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Table of Contents
About The Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
About The Author
Photograph by Eira Tse
Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.
About The Illustrator
Photograph by Eira Tse
Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.
Why We Love It
“Not only are sports rivalry stories immensely engaging as a genre, but Lion Dancers is especially compelling as it highlights a sport that many people in the United States are familiar with but don’t know the intricacies of. Cai Tse’s art is dynamic and her storytelling is reminiscent of the best sports anime that it’s impossible not to fall in love with this immediately.”
—Celia L , Executive Editor, on Lion Dancers
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (August 13, 2024)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665927246
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
With the “hei si,” which is often the first movement in the titular dance, the lion wakes for this coming-of-age graphic novel. Wei always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his late father, who was a lion dance champion. By chance, he joins the Southern Phoenix Lion Dance Team to take up the head once again. But his past misfortune and continuing grievance with one-time friend Hung make it difficult for this middle schooler. With faith and training from his teammates, Wei gains the skill needed to perform during the Lunar New Year festivities around the city. Tse, a performer herself, passes on her passion and knowledge of this traditional Chinese dance. She highlights the teamwork and the dancers’ required physical strength using dynamic movements, close-ups in the lions, and pans to the other characters. Tse also uses the chapter breaks to summarize the dance steps and highlight their cultural significance. The core of the plot comes from Wei’s growth, and as he faces his interpersonal problems, he begins to trust his teammates more. While this leaves readers with a good message, key beats aren’t given enough space to truly depict how to handle betrayal, bullying, and grief. The story ends on a cliff-hanger; perhaps a sequel will provide welcome resolution. VERDICT This graphic novel leaps onto the stage as a great option for those who enjoy team sports manga.
– School Library Journal, 9/1/24
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Friendship, self-confidence, and the physically demanding art of Chinese lion dancing are the focuses of this engaging debut graphic novel...Hand this to readers who enjoy sports/martial arts–adjacent stories."
– Horn Book
"A passionate and visually enticing love letter to the art of lion dancing."
– Kirkus
"Across vibrantly saturated, digitally rendered panels, emotions run high in the rivals’ battle to be the top lion dancer in this heartfelt graphic novel debut, which highlights the rise and fall of former friends as they learn the meaning of teamwork and forgiveness."
– Publishers Weekly
"...the focus on lion dancing is refreshingly new and the smooth artwork nicely carries through the story’s grounding emotional core. Middle-grade readers who are looking for offbeat sports stories will appreciate this."
– Booklist
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Lion Dancers Hardcover 9781665927246
- Author Photo (jpg): Cai Tse Photograph by Eira Tse(0.1 MB)
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