My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie June by Marissa Posada

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Justification: I chose his book because I was looking for an award winning graphic novel. I came across this one and read that it is a translated book from China. I'm always interested in new things, so I decided to read it. I was a little intimidated because it was so long, but I wanted to read something different and pressed on with my selection. I also really liked the art style with the water color.

Evaluation: This book has examples of unexpected insights. One example is in the first story. Yu'er is disabled and wants to train for swimming. She gets discouraged with the training apparatus her grandpa comes up with. He encourages her and she realizes that she can make her own luck when she believes in herself. The second story emphasizes the belief that you are stronger than you think. A butterfly is hurt by bullies and is a metaphor for Yu'er who was also bullied. Even with a damaged wing the butterfly ends up flying away at the end. Another example is in the last story. Pumpkin is an artist in his later years, since when he was younger being an artist was not an option. He has a hard time selling his art work and is told that it would be worth money if he was dead. He is then encouraged by Yu'er who likes his painting and wants to learn from him. So even though his is not financially making it as an artist, he can still reach his dreams of being an artist through Yu'er.

This book has good examples of understatements. One example is in the second story. Yu'er meets a boy who shows her Bug Paradise, when she returns she tells her grandpa about it. He mentions how Doubao was his nickname as a child too, and he also created a 'Bug Paradise.' The last connection given is a picture of her grandpa as a child that looks exactly like the boy she met. Another example is in the third story, where Yu'er sends a letter to her grandma. He grandpa tells about how he met her grandmother, which was when he delivered a letter. Yu'er then decides to write to her grandmother too. She puts it in the post box and then it turns into the letter that connected her grandparents.

This book has good examples of the illustrations extending or developing plot. A lot of the understatements in this book are shown by the illustrations. The understatements are not shown in the text so much, but through the illustrations the reader can see the understatements. The understatement of Yu'er's disability is shown through the illustrations. She is seen in her grandpa's buggy or being carried. there is one instance in the second story that shows she can walk but is limited, since she uses a crutch. The illustrations help to develop the understatements that are show in the various stories.

Response: The book was relatable in the close relationship Yu'er had with her grandpa. Personally I was closer to my grandmothers and teared up when Yu'er talked about missing her grandmother. My views wee reinforced in relation to the close relationship with grandparents. It reminded me how dedicated grandparents can be toward their grandkids. Yu'er's grandpa 'built her a pool' so she could train for the Olympics. I really enjoyed both the text and the art. The overall stories in this book were very touching and reminded me of spending time with my grandparents when I was younger.

Conclusion: This book has examples of unexpected insights, understatements, and illustrations that extend or develop the plot. This is a good book that his relatabe in their family connections. It is also informative of another culture. It gives you some translations of nicknames and what neighborhoods are called. I recommend this book to anyone interested in great stories.

APA Citations: June, N. (2016). My Beijing: Four stories of everyday wonder. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe.