moon can get away with getting Cs, a...

This was cute and I enjoyed it and read it in one setting, but there were some crucial character traits and hints dropped into the book that make it so that the climax/resolution makes sense, but I don't think those hints were dropped in substantially because the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. But I liked the characters and will continue to pick up everything Jen writes/illustrates!

Sweet fancy heck, how did I not know this book existed?! Then a couple of weeks ago it won the Asian/Pacific American Children's Book award, and a bunch of authors I trust were talking about how it was their favorite book of 2019 and I'm like, huh, I guess we'll try it . . . ?It's. Wonderful. Funny, sad, awkward, sweet, all the things you want in a coming-of-age story, beautifully told in graphic novel form. I'm almost ANGRY this book slipped under my radar! I could have had it on MY best of 201...

This was full of the pure innocence only children have. It was utterly wonderful and the epitome of adorable. The story warmed my heart in so many ways and I have no doubt, whoever you are, wherever you were born, no matter your race, ethnicity, gender etc. there is a part of you that will be able to relate to a part of this story. The artwork was absolutely gorgeous and perfectly lifted the innocence of the characters and this story. I just want to put a copy of this into the library of every s...

A great book about making friends and navigating the world of Middle school. The characters are Chinese American, but the situations and experiences of wanting to have fun, friends and fit in are universal.Moon and her mom are in a tight spot, so Christine's family has them move into the mother's house on the property. Moon was known to have some issues with fighting and such and Christine is worried about living close to her. It turns out they can be pretty good friends. Moon is much more Ameri...

4 stars

Stargazing is a great middle grade graphic novel. I loved the art style and the friendship between Moon and Christine.