The Many Masks of Andy Zhou

May 1, 2023
In Detroit, an artistic sixth grader facing changes at home and school seeks his identity in this contemplative novel from Cheng (See You in the Cosmos). Chinese American Andy Zhou prepares for his grandparents’ arrival from Shanghai, working to help his family however he can. He also tries to be there for best friend and neighbor Cindy Shen, whose schemes involve bleaching their hair and auditioning for the school’s dance club. But the bleach job results in bullying, dancing isn’t really his thing, and Cindy soon starts spending time with new friends. As Andy encounters racist microaggressions at school and new worries at home, he joins the school’s student-run production crew and—through art, anime, and a pet bearded dragon—finds common ground with his Chaldean American lab partner Jameel Zebari, who once bullied him. The changes nevertheless add up, impacting Andy’s mental health and leaving him wondering who he really is. Cheng draws on personal experience, detailed in an author’s note, to pen this novel of internal and interpersonal tensions that touches on mental health, disordered eating, and trichotillomania. Though some plot points feel abrupt, the message of becoming one’s authentic self comes through loud and clear. Ages 10–up.

May 1, 2023
A Detroit tween comes into his own while adjusting to changes at home and dealing with the trials and tribulations of sixth grade. Starting middle school is daunting, and Andy Zhou is off to a rough start after the DIY bleach job that Cindy Shen, his best friend, convinces him to try results in patches of orange in his black hair, drawing the attention of bullies. Empathetic Andy tries his best to be the person that his friends and family need him to be, but juggling those roles isn't easy, especially when he's not sure what it is that he wants. With Cindy spending more time with new friends and mounting racist microaggressions setting off his "spider-sense," Chinese American Andy can't shake the feeling that he doesn't belong. But just as he resolves to keep his head down, he discovers that Chaldean American Jameel Zebari, one of his bullies, might have more in common with him than he thought. Peppered with anime and pop-culture references, Cheng's tale succeeds in capturing the nuances of shifting relationship dynamics during the vulnerable early years of adolescence, including mental health struggles. Although the reasons behind some of Andy's pivotal epiphanies may be a bit subtle for some readers, the story has a sincere heart that will resonate with tweens as they recognize themselves and their friends in the pages. A perceptive coming-of-age tale that captures the joys and complex anxieties of middle school. (content note, author's note) (Fiction. 10-13)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 The author of See You in the Cosmos (2017) offers another realistic, character-driven middle-grade story that explores multiple issues. Sixth-grader Andy Zhou is doing the best he can at home and at school. His grandparents are visiting from Shanghai; his best friend, Cindy, wants him to try out for the school dance group; and his new science partner, Jameel, gives him a really hard time. As Andy struggles to navigate so many roles and changes, he begins to pull his hair, a body-focused repetitive behavior known as trichotillomania. He also faces microaggressions--not being seen as American, being labeled with Asian stereotypes. When reflecting on the question of whether he is gay, Andy recognizes and lives in the truth that he doesn't know what he is yet but does know that "it's more than one thing" and that he has "room for it to be that." Based on the author's own experiences, this is a compelling addition to middle-school and upper-elementary collections.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-Andy Zhou is entering sixth grade with a lot on his plate. His best friend, Cindy, has decided they're both dyeing their hair blond and joining the after-school dance program Movement (without telling their parents). His grandparents are visiting from China for an unknown length of time. And, his irreverent classmate Jameel picks on him at every opportunity. Andy gets to know Jameel, and the two strike up a friendship while he feels Cindy growing more distant and changing physically. He copes with this and the declining health of his grandfather, Ah Dia, by sketching, pulling out his hair, and working on crew for Movement's production of Lord of the Flies. This is a gentle tale of juggling shifting friendships, tough secrets, and the weight of trying to make everyone happy. Andy's first-person narration is eminently readable; Cheng's comedic timing and poignant use of metaphor make it easy to picture Andy's anxiety and self-consciousness as he braves middle school. Rich descriptions abound of Andy's Chinese and Jameel's Chaldean cultures, including food, performance, and family dynamics. The plot has an open conclusion: nothing complex is fully "fixed," but Andy is on the road to making amends with those he loves and establishing his own identity. The novel opens with a content note for bullying, racism, trichotillomania, parental death, and anorexia, and Cheng's author's note includes a number of relevant support resources. VERDICT A beautiful, contemplative novel that will stay with readers. Recommended for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Nicole Melleby.-Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
On the morning after Andy Zhou's grandparents arrive in Detroit from Shanghai for a six-month stay, his best (and only) friend convinces him to bleach his hair. "We're going into middle school. This is our chance to make a statement." The scheme goes wrong, however, and Andy is left with blotches of orange hair, making him the target of bullying at the start of sixth grade. Middle school brings other challenges: grappling with his social life, racial microaggressions, and his grandfather's worsening health, Andy develops trichotillomania, a disorder that causes him to pluck his hair when he feels anxious. Cheng draws from his own personal experiences in creating an introspective, believable narrator whose internal monologue is often riddled with self-doubt. Although Andy struggles to find his voice, he's keenly attentive, translating his observations into doodles that open each chapter. After a rocky start, things begin to look up when an unexpected friendship with his bully emerges as they bond over anime and their families' respective cultural beliefs and customs, and Andy's artistic gifts are noticed by a supportive teacher. An afterword provides resources on various related topics, including body-focused repetitive behaviors, eating disorders, and bullying. Kristine Techavanich

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
On the morning after Andy Zhou's grandparents arrive in Detroit from Shanghai for a six-month stay, his best (and only) friend convinces him to bleach his hair. "We're going into middle school. This is our chance to make a statement." The scheme goes wrong, however, and Andy is left with blotches of orange hair, making him the target of bullying at the start of sixth grade. Middle school brings other challenges: grappling with his social life, racial microaggressions, and his grandfather's worsening health, Andy develops trichotillomania, a disorder that causes him to pluck his hair when he feels anxious. Cheng draws from his own personal experiences in creating an introspective, believable narrator whose internal monologue is often riddled with self-doubt. Although Andy struggles to find his voice, he's keenly attentive, translating his observations into doodles that open each chapter. After a rocky start, things begin to look up when an unexpected friendship with his bully emerges as they bond over anime and their families' respective cultural beliefs and customs, and Andy's artistic gifts are noticed by a supportive teacher. An afterword provides resources on various related topics, including body-focused repetitive behaviors, eating disorders, and bullying.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)