Loved this eye-opening memoir! I'm a sucker for a good immigration story, but this one holds up with the best of them. I love the "talk-to-talk" scenes especially. 8 to 14.

Growing up in Toronto, Ruth feels like your average Canadian teen. She loves hanging out with her friends, eating her favorite ketchup-flavored potato chips, and her "talk-to-talks" with her father. But Ruth suddenly feels lost when his job requires her family to uproot themselves from Toronto and return to Hong Kong, where her parents grew up.

Her mother is thrilled to be reunited with her friends, family, and her favorite things about Hong Kong, but Ruth feels like she isn't enough. She's not Chinese enough, fluent enough in Cantonese, or smart enough for her new international school. Ruth feels more alone than ever with her brother back in Canada at boarding school, a dad who works in China, and a mom who isn't ever at home.

As Ruth begins to figure out life in a new country, she realizes that maybe the story her dad told her about his family's strength, courage, and resilience might also mean that she can persevere.

What worked for me: I love a graphic memoir, and Chan's story is brilliantly shared through this medium. She does an excellent job of showcasing her struggle to adjust to a new country and a new family structure. I especially loved the use of different text colors for English vs. Cantonese and the use of Chinese characters to show what she didn't understand.

What didn't work for me: I would have liked to see the resolution of her father's family story. It felt a little unfinished. We just leave them in the barn and don't learn much more about what comes next.

I will always love a graphic memoir. I was especially impressed that this was the first graphic novel by the author. It flowed so well and covered some deep topics. It was funny and genuine and wholesome. I loved that the author originally wanted to write about her father’s family and their story, but changed it once she realized she had a similar experience as them—being uprooted. I liked that she still included her father’s story because I think it made it more expansive almost. Really recommend!

Incredible MG graphic memoir!
I know readers will connect with it on SO many levels, especially the experience of being bicultural, and the ideas of change being hard, fearing not being enough for others, getting used to things that were once uncomfortable, and home being “wherever you are because of the people who love and believe in you”! For so many of my students, Ruth’s experience is very similar to their realities, and I can’t wait to get copies for my school library so they can see more stories of “togetherness”, “courage, perseverance, and patience”! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, Ruth, for including the story of your father’s birth, and for making it a graphic novel!!!

"Uprooted" is a graphic memoir that follows the journey of a young girl thrust into a new life on the other side of the world. Tackling the bittersweet feeling of never quite belonging, the story skillfully navigates the challenges of teenhood amidst the excitement of new beginnings. Through its expressive art and engaging narrative, it depicts the struggles of adapting to a foreign culture. The parallel story of the Ruth's parents adds a depth of emotion that stays with readers long after they finish the book. Particularly resonant for teens, this GN offers valuable insights into the immigrant experience and the quest for identity. Inspired by the author's own life, the protagonist's journey mirrors real-life challenges of relocation and starting afresh. As she confronts these obstacles head-on, readers are moved by her resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit. Despite the hurdles of fitting into a new society, the story serves as a reminder that perseverance and determination can overcome any adversity.

Very strong story that will appeal to anyone who has ever wrestled with have each foot in different cultures and continents.

In the graphic memoir Uprooted, we see a young girl transplanted from where she grew up to where her parents grew up, across the world and in a different culture. It grasps the unique in-between of feeling not quite "at home" anywhere. The art and the story weave together in a helpful way to portray the awkwardness of that age and of moving to a new home and culture and the hopefulness of new beginnings. The story of her parents will stay with you for a long time. This is a worthwhile read for pre-teens and teens to help them understand (or find similarities in) the experiences of Asian immigrants in the western world and the awkwardness of not fitting in anywhere.

This book tells the story of a young Canadian girl whose family must move to Hong Kong for her father's work. She struggles at first to fit in with her Cantonese family, but soon makes friends and connections that help her realize that she belongs and that this is her home. I will be recommending this book to children in our library's community especially because we serve a very transient neighborhood. This story teaches kids that change is difficult but by embracing it, anything is possible.

A great story about a girl's life becoming uprooted as she moves from Toronto to Hong Kong and starts over. Ruth Chan loves her life in Toronto but when her dad gets a better job in Hong Kong, her family decides it's time to move. Ruth isn't ready to give up her best friends, her favorite things, and starting over in a new place where her language skills aren't the best and her parents are never around is hard. Ruth will go through a lot of growing but along the way her dad will tell her stories of her family and how they have persevered. Moving to a new place and trying to fit into a whole new society is hard, but anything is possible with a bit of strength, courage, and open heart. This was a really cute story and since it was based on the author's own life, it really felt so authentic. I think it's a great read for kids !

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*