Falling in love with Lunar New Year Love Story: a teacher's perspective

    Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham kept popping up in my search for meaningful and engaging YAL. So I checked it out from the local library and the bold, red coer immediately caught my attention. Then I did a picture walk through the text and the illustrations were so vivid. I was excited to read the story but Pham's artful illustrations in this graphic novel caught my eye first. 

Summary

    At its heart, Lunar New Year Love Story is a tale about love--not just romantic love, but the kind we carry with us through generations. The protagonist, Valentina Tran, is a Vietnamese American teenager who's been jaded by heartbreak and loss. Her family has a history of heartbreak, too, so Val feels like she's doomed in the love department. Her imaginary friend, Cupid, is by her side at the beginning of the story when Val is still embracing her favorite holiday, Valentine's Day; however, Cupid turns to a darker ghost once Val learns devastating news that changes her outlook on the holiday. This ghost tries to strike a deal with her and Val decides to contemplate the offer. This is all the while Val navigates familial relationships, friendships, and a potential love triangle. Oh, and she discovers Lion Dancing during her journey--a passion that helps her make sense of her life. 

• Written by Gene Luen Yang
• Illustrated by Leuyen Pham
• Published in 2023
• Genre: YA Graphic Novel
• 345 pages plus a great epilogue

Notable Awards & Recognition

• An NPR Best Book of the Year
• A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 2024
• A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year
• A Horn Book Best Book of the Year, 2024
• A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
• Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor, 2025
• Librarian Favorites Award, Grades 9-12 Selection, 2025
• Teacher Favorites Award, Grades 9-12 Selection, 2025
• Great Graphic Novels for Teens, Top Ten Commended, 2025
• Junior Library Guild Selections, Graphic Novels, 2024
• Harvey Awards Books, Nomination, 2024

Teaching Considerations

    Sources on the Internet seem to agree that most students/adolescents ages 14+ should be able to read, comprehend and learn from Lunar New Year Love Story. I read the story aloud to my 10-year-old daughter; however, she is definitely more mature than the average fourth grader and she and I could talk about the story--it's themes and characters--as we read. I made sure the moments of tension that included supernatural characters weren't too scary for her and she assured me that they weren't. However, I understand that the overall age/grade level of students may be older/higher due to considerations of maturity. 

    I think it's important to emphasize Asian cultures and the history, cultural traditions, and significance of the Lunar New Year. Family is a huge cornerstone of the celebration--as evidenced in Lunar New Year Love Story--so family traditions and cultures should be shared throughout any discussions and lessons involving the text. 

Read Aloud Excerpts

1. "These past two years, things haven't been that great between my dad and me. Once upon a time, it seemed like all we needed was each other. A part of me wishes we could go back to that...But we can't. I just don't trust anything he says anymore, so now I try to keep our conversations as short and painless as possible." Val says," Hey dad. I'm back." "A minimum number of words from me, a minimum number of words from him, then I'm in my room with the door shut." Then Val says to her dad, "Dad?" Dad mumbles, "Nhh..." "Something's wrong." Val says, "Are you...drunk?" Dad says, "Val?...Don't be like her, Val...Don't be like me either...Don't be like us." "What do I do?!" (pgs. 52-53)
2. This excerpt is between Val and her best friend, Bernice. Val says, "What if I'm not an edges-only kinda girl?" Bernice responds, "Val, you sound like my mom! She and my dad hate each other, but they stay together anyway. It's like they enjoy misery...My mom goes on and on about how happy they used to be. But I'm like--leave the past in the past!" Val says, "Some of us can't ignore our hearts so easily." Bernice crosses her arms and say, "What's that supposed to mean?" Val says, "We all can't just flit from one thing to another. It's too...unstable." Bernice says, "Hold on. Did you just call me unstable?" Val replies, "You did say yourself, you're a lot like Leslie." Bernice: "Hey, I get to say that! You don't get to say that!" Val: "Not everybody can be like you guys! Some of us want something more...Real. More true." Bernice: "What are you, twelve years old? Making corny valentines and believing in true love? Get it through your head, Val! There's no such thing! Grow up!" Val: "You ever wonder, what if your mom's right about you? You might not want to be like your parents, but who would want to be like you?...I mean, do you even have a heart?" Bernice walks away. (pgs. 235-236)
3. I love uncle Yunsang as the character development in this graphic novel is done so beautifully! Here's an excerpt where uncle Yunsang is coaching his nephews in lion dancing. "Let me teach you! Come take a look at one of my astounding artworks! This is the Eum-Yang. It represents the balance of energies in the universe!...No, no! Yin-Yang is Chinese! Eum-Yang is Korean!...Yim-Yang is black and white! Eum-Yang is blue and red! Totally different! Eum is like water. It floats this way and that, always wandering...Yang is like sunlight. It goes directly where it wants! No floating!...More like...shooting!...Haven't you boys ever been outside on a sunny day? The sunlight on your skin! Bang! Bang! Bang!...Now most animals are part Eum and part Yang! A mix! The bear! The phoenix! The snake! The dragon! The rooster! Even the monkey! But the lion is different! No mix! Because the lion is 100% Yang! Straightforward! Direct! Undisguised! Be like the lions boys! Speak your hearts!" (pgs. 270-274)

Ideas for the Classroom

    As a teacher, I'm especially drawn to the book's emotional depth. Val's relationship with her family--particularly the tension between honoring tradition and finding one's own path. I think this tension would feel real and relatable for many young adults. The moments of grief are not treated lightly; they're part of what gives this novel its emotional resonance. Yet they are balanced by joy, color, and even magical realism--making it a rich text for exploring mood, tone, and symbolism. 

1. Symbolism behind lion dancing. The tradition of lion dancing can be shared through building background knowledge of the text and Lunar New Year. There is conflict in the story between Val and St. Valentine's ghost; however, lion dancing is traditionally known to ward off evil spirits. The lion dancing is also a metaphor of romantic love between the characters. 

2. Writing love letters from the characters' perspectives. They can write them to one another or even craft love letters to themselves. Art could be incorporated into the activity, as well, with the crafting that Valentina and the other characters did in the story as exemplars. Putting students in "the shoes" of the book's characters is a great way to continue empathy developments in students, as well. 

3. Analyzing and relating to the protagonist, Valentina. Her journey throughout the book shows emotional courage that any student can relate to. Perhaps, students could either illustrate and/or write about their own "story" with thoughts on how they can write their own journey instead of one that they might feel is already paved for them. 

Final Thoughts

    Lunar New Year Love Story surprised me in such a great way! This graphic novel has the ability to sneak up on you and open your heart with honesty. I selected it figuring it would be "good" but found it much more deeply moving than I expected. The novel's themes of grief, indentity, love, and what it means to choose your own story were so beautifully intertwined. My daughter seemed to feel the same as she was so engaged in the story and illustrations as I read it aloud to her before bed for a week. She kept wanting me to keep reading every night. 

    Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham have created something really special in the YA graphic novel. Through the character of Valentine Tran, they explore themes that so easily resonate far beyond cultural holidays or romantic crushes. At its core, this book is about the stories we inherit and the ones we get to rewrite.