Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology

Gr 3-7–Lu’s grandmother Shan is a great geozoologist who travels around the country, studying megafauna and helping people. Whenever she visits Lu and her mother, she tells stories of her life’s work; Lu wants to be just like her and join her on her next adventure. Meanwhile, Ren is from a family of high expectations. Her brother is perfect, and she is expected to be just like him; when she isn’t, she is labeled as a disappointment. She runs away and meets up with Lu just as a letter arrives asking for help from Shan. She hasn’t been heard from in many months, so Lu and Ren set out to find her, and maybe help the folks from the letter at the same time. Their own adventure turns out to be a bit different than either of them expected. Hsieh’s lineless, colorful illustration brings a sense of whimsy to this tale. It feels both familiar, with its strong ties to Chinese culture and language, and at the same time, magical and faraway, like a fairy-tale world. Lu and Ren both struggle with their sense of self, but those tough emotions are softened by the moments of sheer joy in between. The pacing is steady, but readers will find themselves wanting to stay put for a while to enjoy the scenery alongside the heroines.