I hope March is going well for all of you. I’m still getting used to the time change. But have been able to read plenty of good books and relax so it hasn’t been too bad. One of my favorites from these past few weeks is Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology. It reminds me of cozy games and works like The Tea Dragon Society.
Synopsis
The world this is set in is a wonderful mix of English and Chinese cultures. It is inhabited by these wondrous creatures that are like our creatures but massive and mixed with geological features. Examples include giant frogs, axolotls and these beautiful rock hamsters.
The story focuses around Lu and her grandmother, who is a famous geozoologist. Her grandmother tracks these wonderful plant and animal combinations across continents and always comes back with interesting stories.
Lu has wanted to go with her grandmother since she was little. However after her grandmother doesn’t come back for a few years. Lu convinces her mother that she is capable enough to go out and look for her. Lu meet old friend/relative Ren along the way and their story complicates things. Especially after Lu goes to a town where people have a less than stellar opinion of her grandmother.
Lu must search for the truth about her grandmother. She has to decide whether or not she likes these answers and what it means to her and her life. All the while Ren is dealing with their family’s expectations of them. Ren and Lu clash over their beliefs on family.
Review
I loved the issues that came up between Ren and Lu when it came to how they viewed their families. Lu had a mostly positive perspective on her grandmother. Which was challenged by some of the evidence she encountered along the trip. Meanwhile Ren’s family had mostly treated him negatively and his own views of family were shaped by this fact. The central conflict was them trying to understand the others views.
Despite their differences they manage to work together to achieve their goals. They achieve these goals in a way that makes sense for both the world and the characters. The story is predictable but that is exactly why I like it. It is a perfect little world to snuggle yourself up in when the real world gets too much. That’s not to say that there aren’t negative points but the story overall is super cozy.
Angela Hsieh is one to watch. This is one of her first graphic novels. It is already showing style and grace in art and storytelling. These qualities are not matched except by more established artists. I hope this book does well and would love to see more work from Hsieh.
Amazon: Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology
Angela Hsieh is a Taiwanese American author and illustrator whose choices are mostly explained by her love of goofy animals. Her life experiences include fireman-carrying a sedated bear cub and catching a belligerent wallaby. She has 1.5 cats.
She illustrated Antarctica: The Melting Continent, a critically acclaimed nonfiction book about real-life scientists and explorers. Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology is her first graphic novel.
Image by JoaquÃn EnrÃquez from Pixabay
Have you read the Tea Dragon Society by K O’Neil If so what were your opinions on it? Share with me in the comments below.
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