I'd describe Yellow Singing Sail as a sweet, quick read with beautiful art and interesting insights into what childhood was like for the author living and attending elementary/middle school in 1990s China. I really resonated with the art style: the orange and green palette made this stand out from other graphic novels where the color can feel overwhelming, and the softness of the illustrations gave the story a sweet, nostalgic tint, like a memory. I think that this helped the illustrations reflect the reflective and gentle tone of the memoir.

I will say that I felt this memoir was quite surface-level, and I often found myself wishing for much more. I wanted to know more about the friend Yinfan makes and bikes with. The scene set at the military camp was so striking, and I wished we'd lingered there longer. Even some of the descriptions of and interactions with Yinfan's family members, particularly the aunt with whom her family lives for some time after moving to Guangzhou, felt a little too rushed for me. I did really appreciate the exploration of the various dialects spoken in the various communities Yinfan is part of, and particularly the transformation Cantonese makes: beginning as a language associated with crass humor because the numbers 9 and 10 sound like the Mandarin for dog poop, it transitions to represent the "cool kids" when Yinfan starts at a middle school where more students speak Cantonese at home. Again, though, I wished to delve more into this topic through Yinfan's eyes.

All said, I would probably best recommend this to an older elementary student or a younger middle schooler who's interested in learning about other cultures in a slice-of-life, memory-based way.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, all about Yinfan growing up as an only child in China. I particularly liked the bits that explained about how slight changes in different Chinese characters can drastically alter the meaning. Most of all, it was really interesting to read about the similarities and differences between my upbringing and Yinfan's, in very different countries. I also loved the illustrations and the colour scheme used.

An interesting insight into childhood in China, a system very different to what we know in the west but it feels like it is rather lacking in a narrative arc to tie things together.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc!

This is an interesting story about Yingfan who lives during the one child policy in China. You learn about what her life is like with her family, without any siblings. You also learn about what her experiences were like at school.

Yellow Singing Sail is about Yinfan, or 黄吟帆 in Chinese, and her experience of growing up in the late 90s, China. This book explores the theme of loneliness of an only-child in a light-hearted way—capturing the sensation of childhood. But what’s interesting is that it Yinfan’s story truly happened, making this book wholesome and eye-opening.

As someone who is part of the Chinese community and engrossed by its history, I strongly relate to Yinfan’s experiences growing up in China. However, I was still surprised to learn the strictness of the teachers, different from the teachers I’ve typically had in American schools.

Yet I found Yinfan’s story taking me back to my early childhood, strong with nostalgia. I too moved between different cities. And also as an only child, I found myself lonely sometimes. The theme, however, did a spectacular job on teaching us that, in the end, you have yourself as a friend. Through the pages of this book, I found myself befriending a girl perhaps a bit similar to myself. Once I started to read this graphic novel, I couldn’t stop.

And of course, the illustrations bring the story to life. Yinfan is a talented artist with such a unique style—exactly the kind needed for this book! I can’t imagine any other styles with this story, as they bring an easygoing and elated touch.

I really recommend this book to fellow Chinese people—who may find themselves relating yet also amused at the comparison to their own life. Yet this book is also perfect for everyone hoping to learn more about growing up in China almost thirty years ago, or simply just the simplicity of youth. Truly, this is one of those books for everyone! It will inform you, teach you, and also fascinate you… Kind of what reading is all about!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity for me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Yellow singing sail is a story unlike anything I've read before. It's heartwarming and funny and eye-opening because it shows us Yinfan's coming of age story and how she learns to accept and love herself.
I laughed out loud with my sister at a scene where 3 year old Yinfan gets a buzz-cut and is upset about it because we related to her sadness. The art style was simple and very adorable, I really liked the limited color palette.

Thank you Netgalley and Kids Can Press for this wonderful ARC!

A very moving, beautiful read. "Yellow Singing Sail" is a gorgeous middle-grade graphic memoir that explores themes of culture shock from non-US perspectives -- a welcome point of view, of which I am excited to read more. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. #YellowSingingSail #NetGalley

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley for this ARC.

I'm an avid fan of graphic novels and I do think this was a great childhood memoir representation. However, I would've enjoy it a bit more if it was a bit more detailed on friendship and family. I think the difficulty to make friendships wasn't well portrayed, there wasn't enough context besides the being different and it felt really one sided, since the main problem didn't feel like the people surrounding the character, but her own internal judgment.

Anyhow, I appreciated the story and I loved the simple watercolor art style.

Final rating: 3,5 stars

Yellow Singing Sail is a must-read graphic novel for middle school students. Both educational and relatable, this memoir shares the author's struggles growing up in the one-child era in China. Students will learn about cultural differences, while also relating to the author's universal struggles to fit in and make friends. Highly recommended!

This is a very accessible graphic memoir. Honestly, I wish it was longer. I appreciate the story of "love yourself", but it speaks to the how well it is written that I wanted more. I wanted to see more of the MC's life moments. I wanted to see how they came to the US. I think this is appropriate for most secondary levels. A great addition where graphic memoirs are popular.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 [5]

╭───────────────────────────────────₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ...─╮
*𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦, 𝐼 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑*
╰─..₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.───────────────────────────────────╯

Yellow Singing Sail is a heartwarming illustrated memoir that follows Yinfan's journey of growing up. The book beautifully captures a range of emotions—sadness, frustration, fear, joy, and the complexities of friendship and family. Yinfan's emotional intelligence shines through, even at a young age, as she navigates these experiences. I loved the charming illustrations and the relatable moments, particularly Yinfan's struggles with friendship and feelings of not belonging. Reading this made me appreciate the little things in life that we kind of stop doing as we get older: sitting under the moon, doodling in school books, playing hide-and-seek with your family and bike rides at the park.

The book poignantly portrays the bittersweet reality of friendships that fade over time and the significant influence family has on our younger days, shaping our choices and even our social circles. I feel that this book will resonate with anyone, regardless of age or background. It teaches the importance of being comfortable with yourself and understand that not everyone is perfect, and that’s perfectly normal.

I'm really glad I stumbled upon this book, and I'm equally happy that I enjoyed my time reading it. This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time ଘ(∩^o^)⊃━☆゜

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀

i have never personally read a graphic novel memoir before but this one i just picked up was very thought provoking & a page turner. this book provides readers with a relatable story of a young girl navigating the complexities of growing up, particularly in the midst of cultural and personal change.

this memoir was set in the 1990's and the author herself takes us through her early years in the small county of Xintian, where she lives a simple, close-knit life with her family. however, when her father’s job moves the family to the city of Guangzhou, Yinfan is thrust into a world of new dialects, unfamiliar rules, and the emotional turbulence of being a newcomer.

one of the most fascinating thing about this book is Yinfan’s journey to find her identity. the cultural shift from a rural area to an urban environment, paired with the added pressure of adapting to school life, brings forth feelings of isolation and loneliness. Yinfan yearns for friendship and struggles to find where she fits in among her peers. her attempts to adapt to the fast-paced, city life are relatable to anyone who has faced challenges while trying to belong in a new environment. as she grapples with these external pressures, readers witness her internal journey toward self-acceptance.

one of the most heartwarming moment comes when a classmate helps Yinfan realize that she doesn’t need to change herself to be liked. this realization is powerful and carries a universal message:

"the importance of loving oneself and embracing individuality." a theme that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

the illustrations, they were so beautiful. it also offers a glimpse into life in 1990s China, enriching the reader’s understanding of the country’s cultural nuances, familial expectations, and the pressures that youth face. These details provide historical and cultural context that deepen the emotional impact of Yinfan’s journey.

overall, this book felt like a warm hug and a cup of tea. a heartfelt and inspiring story about self-discovery, friendship, and the trials of growing up. Yinfan's narrative and illustrations work together to create a relatable and uplifting book that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world.

It is a beautiful reminder that the challenges of growing up are universal, and that self-acceptance is the key to true happiness.

thank you so much for my copy Kids Can Press! i'm keeping this forever ❤️