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Lion Dancers
Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
15 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 24, 2024
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade graphic novel about two lion dancers who realise the value of team spirit. Excellent information on lion dancing. Great lessons on working as a team. Good characters. Straightforward story. Wonderful illustrations. Recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🐉 Everything to do with lion dancing! There’s a brief intro about lion dancing at the start. Every chapter begins with the name of one lion dance step, along with its interpretation. I didn’t even know there was so much technicality in lion dancing, or that there are lion dancing championships! All the info was so fascinating! I also loved knowing how many offices and shops ask for a lion dance performance at the start of the Lunar New Year.
🐉 Lion dancing might sound like it is mainly “dancing”, but the book reveals how it is a sport, and a strenuous one at that! It is not easy to position the body in those awkward stances and move in sync with your partner. There is also a coordination between the dancers and the musicians. It was amazing to see how the dancers pass on cues to each other when they can’t even see or speak to each other or the musicians.
🐉 One major conflict in the story is about the relative importance of the ‘head’ and the ‘tail’. I loved how beautifully the story brings out the equal importance of both positions. Such a nice way of telling kids that every role is important!
🐉 Anyone who is or wants to be a part of team sports will appreciate the depiction of team spirit in this book. The positive competitiveness among the players, the synchronisation across the entire team, the importance of trust, the necessity of regular training – all depict how teams ought to function. At the same time, not everything in the story is serious. The book also highlights how the team soon becomes a family, with a lot of funny quips and good-natured ribbing across members.
🐉 The ending is perfect. Though a middle-grade book, it doesn’t go into a ‘Protagonists Are Always Winners’ mode, choosing instead to stop at the point where the boys decide to work in unity and harmony for the upcoming championship. After all, life isn’t about winning but about giving your best every time. A good lesson for kids to learn.
🐉 The illustrations are perfect for the tone of the story. The colour palette works wonderfully to bring out the stunning costumes and the dance moves. My ARC didn’t have all colour pages, but based on the few sample coloured panels, I can tell that the final artwork is going to be stunning.
🐉 This is an OwnVoices work not just because of the author’s ethnic background but also because she is a lion dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia. The authenticity feels real because it IS real!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
☯ The story is mostly straightforward and guessable. However, it is aimed at middle-graders, so a simplified narrative is to be expected.
☯ While the book explores many themes such as parental death, grief, frustration, teamwork, competitions, peer pressure, familial pressure, loneliness, and so on, most of these are at a surface level. Only the themes directly connected to lion dancing are detailed intricately. There are also many direct and indirect references to Chinese culture and customs, but these are also somewhat vague except when about the sport.
☯ The conflict between Wei and Hung brings out many relevant points about the tussles of friendship, but it also feels a bit dragged, especially as we don’t even know the details of how they drifted apart except for a vague reason. I wish the reason for their clash had come out better.
Bookish Nays:
🏮 There are many missing details in the plot flow. How exactly did Wei’s father die? Who was that quirky captain of the lion dance team, and why was he so elusive? Also, why wasn’t he a performer with the senior team? How did Wei and Jun become such good friends despite being so opposite in nature? Even the characters’ ages aren’t clear, though we know that Hung and Wei are middle-schoolers. These could have been explained within a couple of panels, and they could have made the story smoother. As the focus is strictly on lion dancing, character development gets a bit affected.
🏮 There is absolutely no clue about where the story is set! The book is coming out in the USA, and the author is based in Australia, so it has to be either of these countries. But there is no indication of the location at all. We get vague place names that don’t correspond to reality, such as “Southern Phoenix” team or store signs written in Chinese. Most of the characters are of Asian origin. (All might be Chinese, but I can’t say for sure, as lion dancing isn’t exclusive to China.) Such basic details such as age or location might seem trivial, but they add much to our reading experience.
All in all, despite a few niggles about the lacunae in the plot flow, I enjoyed this book. It is so informative about lion dancing that I Googled a few videos on the dance form and saw the performance with more knowledgeable eyes.
Definitely recommended, to middle-graders as well as teens. This is a wonderful and culturally inclusive option, highlighting not just the value of team spirit but also an excellent dance-sport tradition that might not be familiar to Western readers.
4 stars
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing the DRC of “Lion Dancers” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Wei had always dreamt of becoming a champion lion dancer just like his dad. He enjoyed training as the ’lion head’, with his best friend Hung performing as the ‘lion tail.’ However, after Wei’s dad suddenly passed away, the friendship as well as the dream shattered.
Now, two years later, Wei is stuck in a rut of frustration. Though great in studies, he has no talent for any sport. When he discovers the existence of a junior lion dance training group nearby, he reignites his old passion. The only problem is that Hung is also part of this group. Now Wei and Hung need to overpower their animosity and learn to work together as a team.
Bookish Yays:
🐉 Everything to do with lion dancing! There’s a brief intro about lion dancing at the start. Every chapter begins with the name of one lion dance step, along with its interpretation. I didn’t even know there was so much technicality in lion dancing, or that there are lion dancing championships! All the info was so fascinating! I also loved knowing how many offices and shops ask for a lion dance performance at the start of the Lunar New Year.
🐉 Lion dancing might sound like it is mainly “dancing”, but the book reveals how it is a sport, and a strenuous one at that! It is not easy to position the body in those awkward stances and move in sync with your partner. There is also a coordination between the dancers and the musicians. It was amazing to see how the dancers pass on cues to each other when they can’t even see or speak to each other or the musicians.
🐉 One major conflict in the story is about the relative importance of the ‘head’ and the ‘tail’. I loved how beautifully the story brings out the equal importance of both positions. Such a nice way of telling kids that every role is important!
🐉 Anyone who is or wants to be a part of team sports will appreciate the depiction of team spirit in this book. The positive competitiveness among the players, the synchronisation across the entire team, the importance of trust, the necessity of regular training – all depict how teams ought to function. At the same time, not everything in the story is serious. The book also highlights how the team soon becomes a family, with a lot of funny quips and good-natured ribbing across members.
🐉 The ending is perfect. Though a middle-grade book, it doesn’t go into a ‘Protagonists Are Always Winners’ mode, choosing instead to stop at the point where the boys decide to work in unity and harmony for the upcoming championship. After all, life isn’t about winning but about giving your best every time. A good lesson for kids to learn.
🐉 The illustrations are perfect for the tone of the story. The colour palette works wonderfully to bring out the stunning costumes and the dance moves. My ARC didn’t have all colour pages, but based on the few sample coloured panels, I can tell that the final artwork is going to be stunning.
🐉 This is an OwnVoices work not just because of the author’s ethnic background but also because she is a lion dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia. The authenticity feels real because it IS real!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
☯ The story is mostly straightforward and guessable. However, it is aimed at middle-graders, so a simplified narrative is to be expected.
☯ While the book explores many themes such as parental death, grief, frustration, teamwork, competitions, peer pressure, familial pressure, loneliness, and so on, most of these are at a surface level. Only the themes directly connected to lion dancing are detailed intricately. There are also many direct and indirect references to Chinese culture and customs, but these are also somewhat vague except when about the sport.
☯ The conflict between Wei and Hung brings out many relevant points about the tussles of friendship, but it also feels a bit dragged, especially as we don’t even know the details of how they drifted apart except for a vague reason. I wish the reason for their clash had come out better.
Bookish Nays:
🏮 There are many missing details in the plot flow. How exactly did Wei’s father die? Who was that quirky captain of the lion dance team, and why was he so elusive? Also, why wasn’t he a performer with the senior team? How did Wei and Jun become such good friends despite being so opposite in nature? Even the characters’ ages aren’t clear, though we know that Hung and Wei are middle-schoolers. These could have been explained within a couple of panels, and they could have made the story smoother. As the focus is strictly on lion dancing, character development gets a bit affected.
🏮 There is absolutely no clue about where the story is set! The book is coming out in the USA, and the author is based in Australia, so it has to be either of these countries. But there is no indication of the location at all. We get vague place names that don’t correspond to reality, such as “Southern Phoenix” team or store signs written in Chinese. Most of the characters are of Asian origin. (All might be Chinese, but I can’t say for sure, as lion dancing isn’t exclusive to China.) Such basic details such as age or location might seem trivial, but they add much to our reading experience.
All in all, despite a few niggles about the lacunae in the plot flow, I enjoyed this book. It is so informative about lion dancing that I Googled a few videos on the dance form and saw the performance with more knowledgeable eyes.
Definitely recommended, to middle-graders as well as teens. This is a wonderful and culturally inclusive option, highlighting not just the value of team spirit but also an excellent dance-sport tradition that might not be familiar to Western readers.
4 stars
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing the DRC of “Lion Dancers” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
October 28, 2024
This had so much potential!
Lion Dancers quickly became an anticipated read once I found out it was releasing. I don't know anything about lion dancing and was really exposed to the intricacy of it when I read Lunar New Year Love Story. I was not only excited to learn more, but was also anticipating a title that was geared towards a middle grade audience. Tse effectively displayed the hard work and dedication that goes into lion dancing; however, I think that the story struggled from lack of background information. Readers are privy to the fact that Wei has lost both of his parents, yet it's almost glossed over. It's clear that it has significantly impacted his life, but his grief is rarely fully developed. There appears to be significant drama between Hung and Wei that also feels glossed over. I think that the point of the story was to illustrate the various aspects of lion dancing, but by introducing these various elements it leaves the reader wanting more. Overall, this was a solid read and the artwork was absolutely beautiful. If you're interested in learning more about about lion dancing then I think you will enjoy this one.
Lion Dancers quickly became an anticipated read once I found out it was releasing. I don't know anything about lion dancing and was really exposed to the intricacy of it when I read Lunar New Year Love Story. I was not only excited to learn more, but was also anticipating a title that was geared towards a middle grade audience. Tse effectively displayed the hard work and dedication that goes into lion dancing; however, I think that the story struggled from lack of background information. Readers are privy to the fact that Wei has lost both of his parents, yet it's almost glossed over. It's clear that it has significantly impacted his life, but his grief is rarely fully developed. There appears to be significant drama between Hung and Wei that also feels glossed over. I think that the point of the story was to illustrate the various aspects of lion dancing, but by introducing these various elements it leaves the reader wanting more. Overall, this was a solid read and the artwork was absolutely beautiful. If you're interested in learning more about about lion dancing then I think you will enjoy this one.
September 6, 2024
An engaging sports manga about lion dancing, totally accessible to people like me who don't actually know much about it. I definitely felt like I learned a bunch about lion dancing through this book, and got very interested in learning more. This is where the book is strongest, actually: the portrayal of lion dancing as a strenuous team sport and deep cultural institution is vivid and I think a lot of kids will also be fascinated. The conflict between Wei and Hung is sadly realistic and I think most readers will "get" both sides, eventually.
But I also felt like a lot was left out of this book that probably shouldn't have been. Wei has lost both of his parents, but not only do we not actually know much of anything about how or when they died, Wei's grief is so muted that he hardly ever feels or expresses it in this book. And that's not part of the story. I feel like the loss of two parents is way too heavy of a subject to be glossed over this entirely. There's also a never resolved plot thread about an absentee captain, plus Wei's lopsided friendship with minor character Jun. She pretty obviously takes advantage of him early in the book, but that's never addressed in any way. There's also some emotional beats between Hung and Wei that are glossed over, to the detriment of the story. These are all emotional shortcuts that hurt the storytelling in a book that's otherwise a really fun read.
But I also felt like a lot was left out of this book that probably shouldn't have been. Wei has lost both of his parents, but not only do we not actually know much of anything about how or when they died, Wei's grief is so muted that he hardly ever feels or expresses it in this book. And that's not part of the story. I feel like the loss of two parents is way too heavy of a subject to be glossed over this entirely. There's also a never resolved plot thread about an absentee captain, plus Wei's lopsided friendship with minor character Jun. She pretty obviously takes advantage of him early in the book, but that's never addressed in any way. There's also some emotional beats between Hung and Wei that are glossed over, to the detriment of the story. These are all emotional shortcuts that hurt the storytelling in a book that's otherwise a really fun read.
January 2, 2025
Interesting book. The way the plot was structured and the characterization/interactions weren't my favorite. But it's cute! I like the love put into the art.
Also-
On p. 248 of the first edition there is an empty speech bubble, and I don't think it was intentional.
Also-
On p. 248 of the first edition there is an empty speech bubble, and I don't think it was intentional.
November 28, 2024
Loved everything about this book!!
And learnt so much about Lion Dancing!
And learnt so much about Lion Dancing!
April 29, 2025
3.5 After reading Gene Luen Yang's Lunar New Year Love Story, I was excited to learn more about lion dancing. I really liked how this one explained in more detail how lion dancing worked and what various movements meant, which was my favorite part of this graphic novel! It's clearly written by someone who knows and loves this world. I think the death of Wei's parents could have either played a bigger part (or not introduced as a plot point at all). The mystery around the captain was also a bit odd. Overall, glad I picked this up to learn a little more about lion dancing!
December 22, 2024
MORE!!! I WANT MORE!!!
Omg I absolutely loved Wei and his story. I loved Hung and his redemption. I loved the background, the dynamics, BOCHEN BEING THE SWEETEST and the whole concept. I knew NOTHING about Lion Dancing and I looooved the little bits of info in each chapter about traditions. I have MUCH more respect for lion dancers and wish it was the Lunar New Year so I could watch some performances!!
Seriously, I need more. HIGHLY recommend
Omg I absolutely loved Wei and his story. I loved Hung and his redemption. I loved the background, the dynamics, BOCHEN BEING THE SWEETEST and the whole concept. I knew NOTHING about Lion Dancing and I looooved the little bits of info in each chapter about traditions. I have MUCH more respect for lion dancers and wish it was the Lunar New Year so I could watch some performances!!
Seriously, I need more. HIGHLY recommend
August 17, 2024
I learned a ton about lion dancing - I never realised how intense it is! Solid story, beautiful artwork. Some students might find it tricky to know when it's in flashback mode - it's not super obvious. Great addition to the classroom library though!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital ARC. Out this week!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital ARC. Out this week!
May 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I LOVED that each chapter started with learning about a different part of lion dancing and then applied it to the next part of the story. Very cohesive.
Only issue I have is that the epilogue felt slightly rushed. Still really enjoyed!
Only issue I have is that the epilogue felt slightly rushed. Still really enjoyed!
December 24, 2025
I do wish some parts of the story’s background had been more developed, but I liked how specific this GN got with the details about lion dancing itself.
August 4, 2024
Lion Dancers is a middle grade graphic novel about sort of embracing the things that are important to us, even if people have driven us away from those things. Wei is a kid living through the trauma of his parents' death not so long after he quits his lion dancing team, but some time later he's given the opportunity to join a new team.... along with his ex-partner, aka the reason he quit his old team to begin with!
We as readers get to learn a lot about lion dancing throughout the ~300 pages as well as get ot know some of these kids and the anger of adolescence while trying to juts find a place you belong... even when someone so close to you tells you you don't.
I enjoyed this book and I bet in full color it'll be even better! Totally understand the B&W for ARC purposes though and I think that's quite smart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for review!
We as readers get to learn a lot about lion dancing throughout the ~300 pages as well as get ot know some of these kids and the anger of adolescence while trying to juts find a place you belong... even when someone so close to you tells you you don't.
I enjoyed this book and I bet in full color it'll be even better! Totally understand the B&W for ARC purposes though and I think that's quite smart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for review!
August 24, 2024
This was a great middle grade #ownvoices graphic novel about a young Chinese American boy who aspires to be a lion dancer just like his award-winning deceased father! Personal, emotionally deep and with great graphics, this is perfect for fans of books like Lunar New Year Love story by Gene Luen Yang! Highly recommended!!
September 9, 2024
2.5
I didn't really like this one. The order of the speech bubbles was occasionally hard to follow. The action of the lion dancing was consistently confusing. The uneven pace of the thing didn't work for me.
I didn't really like this one. The order of the speech bubbles was occasionally hard to follow. The action of the lion dancing was consistently confusing. The uneven pace of the thing didn't work for me.
April 22, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Wei attends Bird's Beak Middle School and is on the basketball team, but none of his teammates ever chose him, and he gets no time on the court. His best friend, Jun, is much better at basketball, and she encourages him to become more involved with the people on the team. When he is walking home, he runs into a man with a Lion Dancer t shirt; his father was a very good lion dancer with a competitive team before he died in a car accident, leaving Wei to be raised by his grandmother. The man tells Wei to come to the training center for the Southern Phoneix team. Having trained a bit with his father, and danced before, Wei still does a good job, but is surprised when he is yelled at by Hung and told to go away. The adults at the center tell Hung that he should not treat others like that. They don't know about the history that the two have; Hung used to be the "tail" of the lion to Wei's "head", and the two were a good team until they fought with each other. The other dancers welcome Wei, and he participates in the Lunar New Year Lion Dances. The team is hired by businesses to come and do the dances, which culminate in the lion reaching for the "cheng" (cabbage). If the cheng is successfully retrieved, it means that the business will be successful. Hung is angry when he once again has to be the tail for Wei, and the two don't work well together. There is a very bad performance at a local mall that is barely salvaged. Wei eventually talks to Hung, and tells him that the people who are tails are the strongest people on the dance team, and that Wei himself is not strong enough to be the tail. At the end of the season, there is a big celebration. The mysterious captain of the team is revealed, and a competition team is announced. Wei and Hung are able to work together and be successful.
Strengths: I didn't know anything at all about lion dancing, but this had a lot of good information about the sport! The beginnings of the chapters in this graphic novel have information about steps, costumes, and different parts of the dance that were very interesting. Wei's trouble fitting in to school is realistic; he really wants to get back to lion dancing, but is conflicted because of his father's death, as well as his interactions with Hung. I really enjoyed all of the discussion about teamwork, and found it intriguing that the lion dancers all had to try to place the drums and cymbals, since they are so important to keeping the dancers on their marks. There is some action and suspense with the dances, especially when one business has hung their cheng very high, and Wei has to really work with his partner to reach it. Having worked in a giant chicken costume in high school for a fast food restaurant, I can't imagine how hard it is to do these lion dances!
Weaknesses: I am not entirely sure where this is set; the author is from Australia, but there are some of the store fronts that have names in Chinese characters on them in the illustrations. It's not all that important to the story, but would have been interesting to know.
What I really think: There are so few graphic novels about sports, and this is an excellent look into what activities are available for children in other parts of the world. I love that this is based on the author's own experiences with the Chinese Youth Lion Dance Team! This was a very unusual and engaging story.
Wei attends Bird's Beak Middle School and is on the basketball team, but none of his teammates ever chose him, and he gets no time on the court. His best friend, Jun, is much better at basketball, and she encourages him to become more involved with the people on the team. When he is walking home, he runs into a man with a Lion Dancer t shirt; his father was a very good lion dancer with a competitive team before he died in a car accident, leaving Wei to be raised by his grandmother. The man tells Wei to come to the training center for the Southern Phoneix team. Having trained a bit with his father, and danced before, Wei still does a good job, but is surprised when he is yelled at by Hung and told to go away. The adults at the center tell Hung that he should not treat others like that. They don't know about the history that the two have; Hung used to be the "tail" of the lion to Wei's "head", and the two were a good team until they fought with each other. The other dancers welcome Wei, and he participates in the Lunar New Year Lion Dances. The team is hired by businesses to come and do the dances, which culminate in the lion reaching for the "cheng" (cabbage). If the cheng is successfully retrieved, it means that the business will be successful. Hung is angry when he once again has to be the tail for Wei, and the two don't work well together. There is a very bad performance at a local mall that is barely salvaged. Wei eventually talks to Hung, and tells him that the people who are tails are the strongest people on the dance team, and that Wei himself is not strong enough to be the tail. At the end of the season, there is a big celebration. The mysterious captain of the team is revealed, and a competition team is announced. Wei and Hung are able to work together and be successful.
Strengths: I didn't know anything at all about lion dancing, but this had a lot of good information about the sport! The beginnings of the chapters in this graphic novel have information about steps, costumes, and different parts of the dance that were very interesting. Wei's trouble fitting in to school is realistic; he really wants to get back to lion dancing, but is conflicted because of his father's death, as well as his interactions with Hung. I really enjoyed all of the discussion about teamwork, and found it intriguing that the lion dancers all had to try to place the drums and cymbals, since they are so important to keeping the dancers on their marks. There is some action and suspense with the dances, especially when one business has hung their cheng very high, and Wei has to really work with his partner to reach it. Having worked in a giant chicken costume in high school for a fast food restaurant, I can't imagine how hard it is to do these lion dances!
Weaknesses: I am not entirely sure where this is set; the author is from Australia, but there are some of the store fronts that have names in Chinese characters on them in the illustrations. It's not all that important to the story, but would have been interesting to know.
What I really think: There are so few graphic novels about sports, and this is an excellent look into what activities are available for children in other parts of the world. I love that this is based on the author's own experiences with the Chinese Youth Lion Dance Team! This was a very unusual and engaging story.
July 27, 2025
Competition, finding friends, and dealing with past problems becomes interesting and grabbing in a read, which introduces the joy of (and facts surrounding) Lion Dancing.
Wei has been trying to find more friends at school and even joined the basketball team, but this leads to more problems than he had before. He always ends up alone on the bench and increasingly becomes the butt of the other players' jokes. When he notices a guy wearing a shirt from a lion dancing team on the street, he takes the risk of asking the stranger about it. After all, Wei's own father was a champion lion dancer, and Wei himself had been training for the sport when he was younger...before his father's death. Deciding to give, at least, another peek at the sport, he visits the team and wonders if he should get involved. But not only is he not sure he's ready to revisit something he did with his father years before, but his ex-partner and once best friend isn't thrilled to see him again.
When I picked this up, it was more due to the lion dancing aspect than the friendship drama. This book ended up surprising in both categories. The author is a lion dancer, and her love for the sport comes across in every scene. The exciting aspects and fun of learning to do the moves comes across clearly, while the frustration, hard work, and exhaustion also keeps it more than grounded. It's a well-rounded look into the sport and is no problem to relate to, especially for those readers who have participated in physical activities and competitions themselves. Of course, readers learn about lion dancing and what it involves during the story, but the author adds facts and explanations behind the moves and such at the beginning of each chapter. These movements occur in the tale as well (very smoothly worked into the plot), which gives the readers 'aha' moments.
While all this goodness around the unique sport already make this an intriguing read, the human and social aspect works well, too. Wei tries to force himself to be something he isn't, which leaves him more lonely than before. Even when he enters the lion dancing realm, it isn't without difficulties. His ex-best friend's attitude is selfish, but as Wei's past and the ex-friend's family life comes to light, it becomes understandable...even when it's still, obviously, not okay. To make sure the story doesn't become too emotional, the problems between the two characters are kept more as a side-story as the Wei needs to rediscover the sport and relearn what it takes to succeed. Messages surrounding determination, working with others, and even dealing with past trauma are hit upon.
The graphics really bring each moment to life, which not only melds with the text to drive the tale forward with tension, emotion, and excitement, but also opens up the sport of lion dancing on a visual level...which is very important for this type of activity.
It's an engaging read...even more than I thought it might be...and hard to put down. I wonder if there will be a second book because it'd be fun to see where Wei goes from here.
Wei has been trying to find more friends at school and even joined the basketball team, but this leads to more problems than he had before. He always ends up alone on the bench and increasingly becomes the butt of the other players' jokes. When he notices a guy wearing a shirt from a lion dancing team on the street, he takes the risk of asking the stranger about it. After all, Wei's own father was a champion lion dancer, and Wei himself had been training for the sport when he was younger...before his father's death. Deciding to give, at least, another peek at the sport, he visits the team and wonders if he should get involved. But not only is he not sure he's ready to revisit something he did with his father years before, but his ex-partner and once best friend isn't thrilled to see him again.
When I picked this up, it was more due to the lion dancing aspect than the friendship drama. This book ended up surprising in both categories. The author is a lion dancer, and her love for the sport comes across in every scene. The exciting aspects and fun of learning to do the moves comes across clearly, while the frustration, hard work, and exhaustion also keeps it more than grounded. It's a well-rounded look into the sport and is no problem to relate to, especially for those readers who have participated in physical activities and competitions themselves. Of course, readers learn about lion dancing and what it involves during the story, but the author adds facts and explanations behind the moves and such at the beginning of each chapter. These movements occur in the tale as well (very smoothly worked into the plot), which gives the readers 'aha' moments.
While all this goodness around the unique sport already make this an intriguing read, the human and social aspect works well, too. Wei tries to force himself to be something he isn't, which leaves him more lonely than before. Even when he enters the lion dancing realm, it isn't without difficulties. His ex-best friend's attitude is selfish, but as Wei's past and the ex-friend's family life comes to light, it becomes understandable...even when it's still, obviously, not okay. To make sure the story doesn't become too emotional, the problems between the two characters are kept more as a side-story as the Wei needs to rediscover the sport and relearn what it takes to succeed. Messages surrounding determination, working with others, and even dealing with past trauma are hit upon.
The graphics really bring each moment to life, which not only melds with the text to drive the tale forward with tension, emotion, and excitement, but also opens up the sport of lion dancing on a visual level...which is very important for this type of activity.
It's an engaging read...even more than I thought it might be...and hard to put down. I wonder if there will be a second book because it'd be fun to see where Wei goes from here.
October 25, 2024
Fabulous art and a pretty fascinating subject. I loved learning more about lion dancing, especially about the meanings behind the movements and the fact that there's a competitive league aspect as well. I've always thought of it as an art rather than as a highly skilled, athletic and team based activity -- clearly it is both. And I really appreciated how clearly the music is highlighted as the communication vector for the whole team.
Things I had a harder time with -- Hun and Jun are both just really mean to Wei, especially in the beginning. Jun is not a very good friend, and the way the kids talk about him and to him is icky. That's never really resolved except on Wei's end. He finds ways to commit to the team and to make new friends who don't treat him badly. Jun starts showing up for him in a better way. But there's no confrontation or calling out of the behaviors. Maybe that's very realistic, or just a different way of the world that I am used to -- it feels more like a model of controlling your own behavior and not reacting to how other people treat you. I think the thing that confuses me is that a more extreme version of this behavior is also happening with Hun, and that does get called out and eventually resolved, so it just feels inconsistent.
Also, I kept expecting that the death of Wei's parents would be referred to as one of the reasons he quit lion dancing in the first place and that never happens. And it's very weird to me that his community never refers to their deaths, to his father's achievements, to the fact that Wei might have mixed feelings about the sport due to his loss. His grandmother clearly does, but no one else ever mentions it.
So yeah --art wise, it's spectacular. Subject -- fascinating. Emotional acuity -- a lot of missed opportunities.
Things I had a harder time with -- Hun and Jun are both just really mean to Wei, especially in the beginning. Jun is not a very good friend, and the way the kids talk about him and to him is icky. That's never really resolved except on Wei's end. He finds ways to commit to the team and to make new friends who don't treat him badly. Jun starts showing up for him in a better way. But there's no confrontation or calling out of the behaviors. Maybe that's very realistic, or just a different way of the world that I am used to -- it feels more like a model of controlling your own behavior and not reacting to how other people treat you. I think the thing that confuses me is that a more extreme version of this behavior is also happening with Hun, and that does get called out and eventually resolved, so it just feels inconsistent.
Also, I kept expecting that the death of Wei's parents would be referred to as one of the reasons he quit lion dancing in the first place and that never happens. And it's very weird to me that his community never refers to their deaths, to his father's achievements, to the fact that Wei might have mixed feelings about the sport due to his loss. His grandmother clearly does, but no one else ever mentions it.
So yeah --art wise, it's spectacular. Subject -- fascinating. Emotional acuity -- a lot of missed opportunities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2025
Wei's father was a champion lion dancer and Wei has always wanted to dance - just like him. But then his dad was killed in a tragic accident and Wei now lives with his grandmother.
A few years ago, Wei was a lion dancer - he was the head and his good friend Hung was his tail. They were a good team but then Hung made fun of Wei in front of other kids at school so he quit.
Now it is two years later. Wei has just started middle school. He is a very good student but definitely a loner. He bumps into a stranger on the way home who is obviously a lion dancer. He encourages Wei to come to the local temple and try lion dancing again. Wei works up his courage and steps outside of his comfort zone to give it a try. Everyone at the temple is very encouraging and welcomes Wei except Hung. He is already on the team and he is very antagonistic to Wei which causes trouble for the whole group of lion dancers.
Wei puts that all aside and practices. He does really well but he and Hung will have to make peace if they really want their team to succeed.
This was a very interesting read! Hung is obviously jealous of Wei - Wei gets good grades without really having to work hard, he is small so is a natural for the head of the lion, and he just seems to have a natural ability for dancing -- even though he definitely has some trust issues. It takes a while for the book to get around to reveal all the details fueling the conflict between the two. Wei is also at fault - he did just walk away from his partner and he needs to learn to communicate more effectively. But they both get a lot of support from their fellow team members, their coaches and their families.
And I learned so much about lion dancing! I had no idea how much training goes into the performance or how physically demanding it is. Or the significance of the movements of the lion. And I had no idea that there were lion dancing competitions.
A few years ago, Wei was a lion dancer - he was the head and his good friend Hung was his tail. They were a good team but then Hung made fun of Wei in front of other kids at school so he quit.
Now it is two years later. Wei has just started middle school. He is a very good student but definitely a loner. He bumps into a stranger on the way home who is obviously a lion dancer. He encourages Wei to come to the local temple and try lion dancing again. Wei works up his courage and steps outside of his comfort zone to give it a try. Everyone at the temple is very encouraging and welcomes Wei except Hung. He is already on the team and he is very antagonistic to Wei which causes trouble for the whole group of lion dancers.
Wei puts that all aside and practices. He does really well but he and Hung will have to make peace if they really want their team to succeed.
This was a very interesting read! Hung is obviously jealous of Wei - Wei gets good grades without really having to work hard, he is small so is a natural for the head of the lion, and he just seems to have a natural ability for dancing -- even though he definitely has some trust issues. It takes a while for the book to get around to reveal all the details fueling the conflict between the two. Wei is also at fault - he did just walk away from his partner and he needs to learn to communicate more effectively. But they both get a lot of support from their fellow team members, their coaches and their families.
And I learned so much about lion dancing! I had no idea how much training goes into the performance or how physically demanding it is. Or the significance of the movements of the lion. And I had no idea that there were lion dancing competitions.
July 22, 2024
In this beautiful Graphic Novel about rivals who were once friends, we follow Wei. A young Lion Dancer who dreams of being the best just like his championship winning father. After the passing of said father and harsh words amongst his best friend, Wei quits Lion Dancing for a while. After a few years of learning to live life without Lion Dancing, Wei finds himself stumbling back in full force after he interrupts a Junior Lion Dancing Team’s training.
Guess who’s also on this team? Our rival and rising champion, Hung!
The art and story both were wonderful. Lion Dancing is such a beautiful sport that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. I hope this book can spark some interest and the book community can bring Lion Dancing into the fold. I’d love to read more about it!
I’m going to give this Novella a 3.5/5-star rating. Though I loved the characters, sport, and art work, I felt like the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked to see them reignite their friendship a little more before tossing them back into a performance together so suddenly. One of the main focuses of Lion Dancing was to trust your partner, and though they have old chemistry, I don’t think they were ready to become a pair again so soon.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published August 13th, 2024.
Guess who’s also on this team? Our rival and rising champion, Hung!
The art and story both were wonderful. Lion Dancing is such a beautiful sport that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. I hope this book can spark some interest and the book community can bring Lion Dancing into the fold. I’d love to read more about it!
I’m going to give this Novella a 3.5/5-star rating. Though I loved the characters, sport, and art work, I felt like the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked to see them reignite their friendship a little more before tossing them back into a performance together so suddenly. One of the main focuses of Lion Dancing was to trust your partner, and though they have old chemistry, I don’t think they were ready to become a pair again so soon.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published August 13th, 2024.
September 15, 2025
I was surprised by the mixed reviews on this book. I can say, without a doubt, this is the best graphic novel I have ever read. I had my pros and cons, for sure, but the pros were so enormous.
First of all, I didn't even know lion dancing was a thing. What a fascinating art form. Dancing is very physically demanding, but this is a whole other level. It struck me as almost martial art like, especially with their push-ups for messing up. That threw me back to the dark days of childhood karate... Crazy acrobatics and skill involved. If the sole purpose of this book was to get me to look up lion dancing, it nailed it.
I really liked the storyline. I've seen mixed reviews on it, but I felt like the flow and plot worked really well. I didn't mind the quietness on his parents' passing; it felt like it worked without taking away from the main plot.
I agree with other readers that I was very confused about where this story took place. Some of the businesses had English and Chinese characters for their names and there were big Lunar New Year celebrations, so I was leaning China but wasn't positive. I felt like Hung's parents were not the best, and inadvertently caused a lot of his problems for him. But this didn't detract from the story for me. It made sense with the plot.
Beautiful art, fascinating subject matter, great storyline. And the author being a lion dancer herself was icing on the cake!
First of all, I didn't even know lion dancing was a thing. What a fascinating art form. Dancing is very physically demanding, but this is a whole other level. It struck me as almost martial art like, especially with their push-ups for messing up. That threw me back to the dark days of childhood karate... Crazy acrobatics and skill involved. If the sole purpose of this book was to get me to look up lion dancing, it nailed it.
I really liked the storyline. I've seen mixed reviews on it, but I felt like the flow and plot worked really well. I didn't mind the quietness on his parents' passing; it felt like it worked without taking away from the main plot.
I agree with other readers that I was very confused about where this story took place. Some of the businesses had English and Chinese characters for their names and there were big Lunar New Year celebrations, so I was leaning China but wasn't positive. I felt like Hung's parents were not the best, and inadvertently caused a lot of his problems for him. But this didn't detract from the story for me. It made sense with the plot.
Beautiful art, fascinating subject matter, great storyline. And the author being a lion dancer herself was icing on the cake!
August 14, 2024
Will Wei prove himself to be a great lion dancer?
Wei, a young boy, has always been benched in school teams, and he always feels left out as a result. One day, on his way home from school, he has an encounter that reawakens his old passion for lion dancing. So, he decides to rejoin a lion dancing practice to give it another shot. However, there is one problem: his old friend Hung turns out to be a rival and wants to avoid Wei in the practice. Soon, Wei and Hung compete to see who would be the better lion dancer, and through this, they start to learn more about themselves.
I was utterly engrossed in this book and couldn't put it down. The illustrations were skillfully done with a charming, cartoony style. The book also provided me with a fascinating insight into the world of lion dancing and its significance to those who practice it as a group.
Wei's character stood out for his unwavering determination and strong work ethic. I deeply admired his resilience, especially considering the challenges he faced. On the other hand, Hung's character didn't appeal to me much due to his lack of kindness.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an inspiring story about perseverance and the value of hard work.
Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @netgalley & @SimonKids #SimonKidsCrew , for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wei, a young boy, has always been benched in school teams, and he always feels left out as a result. One day, on his way home from school, he has an encounter that reawakens his old passion for lion dancing. So, he decides to rejoin a lion dancing practice to give it another shot. However, there is one problem: his old friend Hung turns out to be a rival and wants to avoid Wei in the practice. Soon, Wei and Hung compete to see who would be the better lion dancer, and through this, they start to learn more about themselves.
I was utterly engrossed in this book and couldn't put it down. The illustrations were skillfully done with a charming, cartoony style. The book also provided me with a fascinating insight into the world of lion dancing and its significance to those who practice it as a group.
Wei's character stood out for his unwavering determination and strong work ethic. I deeply admired his resilience, especially considering the challenges he faced. On the other hand, Hung's character didn't appeal to me much due to his lack of kindness.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an inspiring story about perseverance and the value of hard work.
Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @netgalley & @SimonKids #SimonKidsCrew , for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2024
An inspiring look at the team sport of lion dancing. It is so much more than just putting on a lion costume.
Before reading this new graphic novel I viewed some live lion dancing performances on Youtube. Such an intricate display. The two people in the costume must be in sync and often there is another pair performing alongside. Then the drum and cymbals must be tuned in so they can play the right music for the moves. That lion head even has eyes that blink and a mouth to grab ceremonial items hanging overhead.
At the heart of this story is a young man whose father was a championship lion dancer and died at a young age in a performance-related car accident. Wei was once on a team, but grew frustrated and left to work at excelling in academics. Now in middle school, he realizes that his life is incomplete and returns to the sport. Will he be able to learn the skills the team needs for him to be a head? What about his estranged former teammate Jung? Can they both be a part of the same team?
Ultimately, learning to work with a team is an important life skill. Along the way Wei will gain new skills and the support of his teammates. A shout out to my GR friend Rosh for helping me discover this fascinating read. 🦁
Before reading this new graphic novel I viewed some live lion dancing performances on Youtube. Such an intricate display. The two people in the costume must be in sync and often there is another pair performing alongside. Then the drum and cymbals must be tuned in so they can play the right music for the moves. That lion head even has eyes that blink and a mouth to grab ceremonial items hanging overhead.
At the heart of this story is a young man whose father was a championship lion dancer and died at a young age in a performance-related car accident. Wei was once on a team, but grew frustrated and left to work at excelling in academics. Now in middle school, he realizes that his life is incomplete and returns to the sport. Will he be able to learn the skills the team needs for him to be a head? What about his estranged former teammate Jung? Can they both be a part of the same team?
Ultimately, learning to work with a team is an important life skill. Along the way Wei will gain new skills and the support of his teammates. A shout out to my GR friend Rosh for helping me discover this fascinating read. 🦁
April 6, 2025
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3.5 stars
Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father's death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves?
A nice story about what it means to be part of a team. An entertaining read with a lot of great information about lion dancing. Each chapter opens with a different movement in lion dancing. I love how the information was nicely worked into the story.
Great messages about following your passions, teamwork, sportsmanship, and the importance of all members on a team. Also, briefly touches on loss of parents and grief, though these aspects do not feel fully developed within the events of the book.
Bright, high-action illustrations. As someone who doesn't know much about lion dancing, sometimes I wished the movements weren't shown in such extreme close up so that I could see the overall presentation, but they did a great job showing the intensity and hard work that does into lion dancing.
A fun way to learn more about lion dancing. A nice read. Some aspects felt underdeveloped but it was engaging overall.
3.5 stars
Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father's death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves?
A nice story about what it means to be part of a team. An entertaining read with a lot of great information about lion dancing. Each chapter opens with a different movement in lion dancing. I love how the information was nicely worked into the story.
Great messages about following your passions, teamwork, sportsmanship, and the importance of all members on a team. Also, briefly touches on loss of parents and grief, though these aspects do not feel fully developed within the events of the book.
Bright, high-action illustrations. As someone who doesn't know much about lion dancing, sometimes I wished the movements weren't shown in such extreme close up so that I could see the overall presentation, but they did a great job showing the intensity and hard work that does into lion dancing.
A fun way to learn more about lion dancing. A nice read. Some aspects felt underdeveloped but it was engaging overall.
August 9, 2024
What a magical graphic novel. I can't wait to see the finished copy in full color and can't wait to talk about this to everyone! As Lunar New Year approaches, Wei reconsiders joining the lion dancing team which he had been a part of many years ago before the death of his father, who was a renowned lion dancer. He wants to be a part of a team again because he's not feeling super connected at school, the problem is that one of the kids at school that never has a kind word to say to him is also a lion dancer and is making it hard for Wei to be a part of the group though he perseveres.
This plot feels secondary to the learning about lion dancing- both the skill and technique but the cultural significance and celebratory nature of lion dancing. I was completely blown away by how Tse wove the story together over an intense season of performances and ultimately (and hopefully) ended with a truce between Wei and Hung in the ways that the best middle grade ends.
The transitions between each chapter teaching a move of lion dancing elevated the story and the quiet secondary characters sparkle without overpowering the story like Wei's grandmother. Adore this one!
This plot feels secondary to the learning about lion dancing- both the skill and technique but the cultural significance and celebratory nature of lion dancing. I was completely blown away by how Tse wove the story together over an intense season of performances and ultimately (and hopefully) ended with a truce between Wei and Hung in the ways that the best middle grade ends.
The transitions between each chapter teaching a move of lion dancing elevated the story and the quiet secondary characters sparkle without overpowering the story like Wei's grandmother. Adore this one!
October 13, 2024
Wei is a misfit who thrives in the classroom, but struggles to fly on the court. When a go at basketball doesn't work out, he returns to the temple to a former love...lion dancing. It is difficult in so many ways, but channeling the strength of his father, a famous lion dancer himself, Wei is determined to find his place.
I spotted this title on Goodreads months back and recently eyed it on the shelves at my local bookstore. Being a teacher in Thailand, many Chinese students pass through my doorway. I picked up this title as it has the potential to be an "it" book for my middle school readers. I do love the topic, the cultural significance, and the artwork—all positives. However, I did feel the plot was very one-note. It didn't really go to the depths that I felt it could have. I am excited to put this on my classroom shelf and hope many students pick it up. Readers will learn a great deal—especially from the beginning-of-the-chapter notes—and I hope there is joy at the same time. Recommended for GR 6-8.
I spotted this title on Goodreads months back and recently eyed it on the shelves at my local bookstore. Being a teacher in Thailand, many Chinese students pass through my doorway. I picked up this title as it has the potential to be an "it" book for my middle school readers. I do love the topic, the cultural significance, and the artwork—all positives. However, I did feel the plot was very one-note. It didn't really go to the depths that I felt it could have. I am excited to put this on my classroom shelf and hope many students pick it up. Readers will learn a great deal—especially from the beginning-of-the-chapter notes—and I hope there is joy at the same time. Recommended for GR 6-8.
May 2, 2025
Set in Phoenix. Solid story of Wei, a doubting boy who struggles to feel like part of a team. His late father was a champ -- big shoes to fill. Any issues with team members, and Wei quits (we see this in basketball. Another boy, Hung, who was his LD partner (but who made fun of Wei in school, so he quit lion dancing) is jealous when Wei starts dancing again and is on HIS team. Hung wants to be the head, but he's getting too big for his tail to manage. Doesn't care: parental pressure.
Does a GREAT job of conveying the skill and athleticism needed to be a lion dance--the traditional moves and their meaning, the coordination and communication between the head and the tail, and the strength needed to do the lifts and grabbing the cheng--greenery. And the various types of perfoarmances--stage, stores, restaurants and streets, swaapping dancers as they tire...Exciting panels of exertion and energy.
Adult teams and youth, competitions--it's all here.
Author is a champion lion dancer in Australia.
Does a GREAT job of conveying the skill and athleticism needed to be a lion dance--the traditional moves and their meaning, the coordination and communication between the head and the tail, and the strength needed to do the lifts and grabbing the cheng--greenery. And the various types of perfoarmances--stage, stores, restaurants and streets, swaapping dancers as they tire...Exciting panels of exertion and energy.
Adult teams and youth, competitions--it's all here.
Author is a champion lion dancer in Australia.
January 18, 2026
Wei and his best friend, Hung, were lion dancers until Wei's father passed away suddenly and Wei quit dancing. Hung has never forgiven him for quitting so when Wei returns years later, it causes a rivalry to form on the same team. Now they will have to find a way to become teammates again.
My favorite aspect of this book was the introduction to an unfamiliar aspect of Chinese culture. After reading this one, I found myself searching online for videos of Lion Dancers. I was especially interested in the behind-the-scenes footage.
The friendship drama at the forefront of the story was a bit confusing and could confuse younger readers. The timeline isn't straightforward, so the reason the two boys are angry at each other isn't clear for a while. It made the story hard to follow at times, but I think it was worth persevering through.
The main theme is teamwork and the importance of it on the lion dancing team. The kids have to rely on their partner or the performance will not work.
I thought this was a good read for 10+, though younger kids will enjoy it as well.
My favorite aspect of this book was the introduction to an unfamiliar aspect of Chinese culture. After reading this one, I found myself searching online for videos of Lion Dancers. I was especially interested in the behind-the-scenes footage.
The friendship drama at the forefront of the story was a bit confusing and could confuse younger readers. The timeline isn't straightforward, so the reason the two boys are angry at each other isn't clear for a while. It made the story hard to follow at times, but I think it was worth persevering through.
The main theme is teamwork and the importance of it on the lion dancing team. The kids have to rely on their partner or the performance will not work.
I thought this was a good read for 10+, though younger kids will enjoy it as well.
August 8, 2024
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for a free advanced reader’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a sweet read about family and interpersonal relationships. I thought I was in for a high stakes sports story of the same caliber as shounen sports manga but this was a much more loving and careful story. While I felt like the middle-school-aged characters were a bit too self-aware at times, I think, in service of the book’s message, it was necessary to bring the conflict to a close within the one volume. Overall, I think young readers will really walk away from this story having learned something, if not about Lion Dancing, then about themselves and maybe have a new lens to see the people in their lives through.
I thought the facts about Lion Dance moves in between scenes was so fun and the art was really clear with its intention of motion, I could nearly see the dancers jump off the page. The discussions around grief and passion and friendship felt really relatable too and over all I enjoyed the experience of this comic.
This was such a sweet read about family and interpersonal relationships. I thought I was in for a high stakes sports story of the same caliber as shounen sports manga but this was a much more loving and careful story. While I felt like the middle-school-aged characters were a bit too self-aware at times, I think, in service of the book’s message, it was necessary to bring the conflict to a close within the one volume. Overall, I think young readers will really walk away from this story having learned something, if not about Lion Dancing, then about themselves and maybe have a new lens to see the people in their lives through.
I thought the facts about Lion Dance moves in between scenes was so fun and the art was really clear with its intention of motion, I could nearly see the dancers jump off the page. The discussions around grief and passion and friendship felt really relatable too and over all I enjoyed the experience of this comic.
August 1, 2025
This middle-grade graphic novel is about a lion dancing team. It's a topic I didn't know much about so I appreciated the informational chapter openers. The drawing of the lions was good, but it was too wordy and beyond the main conflict between two dancers who were former teammates the other relationships didn't mean much to me. The girls seem to do either a lot of flirting or lecturing. The boys seem to do a lot of grimacing and fighting. There's an overall positive message about strength in teamwork, but a lot of page count goes to male-socialized behavior around competition and lack of conflict resolution skills. The mystery of who is the team captain isn't meaningful once solved.
cw: MC's backstory includes the death of Wei's father to a car accident on the way to a lion dance competition when the son was eleven (told but not really explored), there's some bullying but mostly generic not racial
cw: MC's backstory includes the death of Wei's father to a car accident on the way to a lion dance competition when the son was eleven (told but not really explored), there's some bullying but mostly generic not racial
April 15, 2024
I recieved an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
Wei always wanted to be a lion dancer just like his father but when his father suddenly dies and his best friend starts bullying him, how will Wei find his way back to his dreams? I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I didn’t know a lot about lion dancing and loved all the information from Tse’s real life experiences as a lion dancer and as soon as I finished the novel, I found myself looking up videos of the International Lion Dance Championship. Wei was a brave, tougher-than-he-seems character that I rooted for until the very end. The teamwork element worked really well in this novel and how to handle bullying and forgiveness. A great graphic novel for reluctant readers and those that want to learn more about Chinese culture and lion dancing.
Wei always wanted to be a lion dancer just like his father but when his father suddenly dies and his best friend starts bullying him, how will Wei find his way back to his dreams? I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I didn’t know a lot about lion dancing and loved all the information from Tse’s real life experiences as a lion dancer and as soon as I finished the novel, I found myself looking up videos of the International Lion Dance Championship. Wei was a brave, tougher-than-he-seems character that I rooted for until the very end. The teamwork element worked really well in this novel and how to handle bullying and forgiveness. A great graphic novel for reluctant readers and those that want to learn more about Chinese culture and lion dancing.
May 23, 2024
I loved this graphic novel! There was great character development and I loved seeing everyone’s relationships as part of a team. We followed Wei’s journey in falling back in love with lion dancing after he’d quit years before, and it commented a lot on grief, perseverance, teamwork and respect for all team positions, and friendship. All of the information about lion dancing that prefaces each chapter was super helpful and easy to understand. The arc I received was black and white for the majority of the book, but what pages were colored were very nice, and the illustrations in general are a really enjoyable style. My absolute only note was that the ending leads us into a new arrangement of the team which we don’t get to see in action and left me wanting more. I would absolutely love if a sequel were to be put in the works that focused on competition season.
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