Part historical fiction, part magical realism, and 100 percent adventure. Thirteen-year-old Mei reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese heroine while she works in a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885.
Aware of the racial tumult in the years after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with the camp foreman’s daughter, and telling stories about Paul Bunyan—reinvented as Po Pan Yin (Auntie Po), an elderly Chinese matriarch.
Anchoring herself with stories of Auntie Po, Mei navigates the difficulty and politics of lumber camp work and her growing romantic feelings for her friend Bee. The Legend of Auntie Po is about who gets to own a myth, and about immigrant families and communities holding on to rituals and traditions while staking out their own place in America.
Author’s note. Bibliography. Full-color illustrations were created using digital pencils and hand-painted watercolor.
Book Genres Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Canadian Rights Yes
Dewey F
Title alpha The Legend of Auntie Po
Level Graphic Novels Middle Plus
Pages Count 304
Genre Fiction
Topics Myths and legends. Nineteenth-century US history. California. Lumber camps. Lumberjacks. Chinese Americans. Camp cooks. Paul Bunyan retellings. Chinese Exclusion Act. Discrimination. Friendship. Storytelling. LGBTQ.
Lexile GN390L
Trim Size 8 3/10" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2021-05-31
JLG Release Date Aug 2021
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Graphic Novels Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
Graphic Novels Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
Book-length narratives presented in comic book style, graphic novels foster both visual and verbal comprehension skills while exposing readers to interesting dialogue and satire, as well as affirming diversity. JLG's selection of these unique books, some of them only published in softcover, are ideal for attracting reluctant readers and introducing them to literature they might not encounter otherwise. You may find that the 14 books in this category will turn your reluctant readers into eager readers.