Measuring Up
Written by Lily LaMotte
Illustrations by Ann Xu
October 27, 2020
208 page
ISBN: 9780062973863
Reading age: 8-12
Measuring Up is like a delightful dish that brings its ingredients together in a warm and satisfying treat. The graphic novel is part cooking competition, part immigrant experience, part family story, part friend drama, and all heart.
The story begins in Taiwan, in the final days before 12-year-old Cici and her parents immigrate to the United States. After the move, she easily makes friends and starts to settle into her new life while making some cultural adjustments. The transition is relatively smooth except for one major stumbling block: she desperately misses her grandmother (A-má) back in Taiwan. Video chat keeps them connected, but it can’t replicate the intimate trips to the market and deep conversations that Cici and A-má used to enjoy in person. Fortunately, Cici soon cooks up a plan to bring A-má for a visit—by competing at a local kids cooking competition! The cash prize will be enough to cover A-má’s plane fare. But will Cici have the culinary skills to take first place?
Cici’s growth and self-discovery are not limited just to her cooking. The culinary contest serves as a backdrop for author Lily LaMotte to explore a number of social dynamics and their effects on Cici. First, there are the microaggressions and antagonisms that occur both in and outside the kitchen. On her first day at school, students deride Cici’s “ethnic” lunch, characterizing her pickled cucumbers as rotten worms. At one point, a new classmate starts speaking slowly and loudly, assuming Cici’s understanding of English is poor. In the contest, Cici must deal with another competitor who conflates Thai and Taiwanese cuisine—and dismisses both. Unsurprisingly, she internalizes these harmful sentiments and is afraid to invite her new friends over to her home (“What if for the first time, they really realize how Taiwanese I am? What if they stop seeing me as being like them?” p. 149).
Also, Cici and her parents are navigating their new routines in America, with Cici adjusting to being a latchkey kid. Cici even argues with her father about his emphasis on academics as she becomes increasingly consumed with perfecting her recipes and her grades begin to slip. Ultimately though, Cici finds her way. By the end of the book, she is comfortable and confident enough to assert her full genuine self with her family, friends, and even with the judges, as she puts her own twist on traditional Taiwanese iû-pn̄g (oily rice) for her final dish.
As a foodie, I loved the book’s focus on the kitchen. From the panels illustrating a recipe’s ingredients, to the prep scenes (dicing! sizzling! flipping!), to the finished dishes, I ate it all up. I have no doubt fans of cooking shows will enjoy watching Cici’s foray into competitive cooking. And based on the enthusiasm for APALA’s Community Kitchen project, I expect many APALA members will identify with the way Cici and A-má celebrate their heritage and forge interpersonal connections through the preparation and sharing of meals. Librarians will particularly appreciate the pivotal role of Cici’s favorite public librarian, Ms. Green, who perceives Cici’s self-doubt and introduces her to Julia Child. Thanks to the doyenne of French cooking, Cici learns to draw on her “courage of conviction” and overcome her insecurities as a chef.
As a whole, Measuring Up is comfort food, not molecular gastronomy. There are no major surprises and much of what LaMotte covers is familiar territory. Still, Cici’s story rings true. Ann Xu’s expressive illustrations bring an extra level of energy and emotion to the reading experience. Though Measuring Up doesn’t break new ground, it still delivers an enjoyable story for readers to chew on. It offers authentic representation that we as APALA members know is critical, but unfortunately often lacking. This heartfelt book is a welcome #OwnVoices addition to the overall menu of youth literature.
Review by Karen Wang. Editing assistance by Danica Ronquillo.