"A striking and viscerally affecting tale of love, loss, and letting go." -- Kirkus , starred review "This is a slow, lovely, and thoughtful story about the power of love versus the finality of death, and readers will be moved by the emotional journey." -- School Library Journal, starred review Lunar New Year Love Story : " A positive and beautiful work of art that will make an impression on readers." - School Library Journal, starred review " Yang and Pham do a wonderful job of weaving fractured families and romantic yearning with fantasy elements that show emotional states and growth, with plenty of humor throughout." - Horn Book , starred review "Poignant moments amplified by evocatively colored digitally rendered panels address deep issues of parental abandonment and grief, while interjections of comic relief and a riveting subplot surrounding lion dancing result in a well-paced, well-balanced dual effort." -- Publisher's Weekly , starred review Real Friends "A wonderfully observed portrait of finding one's place in your world." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "The book's truth is as vibrant as its art." -- Washington Post "Pham's visual version of Hale expresses everything, with bright creativity and intense emotional suffering warring across her face, her body posture, and even in her gait.

Hale fans will appreciate the look behind the curtain at where some of her amazing book ideas are rooted, and kids who have struggled with the complexity of grade school friendships, i.e., any kid, will find comfort that the dark days can be survived." -- The Bulletin.