This book gives us a look at how not having the same things you think everyone else has can affect a young person. The main character knows why they don't have the same things, the cool things, but still wants them. Still wants to feel like one of the group. Luckily this is also a story about friendship and how sometimes the things we do affect that friendship in good ways and bad ways. I was cheering for our character from the beginning and I think my students will too.

I just finished Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung, and I have to say, I absolutely loved it. The story follows Ming Lee, a twelve-year-old hoping middle school will be his big chance to start fresh. But right away, things don’t go as planned—his bowl haircut, thrift shop clothes, and an accidental placement in an ESL class (even though English is his only language!) make for one awkward, cringe-worthy moment after another. Ming’s dad always tells him, “Get good grades! Don’t cause trouble!” but with two new friends and a rebellious streak, Ming decides maybe a little trouble isn’t so bad after all.

What really stood out to me was how relatable this story felt. Middle school is tough, and the way Ming deals with fitting in, family expectations, and finding his place was both funny and heartfelt. The graphic novel format is perfect for the story—Arree Chung’s art is vibrant and expressive, bringing so much life to the characters and their experiences. If you’re a fan of Raina Telgemeier or Jerry Craft, you’ll love this one. It’s warm, witty, and a reminder that sometimes breaking the rules is how we grow. Ming is definitely a character I’ll be rooting for long after the last page.

The title is a bit misleading-- while Ming's parents (especially toward the end of the graphic novel loosely based on Arree's real life) tend to say "don't cause trouble" it's more about his fitting in as a child of Chinese immigrants. Mom is a talker and a faithful servant of God who says often that "God will provide". Dad is quieter and wants Ming to be successful. They speak Chinese when they don't want Ming to know what they're talking about. Ming's inner life is about striving to fit in. His clothes usually don't look like others so he devises a scheme to get some Air Elevate sneakers however his plan goes awry several times and then results in a poor decision (that he pulls his two friends- an Indian boy and Black boy) into by trying to steal shirts from a store for which they get caught.

What I love about the graphic novel is that it shows consequences of actions in all shapes but about not being labeled just by one decision- growth is always a part of growing up. It's an endearing look at the annoyances of middle school and while it doesn't specify a time period, it feels as contemporary as it could be years ago. And I appreciated the ingenuity that he uses toward the end to help his family and also show how even his own mom can stick up for herself against discrimination. Plenty of life lessons tucked within these pages.

... and I love Ming's haircut done by Vik!

Twelve-year-old Ming Lee hopes middle school will be the fresh start he needs. Will he get a new fresh? Don't wait to just read it, really good.

We are always on the hunt for more graphic novels with male main characters, and this is an excellent addition to the genre. Not entirely a memoir, but based on the author's experiences growing up in an immigrant family dealing with financial struggles.

Really enjoyed the art style, and the cover will definitely be enticing for middle grade readers.

Middle school is a difficult time for anyone. But if you are from an ethnic minority, it can be even more difficult. Arree Chung has created a story about the child of educated immigrants who must take on menial labor in the U.S. Struggling finances translate to thrift stores and bowl cuts, making the only Chinese kid in school feel even more different. He does a fantastic job showing the development of Ming's friendships and the supportive parents who still make mistakes. When this American child of immigrants sees his Dad's visa that says alien, he begins to feel alien and is constantly drawing himself as an extraterrestrial. Any kid of a minority will be able to see themself in this book. But all kids of that age feel like a stranger in the world at times, and should be able to enjoy this graphic novel.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a fictional graphic memoir based on the author’s life as a child of Chinese American immigrants. It’s a great, highly relatable coming of age story with authentic middle school feel and themes of self discovery, friendship, and acceptance. Definitely recommend.

Ming Lee is the child of immigrants from China, and has trouble navigating school because of the differences in his upbringing, including the fact that his parents are so competitive about saving money that his mother cuts his hair at home. He has to deal with a lot of negative comments at school, but when middle school starts, does make two good friends, Vikrum and Marcus. While Ming's concerns center around things like saving up for Air Elevate shoes. His parents, however, are dealing with bigger issues, like the father's long lost brother contacting the family and needing money. The mother, who trained as a nurse but can only find work cleaning, is a devout church goer, and insists it is better to give money to the church, believing that "God will provide". Even though his parents are insistent that he concentrate on his school work, Ming manages to talk them in to letter him have a sleepover with his friends, and to go trick or treating on Halloween. He gets a lot of candy, and tries to sell some of it to classmates in order to earn money for the shoes he wants. Motivated by a shirt that he sees advertised that all of his classmates are wearing, Ming comes up with a plan to steal three of them from the mall. This lands him, as well as Vikrum and Marcus, in very big trouble, and his friendships are in jeopardy. He and his mother start a small business selling egg rolls that is surprisingly successful, and he also helps her clean as a way to apologize for his brief foray into criminal activities. His friends are eventually allowed to hang out with him again, and Ming starts to feel confident enough that he plans to try out for the school basketball team.
Strengths: Visually, this was a bit different from other graphic novels I've read, which was a nice change. Raina Telgemaier is great, but this doesn't mean that every graphic novel has to look like her work. It was interesting to see typical tween activity through the lens of Ming's parents, who weren't entirely sold on activities like Halloween or sleepovers. The brief discussion of shoplifting was interesting, and is a topic rarely discussed in middle grade literature, although I'm sure occurs more often than we realize. Ming's positive attitude and efforts to try to better his own situation were good to see.
Weaknesses: I couldn't quite tell when this was set; Ming's plaid pants and striped t shirt made me think it was set in the 1970s, when this was a frequent, if questionable, sartorial choice, but it seemed more like the 1990s. I'm still not understanding the hatred for thrift stores; I haven't really shopped anywhere else for thirty years.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novel style memoirs (although this is a fictionalized account) about the immigrant experience like LaMotte and Ann Xu's Measuring Up, Ray Xu's Alterations or Martin's MexiKid.

An interesting graphic novel inspired by the author’s life and experiences. Don’t Cause Trouble tackles the good, bad, and awkward parts of middle school. Throughout the story, Ming navigates family/cultural expectations as well as those of his peers. I think kids will relate to Ming’s desire to belong while staying true to oneself.

Ming is a Chinese American boy who has to handle middle school and all that comes with it while navigating how hard his family dynamic is. I really enjoyed the dynamic with his friends, finding them, becoming besties, and learning the difficulties of being a young person who is different than everyone else. I really enjoyed his story overall and how it ended. Him finding positivity in the things he didn't used to - like thrift stores and not needing the ugly shirts the cool kids are wearing - was a delightful end.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Children’s for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 ⭐️ I absolutely loved this graphic novel and the realistic pressures and family dynamics portrayed therein. I think this book would be relatable to so many kids while also presenting a unique cultural lens that was really valuable to see represented. Great graphic novel for middle grade readers.

I really enjoyed this book. I love to see how some kids realize that being "popular" isn't important, but being yourself is important. This book is a graphic novel that shows not everyone is happy with themselves. Even the "popular" kids may not feel "popular." I think this book would be great for grades 4-6. I also liked how parents try their hardest to save money and do the best they can to raise children, even if they come from another country or another part of town. The title and cover of the book will attract children.

Kids are going to love Don't Cause Trouble! Another great graphic novel for students to relate to! They'll be laughing out loud while reading this one!

I’m so glad I was approved to read this from Netgalley! I love the artwork and art style in the graphic novel! This was such an amazing story and shows a lot of cultural diversity. I feel this is an important read and should be something to keep in mind day to day. I loved all of the characters and the happy moments as well as the sad. Highly recommend this book!
Thank you for allowing me to read this!
Reviews have been posted on Instagram & Goodreads as of 11/21/2024!

A fun graphic novel about the daily life and challenges of a middle grader growing up in a Chinese-American family. A must read for those who needs to grow empathy and understanding of other cultures. I enjoyed meeting Ming and his family so much that I wanted more. Perfect for all ages!

Don’t Cause Trouble follows Ming, a kid just trying to fit in at a new school and make friends. As usually there are a few bumps along the way. Ming's life isn't made easy as his well-meaning mother insists on giving him the same stereotypical bowl haircut every year, and his wardrobe comes straight from the discount thrift shop. And to add insult to injury Ming ends up placed in an ESL class, despite only knowing and speaking English.
His parents ever optimistic try to give him advice and drill home that getting good grades and not causing trouble is the only way to have get into a good college and have a fulfilling life. However this is harder to put into practice. Ming is occasionally daydreams of being 'other' and expresses himself through his sketches. But with his two new friends who are also misfits in their own way, Ming decides it's time to bend the rules a bit and find his own way. Together, they take on bullies and take advantage of every opportunity to make money.

Don’t Cause Trouble is a funny, warmhearted graphic novel, that effortlessly tackles hard topics such as immigration and bullying and shows readers that it takes courage to be yourself and find worthwhile friends. Perfect for anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place, Ming’s journey is as relatable as it is entertaining.

This is a great coming of age story with lessons about friendship, hard work, acceptance (of others and yourself), and mistakes. Loved the artwork. Family dynamics for all cultures can be difficult and Chung handles them well. Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Middle grade graphic novel about a Chinese-American boy who feels isolated and alien (his words) in his American, primarily white community. By making BIPOC friends and reconnecting with his Christian faith, the MC is able to find ways to bridge the gap between his authentic self and the expectations of his immigrant parents. While the story is set in middle school, the language and story are appropriate down to about 3rd or 4th grade.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. The story is relatable, told in a humorous way and really engaging for kids. I honestly cannot wait for it to be published so that I can buy it for my class.

Chung's Don't Cause Trouble is a graphic novel geared toward 4 - 6th grade and beyond. It is about a child of Chinese immigrants who goes through the typical child of immigrant growing pains (I should know- I went through them myself) - from the cheap homemade haircuts, to not celebrating holidays as other kids would and having to introduce my friends to my family and our traditions, this book was fun and funny to read.

I would recommend it to kids that are a little older in elementary school or even middle school kids.

This was a really strong graphic novel! I felt like the chapters broke the story up in a very digestible way. I loved how they utilized pinyin alongside the english translations to incorporate mandarin more prominently into the dialogue. I loved the building of friendships and the way the relationships were shown between the MC and parents where the parents had realistic faults, but were still very much there for their child. I also found the author specifically added discussion of the common experiences between minority groups juxtaposed with how different groups still face distinct discrimination concerns. I'm interested in reading more of this author's work and would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for middle grade reads.