A Review of Victoria Ying’s Hungry Ghost (First Second, 2023)

Posted by: uttararangarajan

Written by Stephen Hong Sohn

Edited by Uttara Rangarajan 

 

I was a big fan of Victoria Ying’s previous graphic narrative series, so when Hungry Ghost came out, I knew I had to review it! This one diverges from the speculative conceits of the first in its shift to a particularly thorny topic related to disordered eating. Let’s let the official marketing description give us more context: “Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all, thin. No one, not even her best friend, Jordan, knows that she has been bingeing and purging for years. But when tragedy strikes, Val finds herself reassessing her priorities, her choices, and her body. The path to happiness may lead her away from her hometown and her mother’s toxic projections—but first she will have to find the strength to seek help. This beautiful and heart-wrenching young adult graphic novel takes a look at eating disorders, family dynamics, and ultimately, a journey to self-love.”

 

So, I’m going to have to provide a spoiler warning here, because the tragedy is partly what sets off this story toward its resolution. Valerie’s father ends up dying in a plane crash. From what I recall, he is a big adventurer and likes to travel. On one of his solo trips, he tragically dies. The family must come together in the midst of his death, but problems arise precisely because of Valerie’s coping mechanism. Complicating circumstances is Valerie’s friendship with Jordan. Though the two originally seem to be on very good terms, their friendship is tested once it becomes apparent that the two have feelings for the same individual. The graphic narrative eventually resolves this impasse in a realistic, poignant way. I also have to applaud Ying’s lovely visual style, which will be engaging to any reader. I so much appreciate Ying’s tackling of such a difficult and complicated topic, and I know this kind of work will have broad appeal given its socially conscious message and robust artwork.

 

Buy the Book 

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