Alterations

"""A busy, evocative slice of school life and the trials of a second-generation immigrant."" —Kirkus “Themes of sacrifice, survival, and love abound in a multidimensional story of navigating the bumpy terrain of family tensions and resilience across generations.”—Horn Book Magazine “A funny and heartfelt story that beautifully communicates the honest and awkward relationships we have with life and our immigrant parents.” —Dan Santat, Caldecott Medal winner and creator of A First Time for Everything  “In this cathartic graphic novel debut, Xu renders Kevin and his family with lighthearted flair, depicting them as abundantly expressive characters who each sport giant specs. Much of the protagonists’ charm stems from the fact that they all complain loudly (and legitimately) about their own plight while tending to one another’s woes with humor and tenderness.”—Publishers Weekly “Charming, relatable, nostalgic. Love Xu’s subtle and scraggly drawing style paired with his understated, yet deeply affecting storytelling. Brings me back to being a lonely Chinese kid in Toronto. A fun read!” —Academy Award–winning director and screenwriter Domee Shi (Bao, Turning Red) “From the Sunday-funnies font to the muted, realistic palette with pops of color, Xu’s sketchy cartoon style nostalgically harkens back to the era of classic comic strips, well suiting its 1994 setting . . . . [A] moving depiction of a multigenerational immigrant Chinese family trying to sew themselves back together.”—Bulletin Center for Children’s Books  "