Reviews

Age 16 by Rosena Fung

emstewart23's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable intergenerational, multiple POV coming of age graphic novel. I loved the use of different color schemes for each POV, and the weaving of similar themes that are passed down through generations yet with their own stories as well. This would be a great book club read that would spark great discussions about family, gender, and body image. A very unique and powerful story. 

lisamchuk's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very insightful coming-of-age graphic novel that follows three characters at age 16, both through time and the world: 1950s China, 1970s Hong Kong, and 2000 Canada. The main character is the daughter and granddaughter of the other characters, and we watch as they deal with the challenges of their era and societal complications of their country, all while perpetuating and coping with intergenerational trauma - primarily focusing on fatphobia as well as gender roles. This story fit the format of a graphic novel very well: I appreciated the art style and I thought it was very clever that the author used colour to mark time periods. My heart hurt watching the characters navigate the negativity in their lives, but the author also shows happy and hopeful moments and ultmately the message is inspiring - it is possible to heal and break the cycle of trauma, and the ending was very satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley and Annick Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

yentagon's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

mehsi's review against another edition

3.0

I received this book from Edelweiss/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Review to come June 2024.

forevrevanescnt's review

3.0

This graphic novel did a great hob of tackling very real issues that students face on a daily basis in this coming-of-age tale of cultural identity and self-discovery.

juanitamfm's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you NetGalley and Annick Press for the advanced copy of Age 16. I teach 5th grade so it's a little advanced in the content for my students, but I would definitely recommend it for high school students. The author did an amazing job of communicating so much feeling and depth in a graphic novel. I am always amazed at how much gets portrayed in just a few boxes! The images were excellent. The book spans 3 generations and how each one of the characters was living at the age of 16 including how their relationship with their mom was at the time. They had to deal with body image, gender issues, racism, war, and trying to feel accepted in the different story lines. It ends in a pretty positive note, so that is good for me.

mrsclappreads's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This graphic novel struck a chord with its exploration of timeless themes, spanning generations and capturing the struggles women face in being kinder to others than to themselves. Visually striking, it distinguishes each era with vibrant colors while authentically portraying the complexities of friendships among teens from various backgrounds. Though the writing could be more polished, the simplicity of the artwork effectively conveys the narrative, making it a standout choice for readers seeking a compelling and diverse graphic novel experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder

daphnea's review against another edition

4.5

This graphic novel is about a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother's experience being 16 years old in the 2000s Toronto, 1970s in Hong Kong. and 1950s rural China, and how their lives were shaped by their circumstances and their mothers.

I love the art style. Its fun, quirky, and I like how each character (daughter, mother, grandma) had their own chapters in their own color scheme. I loved the ending where all three color schemes are combined in present time. I thought there were a few moments in the book where it relied too heavily on the art, rather than the text.

I would recommend this book to folks who enjoy intergenerational coming of age stories about the immigrant (and second generation) experience. 

twicomb's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you don't think that graphic novels can contain deeply emotional, profoundly touching, multi-layered narratives, then this book will change your mind. If you already know that graphic novels can do all that, then you are in for a treat. Age 16 tackles so many of the timeless worries and fears of being a teenage girl, and demonstrates just how timeless (and heartfelt) they are by simultaneously showing three different generations of the same family all going through them, at three different times in the past. Within each character's world, there's much to unpack in the relationship between the mother and daughter: as there often is at this age, and with some of the dynamics that exist (e.g. body beliefs passed down through generations). But this book makes this telling particularly insightful because the mother in the first chapter may be the daughter in the second chapter. The grandmother in the sixth chapter was the mother in the second chapter. And so forth. In this way, we see the reverberations of impacts and injuries across the generations. But we also see hope and internal strength. This is a beautiful book that I'm certain will find many fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

sheepy_reads's review

emotional funny medium-paced

3.0