MAMA’S LOVE LANGUAGE

A young biracial American girl struggles with her Chinese heritage in Stad’s debut picture book.

“My name is Jade. I live in two worlds. My mama is Chinese and my dad is American. Who am I?” Jade, who presents as Chinese, feels out of place in a society depicted as middle class and overwhelmingly white. She doesn’t want to be different and is embarrassed by her mother’s accent and non-Western behavior (especially her focus on homework and her lack of tactile affection). One night Jade disavows her Chinese heritage, but then she learns of her mama’s family history and reconsiders. Stad narrates in the first person and effectively captures Jade’s insecurities and uneasy search for self-identity. Menson (My Heart Will Stay [2020], etc.) complements the story with a deft, uncluttered drawing style. Some clever imagistic juxtapositions suggest emptiness and uncertainty (when Jade worries about fitting in or not being American enough, for instance) amid swirling shades of red, yellow, and aqua. All of this evokes a rich family history and exudes strength and unity whenever her mom or Chinese culture enter the picture. One of the book’s notable features is that Jade isn’t singled out by those around her. Her sense of not belonging comes from within and is tied to her not knowing her mother’s personal history. Once Jade understands that her mama’s love is no less real or strong for being expressed differently, she can finally embrace her own cultural origins.

A frank and fulfilling journey of self-acceptance.