"Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection" by Yao Xiao explores important themes of coming out and immigrant family struggles. While I appreciated the intentions, the execution didn't quite resonate with me. The art style and comic layouts didn't click, and the narrative voice didn't fully connect. It's a personal preference, but others might find it more appealing.

Hi!

No entiendo por tarde tanto en leer esta novela grafica. Sentí un abrazo taan cálido de parte de la autora.
En esta serie de viñetas, Yao nos platica sobre la complicada relacion que tiene con su mama desde que comienza a plantearse el hecho de que es queer. Desde allí es un viaje de reflexiones y pensamientos sobre el miedo a crecer, el buscar oportunidades en otro pais, lidiar con el hecho de ser inmigrante, que la gente te llene de etiquetas. Me gusta mucho como va haciendo una evolución en los pensamientos y nos invita aumentar el amor propio y la idea sobre donde es nuestro verdadero hogar. Sin duda lo voy adquirir en fisico.

xoxo

Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid is the Xiao's struggle coming out as a bisexual to her mother and the harsh realities that she has to face as an outcome. I read this months ago, during a time where I myself was struggling with coming to terms that I might be a Bisexual. I have always been aware of my feelings but didn't know it was normal and that it has a name. That was the period where I confronted the Internalized Homophobia within myself. When I picked this one up, I pretty much didn't know anything about it except that it is a graphic memoir. But this turned out to be a timely read for me. There are so many things that I had in common with Xiao. Been raised in a homophobic culture it is extremely difficult to be yourself. Luckily I had the support of my friends.
This book was probably the first bisexual rep I have ever come across in my life and it definitely had an effect. I felt like this book understood me and therefore it was life changing to me.

I was beautiful to read. I love that the art style is simple yet bright. So many important topics are shown here, like coming out to close people and it might not go as well and even positive affirmations towards therapy. We have mental health representation, Gender fluidity, being an immigrant, and so much more. I would definitely recommend you pick this up.

A gorgeously drawn graphic novel with an interesting narrative, plot, and concepts. Definitely recommended for fans of this genre.

'Everything is Beautiful, and I'm not Afraid: A Baopu Collection' by Yao Xiao is a graphic novel collection of art and poetry about being an immigrant.

Inspired by the creator's own experience as a young, queer immigrant, this book explores the search for belonging in a new country. Also, the pain of the broken relationships with her mother, after she comes out to her.

This is a collection of self-reflection that also encourages the reader to reflect. The art is fairly simple, but the page layouts are really very interesting. It took me a bit to get in to the rhythm of this collection, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I loved this, loved loved loved it. Having said that, it's not going to be for everyone. It definitely struck a chord with me though. It's kinda stream-of-consciousness, skips around a bit, but that worked for me. There are slice-of-life bits, self-care bits, dealing with issues bits- depression, coming out to family and being rejected, being in another country, not knowing where you belong, and more. There are parts that made me sad, but it's also very hopeful. It's very personal, but I could see myself in many places (her journey with depression felt so familiar, the feelings of invisibility, loneliness, feelings of not being enough or being a disappointment....). I really enjoyed the artwork, it's very emotive, and has a child-like, innocent quality that blends so well with the writing, it feels poetic. A lovely book!

#EverythingIsBeautifulandImNotAfraid #NetGalley

I really enjoyed selection! I felt the writing was well written and thought out. You could tell the author knew where they wanted it to go.

Everything is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid by Yao Xiao

3.75 stars

This is a graphic novel collection that follows the musings and thoughts of a bisexual Chinese immigrant living in American who has been rejected by her Chinese mother. The artwork is beautiful and has a lot of transcendental landscapes that will appeal as well as encourage a lot of women or men with similar stories. I can't relate personally, but I appreciated the heart of this and the emotional capacity that this graphic novel addresses. There are some pages that are stilted and feel a little awkward, but the overall message of this novel is powerful and I enjoyed some of the conversations and dialogue that could be started based off of the points with sexuality, immigration, diversity, bisexual erasure, and acceptance. There are even more topics addressed, but I think that those should be discovered on your own by picking up this small and simple graphic novel collection. I'm glad that I read it and while it won't be something I will always remember I am glad to have read someone's story that is so different from my own.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.25

Art Scale: 4

Plotastic Scale: 4

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It was drew me in and the title also reminds me of Slaughterhouse-Five, so that was a plus.

Thank you, Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing, for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This was a beautiful graphic novel that addresses the life of a queer, young immigrant from China. It is a fantastic story.

This is an intense and personal collection of comic strips. There is nothing remotely 'HaHa funny' about them. Most of the ones I follow on social media do have personal incidents influencing their collections, but this one was of a slightly different ilk. I had seen one or two in passing forwards somewhere, that was enough for me to try the entire collection.

The author draws on her coming out to her mother and the way her life is fashioned around her life in the US while her roots continue to be an essential part of her. The imagery in each panel and the sides as well as background for some very beautiful. For the most part, there is a chronological order in which the panels and the story within it flows. The only problem was that a few of them were too existential and profound for my understanding. That said, someone with similar lives may draw strength from this narrative. 

There is not much more I could say regarding this particular title because it is a short collection of panels and was an engrossing read. It also does get you thinking.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my reading experience and the fact that I use my Instagram almost exclusively to follow comic strips like these.

This book is one of the most pure graphic novels that I've read in a long time. It really reminds me of Tillie Walden's graphic novels. It's got that same kind of dreamy quality throughout the book. I loved all of the different topics that were tackled in this as well. I think it would be a great addition to any library, personal or otherwise. I would highly recommend this graphic novel.

Really beautiful story and emotional one as well. I think this is a great book about finding your identity and place of belonging. The author tackles issues in such a nuanced and kind way.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I got an ARC of this book.

I am really in a slump of books that are just eh right now. I did not read far enough in the description when I requested the book. I thought this was a memoir. So I was trying to piece together the story through these comics, but things just weren't happening in a way that made a cohesive memoir work for me. It makes a little more sense now that I see it is a fiction, but there are still a lot of time jumps that make it feel more like it is a collection of poetry written over time instead of a cohesive story. I wanted a narrative. I could see some character growth, but because of the constant time jumps and the missing narrative I couldn't tell if that change came over years or days or if it was a dream. 

The story relies on poetic versions of feelings. I couldn't identify what those feelings were most of the time. The writing was often hard to read so I think that had to do with some of my disconnect from the book. I might just have missed some of the feelings as well. 

The art style was interesting. I really like it, but at times there was a meaning conveyed with the art that I was missing because it was something like just the hat was missing meant the MC was in another country. The hat wasn't explained as being anything significant to give me reason to track when it was and wasn't worn. So this probably also got in the way of me getting the full impact of the emotions. 

I wouldn't really recommend this book, but it wasn't necessarily bad. I just didn't seem to get it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this graphic novel, but it was extremely relatable and informative. I was mesmerized while reading it.

This is a collection of favorite comics from Baopu, Yao Xiao's monthly column on Autostraddle, and never-before-seen new works. The result is a lovely, biting, heartbreaking, charming semi-autobiographical journey of a young, queer, Chinese immigrant balancing independence and tradition, freedom and family, honesty and acceptance. This beautifully illustrated volume is simply a breath of fresh air.

'11 months of fiction. 1 month of reality.'
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Who else can relate to this?
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Me!

I love this book so much! Inspite of the cute and colourful illustration, this one is really hard-hitting talking about reality and queer gender issues. I would like to call this book a coming of age story and discuss issues that affect women on a day-to-day basis.
There are a few parts on racism and discrimination. There are a few original lines or poetry by the author in between which I really appreciate. The book talks mainly about how the author had been her entire life feeling stuck, invisible, confused and trapped (which we all feel at one time or the other) and then growing as a person after all these years of restrictions on writing and singing. This book is genuine in the sense that the illustrations stand out and depict exactly how the author felt. A
The first half of the book talks mainly about insecurities while the later half talks mainly about living and starting life all over again.
I appreciate the tips given in this collection regarding summer days, social interaction, spending and self-care. The book towards the end focuses more on accepting oneself when faced with body shaming, family issues, gender discrimination and how the author came to terms with being herself.
She urges the readers to keep trying and to love a little bit everyday.
Wow, I didn't expect all of these things when I picked up this book.
The book delivered more than what I had expected!
***Pride month is coming up and I am so glad I got to read this book!
Totally recommended 👍
Thank you #NetGalley for the book #EverythingisBeautifulandIAmNotAfraid

I really enjoyed reading Everything is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid. As a queer Asian American, this was very relatable for me. I went through similar struggles with the clashing of my identity and my conservative Asian culture. The search for acceptance from family, for belonging, and for self-love was one that I think many queer Asians can relate to.

There are many other topics that Xiao touches upon such as fat-shaming in Asian culture, racism, xenophobia, etc., all of which are present in everyday life for Asian Americans. Every page felt like I was talking to a friend who just understands what I’ve been through and am still going through.

i didn’t know the author, but the book is okay, i liked the title and the illustrations are simple but cute.

it was difficult to read some parts, i had a lump in my throat because i identified with the situations in the comics (the gloomy days, i'm falling...).

but, even thought the book shows the complex life of the author, it lacked context and maybe a litte of sympathy to understand/like more the book.

Everything Is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection is a queer coming-of-age comic book following a Chinese woman living in America and ultimately facing the challenge of finding where she belongs as a queer immigrant.


I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with Yao Xiao and her Baopu comic prior to this book, but apparently, it is an existing comic that is part of the online queer women magazine Autostraddle. This comic book follows the story of a bisexual Chinese immigrant living in New York City and the journey of finding her home in the world.

The book is very much a reflection of situations that happen and issues that people face, whether a woman, queer, or an immigrant. I find that comics are very powerful at this kind of look into the world since it is so visual, and although Xiao’s illustrations are simple in look they are still powerful.

The one downside of the comic is that some of the ordering of comics reads a little strange. It feels, in some sections, that is bounces around the timeline of the character’s overall journey so it is a little weird. However, it is not book ruining and the book overall has a clear introduction and conclusion of sorts. To me, it is a small issue that doesn’t terribly ruin the experience.

Overall, I find Xiao’s messages powerful and eye-opening. Since I only relate to Baopu as a woman, and not the queer and immigrant pieces of her, it is interesting to see things from that perspective. And the art is very nicely done and strengthens the messaging. I definitely think people should read this comic, regardless of if they are queer, female, or an immigrant, because it is so eye-opening to the issues those people face.

Everything Is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection publishes on March 3rd, 2020.