A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about three generations of mothers and daughters passing down and rebelling against standards of gender, race, beauty, size, and worth, for fans of Mariko Tamaki.
Sixteen-year-old Roz is preoccupied with normal teenage navigating high school friendships, worrying about college, and figuring out what to wear to prom. When her estranged Por Por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, the already delicate relationship between Roz and her mother is upended. With three generations under one roof, conflicts inevitably arise and long suppressed family secrets rise to the surface.
Told in alternating perspectives, Age 16 shifts seamlessly between time and place, exploring how this pivotal year in adolescence affects three women in the same family, from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000. Award-winning creator of Living with Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before and affect those that come after.
Title : Age 16
Author : Rosena Fung
Format : paperback
Page Count : 312
Genre : graphic novel / YA / historical fiction
Publisher : Annick Press
Release Date : July 2, 2024
Reviewer : Hollis
Rating : ★ ★ ★
Hollis' 3 star review
Despite some of the heavier content, I flew through this read and it was so nice to sink into a graphic novel after what feels like quite a long time. Maybe it's because my reading mojo has been so all over the place (mostly non-existent) but having two reads back to back with illustrations definitely made it easy to stay dialed in to the story being told. Unlike the other one though.. this was pretty tough.
Dealing with multiple timelines, and generations, we jump between Toronto in 2000, Hong Kong in 1972, and Guangdong in 1954. Though it was easy enough to tell them all apart, I really loved the use of colour to differentiate the timelines; having the art in various shades of said colour was so aesthetically soothing. Which was about the only soothing element involved in the story because we jump between various hardships and one of those, which ends up recurring down the line, is body image and how worth is tied into looks and weight.
Based on the author's note it seems the majority of this story is based on her family's experience so I hate to be super critical but this coming of age story really makes you earn the resolution these women find in the evolution of their relationships. I much preferred the modern day timeline even with the critical mother because, ultimately, she was the least toxic of the two maternal representations. But I also just really felt for Roz and I liked her voice the most.
So, yes, don't be fooled by the pretty colours; toxic and or bullying parental behaviours are present as they manifest due to experienced traumas and learned behaviours, alongside the aforementioned body image and self-worth themes. However, it was a fairly unique coming of age story in the sense that though we see all three women at age sixteen, the earlier timelines aren't the last we see of all women, and there is healing for them when they are older (Roz being the exception as, again, she's the most recent timeline) and that is comforting, too. Because it proves you're never too old to change, to heal, and to accept yourself.
I definitely would recommend this even though it wasn't an experience I loved because I think a lot of people will identify with and feel seen by Age 16. Also, yeah, it's pretty; the art very much gives me Scott Pilgrim vibes which is definitely reinforced by the Toronto-ness of it all -- and, final note, the play on words for all the landmarks or references was a delight.
** I received a finished copy from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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