FICTION

Love of the Half-Eaten Peach

by Lee Wind (text) & ­illus. by Jieting Chen
Reycraft. Sept. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781478881872.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 4–In this historical retelling, the young Duke of Wei in 500 BCE is told that he must understand perfection to be a good ruler. His best friend Mi Zi Xia searches the land for something perfect to give to his friend—tea, silk, song. All fall short of absolute perfection. Zi Xia leaves on a quest for perfection, returning with a perfect peach that the two share. The peach is delicious, but the two men learn that true perfection lies in their love for one another. The artwork is stunning, with environments inspired by classic Chinese art and characters with figures and expressions like those in the best graphic novels. Back matter explains that the titular phrase is a Chinese expression meaning gay.
VERDICT A unique story that celebrates queer love and Chinese folklore, and a distinctive addition to the LGBTQIA+ shelves.
Reviewed by Chance Lee Joyner , Aug 01, 2024

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