The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng Danica Ronquillo Cheng, Jack The Many Masks of Andy Zhou; written and illus. by Jack Cheng. Dial, 2023 [320p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780525553823 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780525553847 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 5-8 Sixth-grader Andy Zhou tends to go with the flow, which means he’s mostly unfazed when his grandparents arrive from Shanghai to live with his family in Detroit for six months, giving them his room and bed with little fuss. Unfortunately, that tendency also means his best friend Cindy walks all over him, and now she’s convinced him to lie to his parents about joining a school dance group he’s not terribly interested in. Anxiety soon overtakes Andy’s usual easy demeanor, and then he’s totally thrown off balance when his bully from science class, Jameel, suddenly wants to befriend him. Torn by juggling so many responsibilities and identities, Andy tries to cope by focusing on drawing, something that feels uniquely special to him. Inspired by personal experiences immigrating from Shanghai to America, Cheng crafts a poignant novel that follows Andy’s first months of middle school, when [End Page 323] he faces microaggressions in his community and difficulty navigating friendships. Bridges appear as a motif throughout the novel, especially as friendships progress, take detours, or crumble; there’s an aching poignancy in Andy’s observation of a demolished pedestrian bridge: “All that’s left are the twisty ends of rusted metal bars, sticking out where it used to be.” Andy and Jameel bond over pop culture and anime, and their relationship gives nuance to Jameel, presenting him as a kid who is good at heart and has his personal hardships. This moving novel about self-discovery will resonate with kids navigating the shifting waters of middle school. End matter includes an author’s note and mental health resources. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois