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"A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about three generations of mothers and daughters passing down and rebelling against standards of gender, race, beauty, size, and worth, for fans of Mariko Tamaki. Sixteen-year-old Roz is preoccupied with normal teenage stuff: navigating high school friendships, worrying about college, and figuring out what to wear to prom. When her estranged Por Por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, the already delicate relationship between Roz and her mother is upended. With three generations under one roof, conflicts inevitably arise and long suppressed family secrets rise to the surface. Told in alternating perspectives, Age 16 shifts seamlessly between time and place, exploring how this pivotal year in adolescence affects three women in the same family, from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000. Award-winning creator of Living with Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before and affect those that come after."--
About the author
ROSENA FUNG is an illustrator and comic artist from Toronto, Ontario. Her work has been shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award, and her favorite things are reading, cats, and eating snacks.
Summary
One of Ms. Magazine’s Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024
A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down—and rebel against—standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.
Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?
Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?
Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?
When Roz’s estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.
Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.
“Moving and emotional.” —Victoria Ying, Harvey Award–winning author of Hungry Ghost
“Crucial.” —Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo
“Beautiful.” —Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word
Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.
Foreword
- Lead title marketing campaign
- National media campaign, including targeted outreach to trade/YA//BIPOC/Graphic Novel media
- Author appearances, in-person and virtual
- Pre-pub trade advertising; key library journal print and digital advertising
- Lead title promotion at key industry events, including OLA, ALA, NCTE, Winter Institute, and SLJ Teen Live
- Social media outreach across all platforms
- Promotions on Goodreads, NetGalley, Edelweiss
- Marketing to fans of Living With Viola
- Extensive print and digital galley distribution to booksellers, reviewers, librarians, and educators
- Finished book mailing
- National awards submissions
- YA and Graphic Novel influencer outreach