Lunar New Year Love Story (graphic novel)(ALA Youth Media Awards)

Two graphic novel superstars join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, forgiveness, and lion dancing!

Valentina Tran used to love Valentine's Day. But when she learns the truth behind her parents' separation, she concludes true love is a lie. A ghoulish visage of Saint Valentine appears and promises to protect Val from heartbreak—but only if she gives up on love. Permanently.

Suddenly, cousins Leslie and Jae come roaring into Val’s life—literally. They’re lion dancers, and during one fateful Lunar New Year performance, the lion they’re inside hands Val a paper heart. And in that moment, Val feels . . . something again.

Is that feeling love? Could this be Val's chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to have a broken heart forever?

As the Library of Congress’s fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yang advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. His graphic novel American Born Chinese has been adapted into a streaming series on Disney+. His other graphic novels include the two-volume Boxers & Saints and his memoir Dragon Hoops.

LeUyen Pham has illustrated more than one hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Honor book Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris and the bestselling Princess in Black series by Shannon and Dean Hale. She is the cocreator, along with Shannon Hale, of the bestselling series Real Friends. Her own books include The Bear Who Wasn't There and Big Sister, Little Sister.