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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Tse, Cai

Lion Dancers

304 pp. | Simon | August, 2024 | Trade ISBN 9781665927246 $23.99 | Paper ISBN 9781665927239 $13.99 | Ebook ISBN 9781665927253 $10.99
(2) 4-6 Friendship, self-confidence, and the physically demanding art of Chinese lion dancing are the focuses of this engaging debut graphic novel by Australian author Tse. Skinny, short, glasses-wearing Wei grew up idolizing his father, a champion lion dancer. After his dad's sudden death, Wei abruptly quits, only to return two years later after a chance encounter re-ignites the tween's passion. Wei initially struggles to keep up with the Southern Phoenix Junior Team. Worse still, he discovers that school bully (and his former dance partner) Hung is the star. The ex-friends constantly argue while preparing for several upcoming Lunar New Year performances. Tempers flare, and dancers are pushed to their limits, culminating in one difficult show that forces the students to work together and reconsider the team dynamics. Tse's action-packed, manga-style art shows how grueling yet exhilarating lion dancing can be while deftly explaining its technical and cultural aspects. Hard work, dedication, and collaboration are ultimately rewarded, and Tse even manages to humanize Hung's behavior. Hand this to readers who enjoy sports/martial arts adjacent stories.
Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

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