Lion Dancers

Gr 4-6–With the “hei si,” which is often the first movement in the titular dance, the lion wakes for this coming-of-age graphic novel. Wei always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his late father, who was a lion dance champion. By chance, he joins the Southern Phoenix Lion Dance Team to take up the head once again. But his past misfortune and continuing grievance with one-time friend Hung make it difficult for this middle schooler. With faith and training from his teammates, Wei gains the skill needed to perform during the Lunar New Year festivities around the city. Tse, a performer herself, passes on her passion and knowledge of this traditional Chinese dance. She highlights the teamwork and the dancers’ required physical strength using dynamic movements, close-ups in the lions, and pans to the other characters. Tse also uses the chapter breaks to summarize the dance steps and highlight their cultural significance. The core of the plot comes from Wei’s growth, and as he faces his interpersonal problems, he begins to trust his teammates more. While this leaves readers with a good message, key beats aren’t given enough space to truly depict how to handle betrayal, bullying, and grief. The story ends on a cliff-hanger; perhaps a sequel will provide welcome resolution.