Book Review :: Stargazing, by Jen Wang

Stargazing by Jen Wang
ISBN: 125018388X
Published by First Second
on 2019-09-10
Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels
Pages: 224
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads

Moon is everything Christine isn’t. She’s confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they both grew up in the same Chinese-American suburb, Moon is somehow unlike anyone Christine has ever known.

When Moon’s family moves in next door to Christine’s, Moon goes from unlikely friend to best friend―maybe even the perfect friend. The girls share their favorite music videos, paint their toenails when Christine’s strict parents aren’t around, and make plans to enter the school talent show together. Moon even tells Christine her deepest secret: that she sometimes has visions of celestial beings who speak to her from the stars. Who reassure her that earth isn’t where she really belongs.

But when they’re least expecting it, catastrophe strikes. After relying on Moon for everything, can Christine find it in herself to be the friend Moon needs?

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The story: Stargazing

Christine’s family rent out their sleep-out to Moon and her mother who have fallen on hard times. At first Christine isn’t so sure about the plan; she’s heard that Moon is a big bully and she doesn’t want to associate with a bully (smart girl).

But as Christine meets her new neighbour she realises that there’s more to Moon than mean rumours. Before long, Christine and Moon are hanging out more, both at school and around the house/s. Christine invites Moon into her weekly Chinese lessons that her mother runs for other kids, and Moon educates Christine about K-Pop music and dance routines. While the families are very different, the two girls become friends. And then it unravels when Moon does something unexpected.

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My thoughts on Stargazing

The story is a really sweet tale of friendship, family, school life and after school activities. It’s about music and art, and struggles with anger management and health troubles. I’ve read a few Jen Wang illustrated stories before (including The Prince and the Dressmaker and In Real Life) and her images are very cute but also manage to convey a lot of emotion and drama at the same time.

If you haven’t read any graphic novels before, or are just getting into them like I am, then Stargazing and other Jen Wang novels are great ones to start with. I believe that Stargazing is classed as middle-grade, but it can obviously be enjoyed by any age.

Have you read Stargazing? What did you think? 

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.