Middle grade graphic novels that deal with mental health are a fantastic addition to the classroom library. As someone intimately familiar with the mean little voice in my head, the depiction of Viola living inside Livy's head was perfect. In this story, Viola is manifested as a result of pressures Livy feels, largely coming from her parents' immigration experience and the complexities that can bring. The use of colour to denote Livy vs Viola is a technique I teach about, and I will definitely use graphic novel as an example of ways authors communicate using more than just words. The main underlying problem in the story - will Livy ask for help - resonates with the issues many middle schoolers are dealing with now. I know this will be a welcome addition to many middle grade classroom libraries.

This is a very cute and personal comic book. I liked that it covered difficult themes such as growing up and mental health with grace and nuance. I would recommend this book for middle grade and young adult readers or those that are fans of these genres.

This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

There was too much adult thinking and issues included and I, as an adult, became bored in a lot of places in the story.

The anxiety and "panic attacks" (they weren't really panic attacks) the MC was diagnosed with are actually pretty normal feelings for sixth graders starting middle school, and the MC was also starting a brand new school where she didn't know anyone which would add to anyone's feelings of being out of place. Instead of making these feelings seem "not normal" the story should have shown other students, and maybe one of her friends experiencing these typical middle school reactions. I think the wrong message was sent. Teens and preteens will be less likely to talk about their feelings if they think they're not "normal".

It also had the narrative that parents are bad if they want their children to be thinking of, and studying for, a practical career to fall back on if they want to be an artist. That's actually being a good parent. This author needs to realize how lucky they were to find a way to make money drawing as an adult. And when the MC's father said that drawing as a kid is fun, but she also needed to think of a practical future career, he wasn't telling her to stop drawing. That particular thought in her head was never cleared up in the story. Both of the parents worked two jobs to give her a better life for goodness sake!

In the acknowledgements the author talks about this book being based on her life and it really seems like just a vanity "look how awful my sixth grade experience was", I'm special, feel sorry for me story. I really feel it sent a bad message.

I did like the artwork a lot, though.

And... climate change does not have an effect on volcanoes. Good grief!

I loved the content, even if it felt a bit younger than 6th grade. I think the cultural differences the author struggles with, as well as their mental health, are important topics to discuss in our younger readers too.

I really liked this graphic novel about a 10 year old Chinese Canadian girl who is struggling with severe anxiety and panic. The author based this on her own childhood struggles, and that gives the book a very realistic feeling. I particularly liked how the author portrayed the "negative voice in your head" as a separate entity named Viola. It was a great way to show how pervasive and debilitating this disorder can be. I loved how all the Chinese culture was portrayed, particularly the food, and how that goes from being a source of embarrassment to pride for Livy. I thought the friends dynamic was well done, and the parents and family as well. A really great read overall! Ideal for kids who have this struggle and for the adults in their lives to help them through it.

great read! … so glad i found this author and cannot wait to read more! … absolutely recommend you pick up this book!

Living with Viola was a middle grade graphic novel masterpiece! Debut author Rosena Fung totally gets to the heart of being a middle schooler today and how complex their mental health can be. Of course Fung deals with the common themes of any good middle grade novel (friends, being true to oneself, confidence and self esteem) but where Fung shines even brighter is when showcasing the anxiety, fear, stress and worry of our main character, Livy. And in this case, Fung creatively manifests those emotions into Viola, our main character's shadowy twin that works to undermine her every step of the way.

Fung expertly shows Livy dealing with her anxiety (author notes explains that she also dealt with the same issues as Livy) and the tale is told with compassion and honesty. As a person who has coped with their own anxieties since childhood, this graphic novel rings very true and I feel readers will love reading Livy's story. I'll be recommending this to readers and recommending it for our state's graphic novel award.

Living With Viola is a great graphic novel handling anxiety with an interesting and unique twist. Livy is having trouble fitting in at school when we are introduced to Viola, the manifestation of Livy’s anxiety. Livy goes through the motions of trying to hide and suppress Viola until she finally faces her directly. There is good representation throughout the graphic novel and the topic of anxiety and seeking help is handled very well. Livy is very relatable and I think this is a wonderful way for people to get a better understanding of what someone dealing with anxiety is going through. The artwork is beautiful throughout and the story is transformative with helpful tips to addressing anxiety.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Annick Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Being a kid is no easy task. Being a kid with anxiety is even worse. In this genera defining look at children’s mental health, Livy sees her anxiety as her shadow or her other self with its own name and personality: Viola. Viola is loud and mean, and really hard to ignore. But Livy gives it her best. Livy’s family are immigrants in Canada and things are not as easy as they thought, and the extended family is always nit picking at Livy and her parents. Livy does a good job handling Viola, but admits she needs help. And thank goodness her parents ignore tradition and get Livy help. What makes this book so success is how it portrays anxiety, how it attacks, how it lets go. It also shows it’s not only okay to ask for help but to get help in return. Sometimes it is needed and that is okay. This book however, is way more than okay. It’s well done all around.

Many excellent elements here: anxiety, parental expectations, culture clash and pressure. It's sensitive and relatable. While it's a bit predictable, the characters are sympathetic and the illustrations are engaging.

dnf not for me
not bad since I didn't finish it
forget to review since I dnfed it a while ago
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Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

A really wonderful look into what living with anxiety can feel/look like, especially when you're going through so many changes in middle school as it is. The art really added an extra layer to this book with anxiety really becoming its own character. Very well done. Parts of the story dragged a little bit, could have been faster paced, but overall a good read.

I am a new convert to graphic novels, and I'm glad to have read this one. This is a story that I hadn't yet read, and seeing it presented for young readers in a format that they are so fond of was particularly enjoyable.

This was such a great story to introduce kids to anxiety! It showed how parents are doing their best to help but don't always know what to do. It also shows complex friendships in middle school. I'd compare this to Best Friends from Shannon Hale with the added plotline of the immigrant experience.

This is a Middle Grade Graphic Novel that follow a Chinese Girl that lives in Canada that is having a lot of anxiety. I really enjoyed this book, and I think this is a really good book for a young kid to read. My daughter has anxiety disorder, and I have already preorder this book for her. The pictures in this book is cute, and I love her anxiety is show has a person she call only see. I found sometimes it was hard to figure when she is talking to her anxiety or out loud. I cannot talk about moving to a different country to live, but I do think that is another great thing that is talked about in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Annick Press) or author (Rosena Fung) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

*will be on my blog in 2022
Living With Viola by Rosena Fung is a graphic novel all about Olivia, a girl with anxiety. This middle grade story is a quick, engaging read. Though it didn't click with me and my experience with anxiety, I think it has a ton of kid appeal.

Olivia thinks of her anxiety as Viola, a mirror image of her who is constantly feeding her toxic, worrying thoughts. Viola follows Olivia everywhere she goes. Olivia feels a lot of pressure to be a good daughter, and after overhearing a conversation among her family, worries her anxiety prevents that. She also experiences anxiety at school surrounding making friends.


The visual representation of anxiety in this book is spot-on, and I love the concept of an "evil twin" representing Olivia's negative thoughts and worries. One spread that was particularly relatable (and hilarious) included Olivia becoming embarrassed and Viola telling her, "Don't worry, I've got it recorded right here forever." Ugh, relatable content!


However, as someone with anxiety, I find chaotic books and movies really heighten that feeling within me. On one hand, it's clear the author did a fabulous job representing anxiety if just looking at some of the more intense spreads made me feel a little nervous. On the other, I've read other accurate representations of anxiety (see The Golden Hour) that didn't almost send me into a small panic attack of my own. This is just a personal preference, but I think it's important to note given that everyone has different triggers.


Overall, I think Living With Viola is an important book and might really resonate with some readers. I appreciated its positive representation of therapy, the glossary at the end and inclusion of Cantonese, and the author's note. This book might not be for me necessarily, but it's a solid middle grade graphic novel and deserving of at least 4 stars.

Rosena Fung’s Living with Viola is an ambitious, heartwarming tale on the complexities of growing up and all the triumphs and defeats that come with it. In this graphic novel, middle grade schooler Livy is new to starting a new school, finding friends, being proud of her achievements and interests and also figuring out how to be a good daughter to her Chinese-American immigrant parents. She is a loveable, bouncy, creative kid...until she’s not.

In the ever important conversation about mental health, younger readers will find the words they need on the page from Livy as she navigates her worst enemy come to life--Viola her anxieties come to life. Everyone has insecurities, everyone has some trouble adjusting and fitting in and Viola who manifests herself in the book is Livy’s shadowy twin who often whispers bad things into our kid protagonist’s ear: that she's not good enough, that nobody likes her and that she’s ruining everything.

The artwork is colorful, fantastic in the daydream sections and full of action and memorable spots that make the quiet scenes of Livy and other characters well worth the paper and ink they are printed on. Living with Viola tackles plenty of hard to talk about topics: like how cultural differences in conversations between your family don’t always translate to the cafeteria table at school (societal expectations and obligations carry weight in a Chinese family). Also what to means to be a friend and how treating others the way you want to be treated is always, always golden (kindness comes first).

Perhaps most importantly, navigating life as a preteen is unique and doesn’t come with a manual so learning how to stand up for yourself and all the wonderful parts of yourself doesn’t stop after an important milestone. Nope, a journey of self love continues into the next week and the one after that. Normal isn’t Livy, it isn’t you and that is okay.

At over 200 pages, this graphic novel presents a full length narrative that ends with parents that look at what’s going on with their child and her mental health, a daughter who becomes her own hero and makes up where she’s hurt the feelings of others and a cast of happier people who have each other. I love this story and just know that someone will pick it up and find themselves on the pages and learn how to ask for help. And is that not what we all hope for?

Note: As noted, thisARC did not translate well into an e-book form. It was so difficult to flow the word bubbles and the script within them at times that I took several breaks before completing the book.

I wish there had been resources like this book when I was younger; I could've saved myself years of panic-fueled misery. BUT!! I'm so grateful that these topics are now being discussed with kids. Thank goodness for being able to learn how to live with Viola!