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A review by nina_chan01
Level Up by Thien Pham, Gene Luen Yang
4.0
I often find that familial obligation feels completely foreign to most Caucasians, but the most normal thing to those who grew up in cultures that follow it as a fundamental truth. This may be a big part of why I really connected with Dennis’ struggle to find a middle ground between what he likes and what’s expected of him and the person who recommended the book was skeptical about the story.
Dennis goes thru a lot in the short space of the book, but he grows from his experiences and learns from his parents and those around him. Gene Luen Yang does a great job of presenting how several people may look at the forces pushing Dennis into medicine. All the side characters are in there for a reason; even the sometimes annoying “angels” have a solid reason for being there.
I particularly loved the way that gaming (PacMan in particular) gets integrated into the story, not just as something that Dennis loves to do but as little details that a gamer/reader can discover a get extra enjoyment from.
The artwork is nice and simple, washed out watercolors that get more intense or muted in key moments. The play and use of color a subtle but effective tool that really helps tell the story.
I would totally recommend it to high school age readers who aren’t sure what path to follow in life. It won’t give them an answer, but it can help them see that they aren’t alone in their quandary.
Dennis goes thru a lot in the short space of the book, but he grows from his experiences and learns from his parents and those around him. Gene Luen Yang does a great job of presenting how several people may look at the forces pushing Dennis into medicine. All the side characters are in there for a reason; even the sometimes annoying “angels” have a solid reason for being there.
I particularly loved the way that gaming (PacMan in particular) gets integrated into the story, not just as something that Dennis loves to do but as little details that a gamer/reader can discover a get extra enjoyment from.
The artwork is nice and simple, washed out watercolors that get more intense or muted in key moments. The play and use of color a subtle but effective tool that really helps tell the story.
I would totally recommend it to high school age readers who aren’t sure what path to follow in life. It won’t give them an answer, but it can help them see that they aren’t alone in their quandary.