Stan Yan: The many misfortunes of Eugenia Wang

Alkuteos: The many misfortunes of Eugenia Wang (2025)

Ilmestymisaika: 2025 (ko.painos)

Kustantaja: Atheneum

Sivumäärä: 258

ISBN: 9781665943321

Muoto: Nid.

Peukku: q^^

*In this hilarious and heartfelt debut graphic novel, a girl born on a day considered unlucky in Chinese superstition starts to wonder if she really is cursed when she’s troubled by visions of doom set to occur on her thirteenth birthday.

Twelve-year-old Eugenia Wang has never celebrated her birthday on her actual birthday, April 4th, because of her mom’s belief in the Chinese superstition that four is an unlucky number. And that’s not the only thing Mom’s strict about; she won’t let Eugenia go to a summer comic art camp because she thinks art is a waste of time. This year, Eugenia is determined to defy her mom by applying for the camp, having her party on her actual birthday, and inviting her super cute crush while she’s at it, too!

But when Eugenia gets hit in the head with a sneaker during PE, she starts getting unnerving visions of impending doom about her upcoming birthday. It might be the aftereffects of her head injury, or maybe she’s just anxious about turning thirteen. As the visions get worse, even affecting her artwork, Eugenia suspects an unseen force may be sending her messages. If she’s haunted after all, Eugenia will have to figure out why before it’s too late. Even more horrifying, she may have to do the unthinkable: admit her mom was right.*

Jotenkin “pyöreästi” piirretty sarjakuva, joka leikittelee paitsi kiinalaisella taikauskolla niin myös kiinalaisiin (maahanmuuttajiin) kohdistuvilla ennakkoluuloilla. Eugenien perhe kun on mitä “stereotypisin” tapaus. Tytär soittaa viulua, kaikista aineista pitää saada paras numero ja omat haaveet pitää uhrata menestyksen tieltä.

Ihan kiva tarina, joskin samaa unta toistetaan todella paljon. Se on kyllä ideakin, mutta jossain vaiheessa itse huomasin, että lakkasin kiinnittämästä kaikkiin yksityiskohtiin huomiota. Juonessa mukana myös ystävyttä, sisarus-juttuja ja vähän ihastumistakin. Varsin monipuolinen paketti.