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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Cheng, Jack

The Many Masks of Andy Zhou

320 pp. | Dial | June, 2023 | Trade ISBN 9780525553823 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 9780525553847 $10.99
(2) 4-6 On the morning after Andy Zhou's grandparents arrive in Detroit from Shanghai for a six-month stay, his best (and only) friend convinces him to bleach his hair. "We're going into middle school. This is our chance to make a statement." The scheme goes wrong, however, and Andy is left with blotches of orange hair, making him the target of bullying at the start of sixth grade. Middle school brings other challenges: grappling with his social life, racial microaggressions, and his grandfather's worsening health, Andy develops trichotillomania, a disorder that causes him to pluck his hair when he feels anxious. Cheng draws from his own personal experiences in creating an introspective, believable narrator whose internal monologue is often riddled with self-doubt. Although Andy struggles to find his voice, he's keenly attentive, translating his observations into doodles that open each chapter. After a rocky start, things begin to look up when an unexpected friendship with his bully emerges as they bond over anime and their families' respective cultural beliefs and customs, and Andy's artistic gifts are noticed by a supportive teacher. An afterword provides resources on various related topics, including body-focused repetitive behaviors, eating disorders, and bullying.
Reviewer: Kristine Techavanich | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

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