Stargazing - by Jen Wang

About the Book

"Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic ... and though they both grew up in the same Chinese-American suburb, Moon is somehow unlike anyone Christine has ever known. But after Moon moves in next door, these unlikely friends are soon best friends, sharing their favorite music videos and painting their toenails when Christine's strict parents aren't around. Moon even tells Christine her deepest secret: that she has visions, sometimes, of celestial beings who speak to her from the stars. Who reassure her that Earth isn't where she really belongs. Moon's visions have an all-too-earthly root, however, and soon Christine's best friend is in the hospital, fighting for her life. Can Christine be the friend Moon needs, now, when the sky is falling?"--

Book Synopsis

Stargazing is a heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel in the spirit of Frizzy and Mexikid, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jen Wang.

Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they both grew up in the same Chinese-American suburb, Moon is somehow unlike anyone Christine has ever known.

But after Moon moves in next door, these unlikely friends are soon best friends, sharing their favorite music videos and painting their toenails when Christine's strict parents aren't around. Moon even tells Christine her deepest secret: that she has visions, sometimes, of celestial beings who speak to her from the stars. Who reassure her that earth isn't where she really belongs.

Moon's visions have an all-too-earthly root, however, and soon Christine's best friend is in the hospital, fighting for her life. Can Christine be the friend Moon needs, now, when the sky is falling?

Jen Wang draws on her childhood to paint a deeply personal yet wholly relatable friendship story that's at turns joyful, heart-wrenching, and full of hope.

Review Quotes

"Intimate and sweet. I'd like to hand Stargazing to every kid I know." --Raina Telgemeier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Smile

"Touching, funny, and sweetly observed, Stargazing is everything a graphic novel should be. Jen Wang is a master cartoonist." --Vera Brosgol, award-winning author of Be Prepared and Anya's Ghost

"Just beautiful. Stargazing is warm and funny and packed with shout outs and nods to the Asian American experience. It feels SO wonderful to be seen!" --Kelly Yang, award-winning author of Front Desk

"Like a constellation, when you connect confusion, friendship, and hope, suddenly everything becomes clear. Jen Wang's Stargazing will have you laughing and crying as it takes you to the stars and back." --Lisa Yee, award-winning author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius

"A charming tale of friendship that feels familiar and comforting. Jen Wang is a gift to comics." --Nidhi Chanani, author of Pashmina

"Wang tells a story that will ring true to just about any middle-schooler who's dealt with shifting friendships, but her additional insights into navigating differences within the Chinese American community will be a balm to readers in similar situations." --Booklist starred review

"Plumbing the depths of Wang's childhood for inspiration, this rich, heart-filled narrative will resonate with any reader who has ever felt different within their community." --Publishers Weekly starred review

About the Author

Jen Wang is the award-winning NYT Bestselling author and illustrator of several graphic novels for young readers including Ash's Cabin, Stargazing, The Prince and The Dressmaker, In Real Life (co-written with Cory Doctorow), and Koko Be Good. Jen's honors include two Eisner Awards, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Children's Literature Award, and the Fauve d'Angoulême Youth Award. She is based in Los Angeles and is a co-founder and organizer for Comic Arts LA.