🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 [5]

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*𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦, 𝐼 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑*
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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 ❤️