I really loved the message of this book. The representation of the Chinatown-like neighborhood and how gentrification is harmful to residents is an extremely valuable lesson to teach and learn. The story itself dragged in parts but I loved how it integrated language and culture.

A heartwarming tale of a community's shared love and their experience with gentrification. Told in a perspective easily understood by all with the inclusion of different languages and beautiful illustrations. This is a wonderful graphic novel, particularly great for food lovers!

Look, this one wasn't for me. It felt saccharine. It didn't seem like there were any stakes, really. Which is fine for the target audience, but also, the book just kind of …happens.

I LOVED this book! Reading this story felt like eating a big homemade bao: you were left feeling warm and full. The art style was reminiscent of works like Sailor Moon or Studio Ghibli films, and the consistent color palette throughout elevated the experience of reading. I appreciated that the author created a bilingual experience for the reader by including Chinese characters in the speech bubbles along with English translations underneath.
I thought that the story handled the issue of gentrification well, and did a good job explaining it to a young audience. I also liked how the story handled the character of Miss Jujube: she reminded me of a lot of Lady Eboshi from Princess Mononoke, and how despite her villainous actions, she truly wants to create a better living experience for the citizens of Town 99.
Finally, I loved all of the food pictures and descriptions in the book. All of the culinary descriptions were spot-on, and I hope some young chefs will be inspired after reading this book.

This was a great middle grade novel about food, family, and community. I like that this was an allegory for what many urban Chinatowns face with aggressive gentrification. Also, the preservation of history and community through food.