A review by betweentheshelves
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying

emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying deals with difficult topics, especially eating disorders, grief, and fatphobia, but in a nuanced, well thought-out way. You can tell Ying took her time to deal with these topics carefully, being sure not to romanticize it in any way. It is one of the better teen books I've read that specifically deal with eating disorders, though it doesn't seem like as many have been published in recent years.

My absolute favorite thing about this book was the art and the color palette. The tones are kind of subdued throughout, but it matches the subject matter almost perfectly. There are some really beautiful panels throughout, and I'd definitely read something from Ying again!

All in all, an emotional, reflective, beautifully illustrated story that's sure to hit home for its teen audience.
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