The Story of Lee

Gr 9 Up—In the previous volume, native-born Lee meets Scottish-born Matt in Hong Kong, and the two are attracted to each other in spite of family complications and the many differences in language and culture. In this second installment, their relationship continues, with the two of them traveling to study together in Scotland. Cultural tensions remain high as Lee struggles to adapt to life in the UK without much sympathy from Matt at times and with the added complication of a bit of jealousy from Matt's best friend, Richard. This is a realistic, slice-of-life manga—some mature content is present, represented equally by complex cultural issues and an intimate relationship. The artwork is inexpressive, a black-and-white line manga-style that really does not complement the story. The art makes the relationship come off as flat, with little to no visual depth in the storytelling. This is a stark change from the art of the first volume, which was completely different in tone and execution and made the plot much more relatable to readers. While at its core this book seems to be an accurate depiction of the struggles faced by a multicultural couple, the characters are somewhat unlikable and unsympathetic, and the tale is not engaging on a visual or narrative level.