Until We Meet Again

Gr 9 Up–An autobiographical story about Qian’s own experiences growing up in Canada and China. Detailing a tumultuous childhood that took her through multiple Canadian cities and Shanghai, the story is ultimately a reflection on Qian’s lack of connection to her mother, a single culture, or any one home she’s lived in. Qian’s background as a designer shines through colorful pages, delivering brilliant, lineless illustrations that accurately capture the muddled feeling of revisiting complicated memories. While the stunning art offers effective storytelling, the writing doesn’t always reach the same heights. The first-person, present-tense writing is unique but doesn’t necessarily create a cohesive narrative, with a rapid pace that jumps from one event to the next and doesn’t offer extensive detail. The illlustrations do more than the staccato text to underpin the book’s key themes, such as forgiveness; the expressive art successfully breathes life into the story. This title would be a good fit for introductory art courses exploring visual metaphors akin to those in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis or S.J. Miller’s Mage and the Endless ­Unknown.