This book will WRECK you. Subtle, touching, beautiful. The art takes the graphic novel form to its highest level -- one where you can easily fill in the gaps from the illustrations and see a movie in your head. Just perfect.

This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel shares the story of Christine meeting her new friend Moon and simultaneously growing into her confidence. Throughout the story, Christine experiences ups and downs about her relationships with school, her family, and her friends.
The thing I liked the most about this book were the moments of difference within Chinese American culture that were represented. Moon not eating meat and being Buddhist contrasted with Christine's family's Christianity and strict "no nail polish" policies in a interesting way.
Thank you Jen Wang for imbuing your coming of age novel with Asian American culture. Highly recommended for fans of Shannon Hale's Real Friends or Raina Telgemeier's Smile and Sisters.

Jen Wang has written yet another amazing story that will resonate with a wide range of kids. I can't wait to introduce students to Christine and Moon!

Christine doesn't know what to think of Moon Lin, the girl living in her parent's backyard carriage house. Moon is impulsive, confident, Buddhist and a vegetarian...and she beats up kids. She's everything Christine is not—and she just might be an alien. But slowly these unlikely friends become best friends, until Christine starts to question their relationship.

I really, really enjoyed this book, and how it looked at Chinese-American children and how the sameness of experience makes any deviation from the norm—like Moon—seem weird and not-Asian.

Christine went from sheltered, uptight and rigid to learning to relax and enjoy life—although she still remained the same person that she was, being obsessed with grades and keeping her parents' love by being perfect. I enjoyed how she dealt with her feelings of discomfort, by putting up her defenses, slowly letting her guard down, and erecting her defenses again only to realize that you can't build a wall around your feelings.

Moon was absolutely ridiculous, although I didn't like that much of her weirdness was explained by (view spoiler), although it didn't really change much about how she was different from the other kids. What I did like was that she knew she was different, and felt lonely and isolated by her difference, but still reached out and tried to make friends. And her beating up other kids was her way of protecting her friends from the pain she had felt (and also her way of self-defense when words didn't stop the laughter).

I also liked how Moon was both "out of touch" with her heritage and also more in synch with Asian culture as a whole. She didn't speak Chinese, but she was obsessed with K-pop and knew more about trends than Christine and her friends, who were isolated by their parents' views and desires to maintain their Chinese culture. Moon's explanation of her differences was simple—she was so weird that of course she came from the stars, and she had visions to prove it. As a weird kid who didn't fit in with the others, I can totally agree with Moon on that end. When you're so weird, sometimes you have to find a way to explain your differences, and being an alien can often make more sense than any of the other reasons.

Overall, this was a very quick and heartfelt #ownvoices graphic novel about friendship and the differences in the Chinese diaspora, and how being weird and different from your peer group is okay.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

To be posted Aug 27 on GoodReads:

Christine’s life is turned a little upside down when her parents let a family who needs a boost live in their back house. Moon and her mom are nice people, but Moon is very different from Christine. Christine is a little wary of Moon at first. Can she be friends with this girl? Should she be friends with her?

I like how this explores very relatable friend issues for kids as well as personal expectations and how people can be so different, even within a sub-culture. (Most of the kids in Christine’s friend circle are Chinese-American.) It also touches on pediatric cancer in a way that isn’t overly heavy, and given that there aren’t that many books on pediatric cancer anyway, it fills a need to raise awareness and empathy. I also appreciate how aspects of the book are based on the author’s own life (like the pediatric cancer). These realistic graphic novels about friendship issues and true to life issues are off the charts popular with middle grade students right now. I’ll probably have to order multiple copies of this to keep the masses happy. It’s guaranteed a great audience. Recommended to any kid who feels like they don’t quite fit in, don’t measure up, know someone going through pediatric cancer, or just love realistic graphic novels.

Notes on content [based on ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content. There’s a part that could be misinterpreted <spoiler>Moon draws a picture of her singing with her teacher. Her father has died though and he liked to sing; I interpreted it as her imagining her teacher was her father now. It isn’t explained though so some may think she has a crush on her teacher like the girls in the story.</spoiler> Two punches (that have repercussions). A surgery off page.

<i>I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

A great read for fans of The Babysitters Club, Dork Diaries and other “slice of life” middle grade stories. It’s nice to add to the diverse options of this style of story, to allow other kids a chance to see themselves in the main characters. The two main characters we follow in this story seem as different as can be when first introduced but following along on their forming friendship and then coming into their own of who they are is a delightful journey. Also the art is phenomenal

Another wonderful graphic novel from Jen Wang! I loved everything about it! The illustrations are beautiful and the plot is engaging and heartfelt. The characters are both unique and relatable.
I can't wait to see what Ms. Wang come up with next!

I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it often to the kids that I work with. It's a big pivot from Wang's previous graphic novel, The Prince and the Dressmaker, but it is still an excellent book.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second books for an ARC of this wonderful book to review!

Jen Wang is really talented and I adored her graphic novel, the Prince and the Dressmaker! It goes the same for her new graphic novel for middle graders. I love this new sweet story about a friendship that develops between two seemingly different people and how they cope with difficulties in their relationship. I will highly recommend this graphic novel to kids that like Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson.

From my Goodreads review.

<i>Stargazing</i> is a story of friendship and of different sides to similar cultures. I became a fan of Jen Wang after reading <i>The Prince and the Dressmaker</i>, and I'm happy to say that her latest story does not disappoint. If anything, it truly tugs at the heartstrings both for Moon and Christine's different situations. Readers will relate to either one of the girls if not both whether they feel the pressures placed on them by either society or their parents or they don't always feel like they belong.

Highly recommended.

*Received via NetGalley for review*

Starts out as a recognizable story: two lonely, slightly strange kids find each other and become best friends until one of them starts branching out. But then a strange twist comes out of absolutely nowhere: Moon has a brain tumor that causes hallucinations and delusions. Yes, she mentions some strange beliefs, but Christine ignores them and changes the subject as quickly as she can. It really seems as though she doesn't even like Moon that much.

But, up until that point, the story was cliché and predictable, so kudos to Wang for changing it up a little.

A relatable, heartfelt middle grade graphic novel that explores what it means to be a friend and how to find your place in a diverse world.

Christine's family is similar to all the families in her community: Chinese, christian, and traditional. Her parents are loving, but strict expecting the best from her in school, with her violin, and in life. When Moon and her mother move into the spare room Christine's family has, Christine sees a different kind of family. One that is very much untraditional. While Moon is also Chinese, she and her mom are vegetarian and Buddhist. Moon can paint her fingernails and go to concerts. Moon is funny and cool and makes friends easily.

As Christine and Moon become best friends, Christine feels torn. Her parents expect so much from her, but she wishes she could be cool and easy going like Moon. Then the unthinkable happens and Christine has to confront her choices and actions and find what is means to just be herself.

Jen Wang offers another excellent middle grade graphic novel full of relatable characters, colorful illustrations, and heartfelt reality. Christine and Moon are likable and their friendship feels real. Wang perfectly shows what is feels like to be an adolescent trying to figure out how to fit in in school, with friends, and within your family's dynamic. It packs a lot in such a small package, but this is one fans of Raina Telgemeier will love.

**I received an e-ARC from Netgalley**

This is a really sweet, thoughtful book inspired by the author's own experiences. Christine and Moon are two girls who are super different and who still become best friends. Christine struggles with not feeling good enough and living up to her parents' expectations. Moon struggles with not feeling "Chinese enough" because she doesn't speak Chinese and she's Buddhist and vegetarian, unlike her friends. Christine is reluctant to befriend Moon because she's heard that Moon is violent. But they become best friends and it's the sweetest thing ever. They help each other open up and make new friends. I love the messages of identity and friendship that this book conveys. And it made me emotional near the end. This is one of the best graphic novels I've read this year.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great story about friendship and being true to who you are. I thought it was interesting the way Jen Wang handled what was actually happening with Moon. It was realistic and interesting. I would recommend this to children ages 9-12 who like character-driven graphic novels.

I received both an electronic ARC from First Second Books through NetGalley and an ARC through Goodreads on the same date. It's a delight to say that this book reads well on paper and online.
Graphic Novel
Wang has created characters that middle grade readers will relate too. We see one young woman dealing with parental pressure to excel and one who is coping with life with a single mom who has to work many hours.
The story opens with a concert followed by criticism from Christine's parents rather than praise. At the dinner following, readers also meet Moon and learn rumors about her as well as the information that she and her mom are having financial troubles. Christine and Moon become closer when Christine's family lets them live in the small cottage behind their home. The girls discover how different they are and still find a way to friendship and joint interests. Each finds ways they admire and envy the other. Moon continues to reach out for friendship and shares visions she has had. She also has difficulty controlling her anger and seems to go completely silent at other times. Christine does something to deliberately hurt Moon at a friend's birthday party and the consequences are serious. The plot turns when doctors discover Moon has a brain tumor. Christine can't process her feelings of guilt and refuses to even talk to Moon before her surgery. She finally becomes brave enough to tell her father how she feels with the constant pressure to excel.
Following Moon's surgery, the two reconnect and pick up their friendship with new awareness.
Wang captures the gamut of emotions involved for both of her main characters as well as the secondary ones. The illustrations bring depth to the plot.

Jen Wang can do no wrong. After reading the Prince and the Dressmaker, I've been dreaming about her next book. Stargazing was an incredible read! Moon and her mother come to live in a small house in Christine's backyard, and the two become fast friends. It deals with jealousy, "weird kids", living up to your parent's standards, and dealing with life. I laughed and cried. It was just incredible.

Such a cute and fun story! The characters were realistic and I loved the way the friendship was shown between the two girls!

Oh my heart. Jen Wang really knows how to write something so real and true to the adolescent experience and yet keep it so unique and different from everything I've ever read. After THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER, I became enamored with Jen Wang's art and writing and was so excited to see that Stargazing was being released. And it didn't disappoint. I flew through it. The issues of friendship, self-confidence, identity were balanced with wonderful characters and dialogue. I love that this was a personal story to Jen and that she was able to tell it in a way that felt light but true.

I am so grateful to get a copy in advanced.

I know many of my students who are fans of realistic graphic novels that will be drawn to Stargazing immediately. The characters were relatable and navigate real life problems. I do wish the story had continued on more because I felt that there was a lot more to experience with this book! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is a great example of realistic fiction for kids. The main character Christine worries about being different from her friends and meeting her parents expectations. Moon is different from other kids and does not worry about it like Christine. Can they stay friends? There's humor and sweetness to the story that kids should easily identify with. Highly recommended.