What do you think?
Rate this book
Noodle & Bao: A Graphic Novel
Perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Measuring Up, this whimsical and empowering middle grade graphic novel follows a girl who helps her friend’s humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood.
Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle.
But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture—Fancé Cafe. Fancé is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they're only beautifying Town 99 with good business.
Momo knows that’s not true, and knows that if she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose everything she loves about her neighborhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it’s too late?
Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle.
But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture—Fancé Cafe. Fancé is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they're only beautifying Town 99 with good business.
Momo knows that’s not true, and knows that if she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose everything she loves about her neighborhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it’s too late?
Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2024
26 people are currently reading
3832 people want to read
About the author
Shaina Lu
8 books32 followersShaina Lu (she/her) is a queer Taiwanese American community artist exploring the intersection of art, education, and activism. When she’s not creating community art, she works with young artists and makers in Boston’s Chinatown.
Most important, she drinks juice every day, and she is full of sugar.
Most important, she drinks juice every day, and she is full of sugar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
January 22, 2025
Momo loves living in Town 99, a historically Chinese neighborhood where she knows everyone and all the best places to eat and hang out. But things are changing. Her parents are worried about making rent, and her favorite restaurant was kicked out of its location and now operates out of a cart. The owner of the new restaurant, Fancé Cafe, has big plans to buy out the whole block and upscale everything. Momo rallies her friends and neighbors to fight back against the gentrification. This is a very sweet book for young readers, with talking animal characters and whimsical food battles interwoven with community organizing. An epilogue explains the issues around gentrification for a child who might not have encountered it before.
January 10, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
This was an adorable read that packed a lot of punch!
The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story). I loved that the author included this information since it is very helpful for young readers in understanding the context of the story.
Another small thing I liked was the inclusion of the main characters’ pronouns when they were introduced. It was a small detail that I appreciated.
The art style is adorable. It’s very cute. Other reviewers have noted that some characters are depicted as animals and some as human, which they found confusing. I didn’t mind it at all. I felt that it added to the charm of the story.
For me, I wished the story had been divided up into chapters to help with pacing, which felt a little weird in spots. Also the end seemed a little bit rushed. Everything was resolved fairly quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel for kids. If you’re looking for an educational book for a young reader, consider getting them this book!
This was an adorable read that packed a lot of punch!
The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story). I loved that the author included this information since it is very helpful for young readers in understanding the context of the story.
Another small thing I liked was the inclusion of the main characters’ pronouns when they were introduced. It was a small detail that I appreciated.
The art style is adorable. It’s very cute. Other reviewers have noted that some characters are depicted as animals and some as human, which they found confusing. I didn’t mind it at all. I felt that it added to the charm of the story.
For me, I wished the story had been divided up into chapters to help with pacing, which felt a little weird in spots. Also the end seemed a little bit rushed. Everything was resolved fairly quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel for kids. If you’re looking for an educational book for a young reader, consider getting them this book!
October 13, 2024
This was absolutely perfect! It had everything that I look for in a graphic novel - beautiful art, loveable characters, a complete story arc and a strong message. I loved that when we were introduced to each main character, we got a little bio on them, including their pronouns. I also loved that through most of the dialogue, there is Chinese written as well as English. I appreciated that detail even more after reading the author’s note, which was so beautiful and informative! This graphic novel had so much personality and emotion and was really unique. I’ll be recommending this to everyone!
October 19, 2024
Don't let the cute cover deceive you because this one is packed with important topics about standing firm for your culture and identity.
I love how the author injected the discussion about gentrification and how it has been woven into the history of immigrants in the US.
The art style is straightforward and I like how the author-illustrator added twists on the supporting characters of Town 99.
This middle grade graphic novel is empowering and magical. 4.5stars!
I love how the author injected the discussion about gentrification and how it has been woven into the history of immigrants in the US.
The art style is straightforward and I like how the author-illustrator added twists on the supporting characters of Town 99.
This middle grade graphic novel is empowering and magical. 4.5stars!
November 9, 2024
A middle grade graphic novel about gentrification. This is generally a good take on the subject, a nice introduction for younger readers. There a couple of narrative choices that I wasn't thrilled about, though. I don't understand why the neighborhood is called Town 99 when it's obviously intended to be Chinatown. The book is steeped in Chinese immigrant culture, after all. About half of the characters are animals, and half are humans. I think a lot of readers will just gloss over this, but some will be confused. I think the animal characters are meant to indicate who's an immigrant and who's second generation, but that isn't immediately obvious. But I think the one thing that really kept me from fully connecting to this book is that it has the wrong protagonist. This gentrification conflict is based around a restaurant, run by the titular Noodle and Bao. The protagonist is neither character, she's a friend of Bao's. I really feel like Bao should have been the viewpoint character here.
April 30, 2025
On the surface Noodle and Bao looks like a sweet graphic novel about cooking and food, but in reality it’s about gentrification and pushing families with low income out of their homes. This doesn’t take place in our world (we don’t have cat, fish, panda and other animal people walking around), but it has a strong resemblance. Think if Animal Crossing characters had lived in their houses for a generation, but then big business wanted to come in and buy up all the property.
I enjoyed the story. For it being so cute and having such a serious topic, the whole thing was presented in a very relatable way. Seeing as how this is meant for middle graders, I think it’s explained really well. There is also an afterwards that gives a little more insight into what it all means.
Another thing I loved is that when the older characters spoke, many of them were translated in both English and Chinese. I don’t understand Chinese characters, but for those learning the language, this might be a fun way to practice.
I enjoyed the story. For it being so cute and having such a serious topic, the whole thing was presented in a very relatable way. Seeing as how this is meant for middle graders, I think it’s explained really well. There is also an afterwards that gives a little more insight into what it all means.
Another thing I loved is that when the older characters spoke, many of them were translated in both English and Chinese. I don’t understand Chinese characters, but for those learning the language, this might be a fun way to practice.
December 5, 2024
A very cute drawing style that surprised me with how far it went on the gentrification storyline. I enjoyed the use of Chinese and cuisine, but felt that the animals threw me, in that were the older Chinese Americans all depicted as animals to show how they don't fit in? And, if so, why were they also other older Chinese Americans who were human (I know not all people are homogeneous, but thematically it might've helped)?
I wish the villain, Ms Jujube, had been a little less one-dimensional, but ah well. A fun read and hopefully empowering to the readers, either way!
I wish the villain, Ms Jujube, had been a little less one-dimensional, but ah well. A fun read and hopefully empowering to the readers, either way!
January 12, 2025
I’m so excited about all the amazing, inclusive, diverse and educational books middle schoolers can take out of the library now. :’)
July 31, 2025
4.5/5
January 11, 2025
'We can let it rest now.'
'Aw, it's like you're putting it to bed. Out little bao baby.'
Noodle & Bao is a perfect read if you're in the mood to look at delicious food and read about a community's efforts to push back against their town's gentrification. Momo loves Town 99 and all the food it has to offer especially Noodle Yi Yi's Noodle & Bao, which used to be a restaurant but forced to go back to being a food cart when Fancé Cafe bought the storefront it was renting. Thus begins Momo's seemingly endless list of ideas to get business back to Noodle & Bao.
While Momo undertakes the near impossible task of reinstating Noodle & Bao to its glory days, Bao, her best friend, ends up getting inspired to put a new spin on bao after Momo and their attempt of spying on Fancé Cafe by eating their food just to see what's so special about it. All Noodle wants, though is to park her food cart in front of Fancé Cafe which its owner, Ms. Jujube, can't stand to see.
While all three of our main characters are well-developed and 3-dimentional, the same can't really be said of Ms. Jujube who seems to have a one-track mind and that's just being overly ambitious. I did like the message that even though Ms. Jujube herself is also from Town 99, not everyone in a community tends to have its best interests at heart but that's pretty much it.
My favorite character just might be grumpy Noodle Yi Yi just because she's so pessimistic, stubborn and set in her old ways. Momo is the best main character, though because you just can't help but love her and her energy. And Bao is the sweetest. I love that we also get an epilogue set many years in the future when they've both grown up. More of that, please!
Noodle & Bao only makes use of black, white and orange throughout and the sparse art with mostly white background somehow just works so well with the story. Despite the minimal color, the food still comes across as scrumptious. I'm just a little confused about the animals in the story for instance, Momo's parents being a pair of pandas but it makes for creative storytelling if nothing else.
Shaina Lu's author note also adds a level of detail that I wholly appreciated about the history of Chinatowns and the use of Chinese in the story throughout. In all, Noodle & Bao is an excellent read!
'Aw, it's like you're putting it to bed. Out little bao baby.'
Noodle & Bao is a perfect read if you're in the mood to look at delicious food and read about a community's efforts to push back against their town's gentrification. Momo loves Town 99 and all the food it has to offer especially Noodle Yi Yi's Noodle & Bao, which used to be a restaurant but forced to go back to being a food cart when Fancé Cafe bought the storefront it was renting. Thus begins Momo's seemingly endless list of ideas to get business back to Noodle & Bao.
While Momo undertakes the near impossible task of reinstating Noodle & Bao to its glory days, Bao, her best friend, ends up getting inspired to put a new spin on bao after Momo and their attempt of spying on Fancé Cafe by eating their food just to see what's so special about it. All Noodle wants, though is to park her food cart in front of Fancé Cafe which its owner, Ms. Jujube, can't stand to see.
While all three of our main characters are well-developed and 3-dimentional, the same can't really be said of Ms. Jujube who seems to have a one-track mind and that's just being overly ambitious. I did like the message that even though Ms. Jujube herself is also from Town 99, not everyone in a community tends to have its best interests at heart but that's pretty much it.
My favorite character just might be grumpy Noodle Yi Yi just because she's so pessimistic, stubborn and set in her old ways. Momo is the best main character, though because you just can't help but love her and her energy. And Bao is the sweetest. I love that we also get an epilogue set many years in the future when they've both grown up. More of that, please!
Noodle & Bao only makes use of black, white and orange throughout and the sparse art with mostly white background somehow just works so well with the story. Despite the minimal color, the food still comes across as scrumptious. I'm just a little confused about the animals in the story for instance, Momo's parents being a pair of pandas but it makes for creative storytelling if nothing else.
Shaina Lu's author note also adds a level of detail that I wholly appreciated about the history of Chinatowns and the use of Chinese in the story throughout. In all, Noodle & Bao is an excellent read!
June 2, 2024
Thanks goes out to NetGalley for sending me an ARC.
I LOVED this book so much that I immediately pre-ordered it for my classroom. This is perfect for fans of Measuring Up and A Place at the Table. Even though this meant for middle grade students, this book tackles themes of food, community, immigration, and gentrification. The art is gorgeous, the depictions of food mouthwatering, and it's funny to see how like Animal Crossing, some of the characters are human and others are different animals-- including the main character's parents!
As an aside, I come from a similar background as the author and artist and I love how they captured the spirit of Chinatown in the graphic novel. The bilingual traditional Chinese/English dialogue in places touched my heart because the author explains the choices she made with using Cantonese and Mandarin that shows how rich and diverse their neighborhood community is. I already know that some of my students will be so excited to see their languages represented here.
I LOVED this book so much that I immediately pre-ordered it for my classroom. This is perfect for fans of Measuring Up and A Place at the Table. Even though this meant for middle grade students, this book tackles themes of food, community, immigration, and gentrification. The art is gorgeous, the depictions of food mouthwatering, and it's funny to see how like Animal Crossing, some of the characters are human and others are different animals-- including the main character's parents!
As an aside, I come from a similar background as the author and artist and I love how they captured the spirit of Chinatown in the graphic novel. The bilingual traditional Chinese/English dialogue in places touched my heart because the author explains the choices she made with using Cantonese and Mandarin that shows how rich and diverse their neighborhood community is. I already know that some of my students will be so excited to see their languages represented here.
August 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Everything about it screams cute: the art, the characters, the ending. I loved the part at the end of the book where we get some more serious facts on the subjects that inspired this story. It was exactly what I was needing to read right now.
I would recommend picking this one up if you are looking for an easy but impactful read.
I would recommend picking this one up if you are looking for an easy but impactful read.
July 2, 2025
[4.5]
The worldbuilding felt a little loose, but this is a great story with adorable illustrations.
The worldbuilding felt a little loose, but this is a great story with adorable illustrations.
February 19, 2025
A wonderful story that look at how gentrification can negativity impact a community. And how to not give up hope in these situations.
July 30, 2025
The illustrations! I could taste the food. Great way to talk about Community organising to fight for a cause. I enjoyed the info at the end. P.s. Grandma is the coolest
May 26, 2024
Hilarious comedic timing, passionately-crafted and researched. A beautiful and charming story rooted in the heart and souls of Boston Chinatown. 1000 stars.
January 11, 2025
First book I completed in 2025! I'm glad it was this one.
Disclosure: I've met the author a few times at MICE Boston comics expo, as she's a zinester as well as an author and community worker. Our values are similar --we want neighborhoods to thrive, and are interested in the lives of people who reside there (and who are sometimes pushed out).
I appreciated how complex this story is: Momo is trying to do the right thing, and she's an activist at heart, but sometimes solo-activism goes amiss. There are lovely themes here about lessons hard-learned, and about what's possible (or not) for individuals and what's possible (or not) for larger community efforts. Momo's assertive and creative precociousness reminded me of Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie from the book Chicken Soup with Rice (and the musical). Like Rosie, Momo is not always kind, but she's got energy, chutzpah, and strong sense of protectiveness towards her friends and community.
I've read other books for young people that feature themes of community-preservation and gentrification. It's hard to tackle this topic while living it --often the stories end up either too optimistic or too depressing. I think, focusing on Momo's journey and learning specifically, Shaina prevents the story from over-indexing in one direction or the other.
Right now, I'm 10 blocks away from Boston's Chinatown and the green-tiled China Trade Gate, which is depicted in some of Shaina's illustrations. It's pretty cool to see my city like this in a book, especially spaces and scenes that aren't the Boston that comes up when you Google. This is working-class Asian Boston. It's makes me feel proud to know this neighborhood as well as I do, although I'm a guest, too.
I wish I was more familiar with the foods that Shaina draws so deliciously! I've had bao, but as a person who doesn't eat pork, I know I'm really missing out on the full impact of the various dishes on display.
I've already gifted one copy of Noodle & Bao, and have inspired someone else to give one to a friend!
Disclosure: I've met the author a few times at MICE Boston comics expo, as she's a zinester as well as an author and community worker. Our values are similar --we want neighborhoods to thrive, and are interested in the lives of people who reside there (and who are sometimes pushed out).
I appreciated how complex this story is: Momo is trying to do the right thing, and she's an activist at heart, but sometimes solo-activism goes amiss. There are lovely themes here about lessons hard-learned, and about what's possible (or not) for individuals and what's possible (or not) for larger community efforts. Momo's assertive and creative precociousness reminded me of Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie from the book Chicken Soup with Rice (and the musical). Like Rosie, Momo is not always kind, but she's got energy, chutzpah, and strong sense of protectiveness towards her friends and community.
I've read other books for young people that feature themes of community-preservation and gentrification. It's hard to tackle this topic while living it --often the stories end up either too optimistic or too depressing. I think, focusing on Momo's journey and learning specifically, Shaina prevents the story from over-indexing in one direction or the other.
Right now, I'm 10 blocks away from Boston's Chinatown and the green-tiled China Trade Gate, which is depicted in some of Shaina's illustrations. It's pretty cool to see my city like this in a book, especially spaces and scenes that aren't the Boston that comes up when you Google. This is working-class Asian Boston. It's makes me feel proud to know this neighborhood as well as I do, although I'm a guest, too.
I wish I was more familiar with the foods that Shaina draws so deliciously! I've had bao, but as a person who doesn't eat pork, I know I'm really missing out on the full impact of the various dishes on display.
I've already gifted one copy of Noodle & Bao, and have inspired someone else to give one to a friend!
November 4, 2024
Absolutely obsessed.
--
✨ Review ✨ Noodle & Bao by Shaina Lu
Thanks to Quill Tree Books, @harperkids and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book! #EpicTastemakers
I'm absolutely obsessed with this book because it explores so many topics that I research and write about -- gentrification, urban development, bilingualism, community resistance -- but in a graphic novel suitable for kids. I'm so excited to share it with my kids!
Momo has always lived in Town 99 but the neighborhood is changing. Rent prices are increasing, her best friend Bao and his amah Noodle were pushed out of their restaurant, and now Fancé Café and its bougie new owner are threatening to take over. Momo leads the community in fighting back against this development, and this book celebrates diverse cities and communities in a really beautiful way.
I loved that this takes place in a fictional Chinatown but in a way that feels relatable to many ethnic neighborhoods throughout the US and beyond. The author really thoughtfully pairs different dialects of Chinese alongside with English to show the neighborhood's multilingualism and the different generations of residents.
The illustrations are simple, yet beautiful, and I can't wait to see what Shaina Lu does next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: Town 99, a fictional Chinatown
Pub Date: October 15, 2024
Read this if you like:
⭕️ urban spaces and diverse communities
⭕️ Chinatowns
⭕️ Chinese & fusion food
⭕️ graphic novels
--
✨ Review ✨ Noodle & Bao by Shaina Lu
Thanks to Quill Tree Books, @harperkids and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book! #EpicTastemakers
I'm absolutely obsessed with this book because it explores so many topics that I research and write about -- gentrification, urban development, bilingualism, community resistance -- but in a graphic novel suitable for kids. I'm so excited to share it with my kids!
Momo has always lived in Town 99 but the neighborhood is changing. Rent prices are increasing, her best friend Bao and his amah Noodle were pushed out of their restaurant, and now Fancé Café and its bougie new owner are threatening to take over. Momo leads the community in fighting back against this development, and this book celebrates diverse cities and communities in a really beautiful way.
I loved that this takes place in a fictional Chinatown but in a way that feels relatable to many ethnic neighborhoods throughout the US and beyond. The author really thoughtfully pairs different dialects of Chinese alongside with English to show the neighborhood's multilingualism and the different generations of residents.
The illustrations are simple, yet beautiful, and I can't wait to see what Shaina Lu does next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: Town 99, a fictional Chinatown
Pub Date: October 15, 2024
Read this if you like:
⭕️ urban spaces and diverse communities
⭕️ Chinatowns
⭕️ Chinese & fusion food
⭕️ graphic novels
October 31, 2024
A super cute graphic novel that has a deeper message of gentrification and displacement within a marginalized community. And, so much food. If you are in the Boston area, the Chinatown landmarks are clear and the struggles are familiar, since so much of the community work is retold through this book. Kids of all ages will enjoy this read.
July 15, 2025
I ♥ community.
February 15, 2025
A sweet graphic novel about the shittiness of gentrification, specifically in Asian neighborhoods.
The MC helps her friend and his grandma, Noodle & Bao, fight back against a huge restaurant with their little food truck.
I like the art style, although I think the way that some people are animals and some are people is beyond me. I thought it was maybe kids vs adults but it's been a while and I can't remember.
The MC helps her friend and his grandma, Noodle & Bao, fight back against a huge restaurant with their little food truck.
I like the art style, although I think the way that some people are animals and some are people is beyond me. I thought it was maybe kids vs adults but it's been a while and I can't remember.
June 25, 2024
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
In this graphic novel, we meet Momo, who loves living in Town 99. Her favorite place to eat is a small restaraunt run by Noodle Yi Yi and her grandchild, Bao, Momo's best friend. When Noodle has to sell the restaurant, it is bought by Ms. Jujube and turned into the expensive and upscale Fancé Café. Momo is very upset, and she also notices that there are other things changing in her neighborhood. Her parents have to work all the time, and there are overdue bills posted on the refrigerator. Noodle sets up a food truck outside her old location, but doesn't have the proper permit and is told to clear off. Momo and Bao decide to fight for their neighborhood. They sneak into Fancé Café planning to order something inexpensive off the menu to find out how horrible it is, but Ms. Jujube spots them and comps them a complete meal. Bao is fascinated by the different flavors, and talks to Ms. Jujube with some interest, but Momo is upset. She challenges Ms. Jujube to a cooking contest at an upcoming neighborhood festival, and both agree that if Noodle and Bao wins, Fancé Café will close down, but if Ms. Jujube wins, the food truck will be removed and Bao will come and work for her. Bao spends a lot of time trying new dishes that they think represent the neighborhood, which include things like Cheeseburger and Chicharon Bao (which is a filled steamed bun). Momo is a little leery of these new twists on traditional cuisine, but she is very upset because her parents have told her that they are being evicted and have to move. When the festival arrives, Bao wins the contest, but it is a Phyrhic victory: Ms. Jujube will close down Fancé Café as planned, but also tear it down and build a ninety-nine story hotel with a restaurant on the bottom floor. She claims it will bring jobs to the area, but Momo and Bao know it will destroy Town 99 as they know it. They start to protest, getting government officials involved, and casting a lot of bad publicity on Ms. Jujube's plan. She finally agrees to sell the land back, and the community is able to remain as it is. There are notes about real ethnic enclaves in the US that have fought gentrification, as well as information about Chinese immigration and an explanation of the different dialects of Chinese that are used alongside the English in the text.
Strengths: I would suggest to readers that they start with the notes first; while I knew a little about the Chinese Exclusion Act and other bits of Chinese history (thanks to books like Lee and Soontornvat's Made in Asian America and Blackburn's Exclusion and the Chinese-American Story), having a brief background will make this more powerful for readers. I was also intrigued to learn about the Parcel C protests in Boston in the 1990s and would love to see a middle grade novel about that. The descriptions of food are very detailed and enticing. Momo's love for her neighborhood is very clear, and it's encouraging to see her work to save her neighborhood.
Weaknesses: The illustration style seems a little young for the topic, and there were some odd things, like the fact that Momo's parents were depicted as pandas and Noodle looked like a cat. I suppose that is just a stylistic choice, but it was a little confusing; it would have made more sense to me if Momo were also depicted as a panda.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to learn about gentrification and want a graphic novel instead of traditional novels like Dilloway's Five Things About Ava Andrews, Vivat's Meet Me on Mercer Street, Nelson's The Umbrella House, Giles' Take Back the Block, or Broaddus' Unfadeable.
In this graphic novel, we meet Momo, who loves living in Town 99. Her favorite place to eat is a small restaraunt run by Noodle Yi Yi and her grandchild, Bao, Momo's best friend. When Noodle has to sell the restaurant, it is bought by Ms. Jujube and turned into the expensive and upscale Fancé Café. Momo is very upset, and she also notices that there are other things changing in her neighborhood. Her parents have to work all the time, and there are overdue bills posted on the refrigerator. Noodle sets up a food truck outside her old location, but doesn't have the proper permit and is told to clear off. Momo and Bao decide to fight for their neighborhood. They sneak into Fancé Café planning to order something inexpensive off the menu to find out how horrible it is, but Ms. Jujube spots them and comps them a complete meal. Bao is fascinated by the different flavors, and talks to Ms. Jujube with some interest, but Momo is upset. She challenges Ms. Jujube to a cooking contest at an upcoming neighborhood festival, and both agree that if Noodle and Bao wins, Fancé Café will close down, but if Ms. Jujube wins, the food truck will be removed and Bao will come and work for her. Bao spends a lot of time trying new dishes that they think represent the neighborhood, which include things like Cheeseburger and Chicharon Bao (which is a filled steamed bun). Momo is a little leery of these new twists on traditional cuisine, but she is very upset because her parents have told her that they are being evicted and have to move. When the festival arrives, Bao wins the contest, but it is a Phyrhic victory: Ms. Jujube will close down Fancé Café as planned, but also tear it down and build a ninety-nine story hotel with a restaurant on the bottom floor. She claims it will bring jobs to the area, but Momo and Bao know it will destroy Town 99 as they know it. They start to protest, getting government officials involved, and casting a lot of bad publicity on Ms. Jujube's plan. She finally agrees to sell the land back, and the community is able to remain as it is. There are notes about real ethnic enclaves in the US that have fought gentrification, as well as information about Chinese immigration and an explanation of the different dialects of Chinese that are used alongside the English in the text.
Strengths: I would suggest to readers that they start with the notes first; while I knew a little about the Chinese Exclusion Act and other bits of Chinese history (thanks to books like Lee and Soontornvat's Made in Asian America and Blackburn's Exclusion and the Chinese-American Story), having a brief background will make this more powerful for readers. I was also intrigued to learn about the Parcel C protests in Boston in the 1990s and would love to see a middle grade novel about that. The descriptions of food are very detailed and enticing. Momo's love for her neighborhood is very clear, and it's encouraging to see her work to save her neighborhood.
Weaknesses: The illustration style seems a little young for the topic, and there were some odd things, like the fact that Momo's parents were depicted as pandas and Noodle looked like a cat. I suppose that is just a stylistic choice, but it was a little confusing; it would have made more sense to me if Momo were also depicted as a panda.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to learn about gentrification and want a graphic novel instead of traditional novels like Dilloway's Five Things About Ava Andrews, Vivat's Meet Me on Mercer Street, Nelson's The Umbrella House, Giles' Take Back the Block, or Broaddus' Unfadeable.
October 10, 2024
Momo’s BFF Bao and Bao’s ah-ma (grandmother) Noodle Yi Yi lose their restaurant Noodle and Bao to an ultra-chic restaurant. Noodle and Bao subsequently operate their business from a food cart outside the new restaurant, which annoys the new restaurant owner. Momo vows to get the Noodle and Bao restaurant back which was a vital part of the community Town 99.
I found it interesting that Momo is a human girl but her parents are pandas. Other characters were animals, such as Noodle was an old grumpy cat. I wasn’t sure if there was a significance to the anthropomorphism, but being an animal lover, this was pleasing to me.
At first I found the story slow paced, but eventually the story built up and started to grow on me. I enjoyed the animal characterization illustrations, but overall in general, the drawings were not my preferred style but certainly may appeal to other readers. I would have preferred to see a colorful palette to the illustrations rather than the black, white and blush tones.
In the end I did enjoy the story especially after reading the Author’s Note regarding how Chinatowns came into existence in the U.S. which started during the Chinese immigration in the 1880s and their steady decline in the past few years. I was particularly interested in this story because: 1) I am Asian American, 2) I want to support Asian graphic novelists, 3) there was reference and a text bubble to my family’s dialect toisanese (VERY rare to see), 4) the story was based upon a real life protest of Boston Chinatown takeover by developers, and 4) I grew up on bao and dim sum so the theme and cover was not be passed up!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
I found it interesting that Momo is a human girl but her parents are pandas. Other characters were animals, such as Noodle was an old grumpy cat. I wasn’t sure if there was a significance to the anthropomorphism, but being an animal lover, this was pleasing to me.
At first I found the story slow paced, but eventually the story built up and started to grow on me. I enjoyed the animal characterization illustrations, but overall in general, the drawings were not my preferred style but certainly may appeal to other readers. I would have preferred to see a colorful palette to the illustrations rather than the black, white and blush tones.
In the end I did enjoy the story especially after reading the Author’s Note regarding how Chinatowns came into existence in the U.S. which started during the Chinese immigration in the 1880s and their steady decline in the past few years. I was particularly interested in this story because: 1) I am Asian American, 2) I want to support Asian graphic novelists, 3) there was reference and a text bubble to my family’s dialect toisanese (VERY rare to see), 4) the story was based upon a real life protest of Boston Chinatown takeover by developers, and 4) I grew up on bao and dim sum so the theme and cover was not be passed up!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
October 11, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Noodle & Bao is a well written and beautifully illustrated all-ages book about community and standing up for what we believe in written by Shaina Lu. Due out 15th Oct 2024 from HarperCollins on their Quill Tree imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.
Momo, Bao, and their families live in Town 99, a tightly knit community of folks with restaurants, bookstores, and everything else they need. Their entire community is threatened when Ms. Jujube starts buying up and "improving" their town, raising rents so much that many of the residents can't afford to live there anymore.
This thought provoking accessible novel has a lot of good takeaways for everyone: gentrification, strength in diversity, the power in collective grassroots action, and depending on our friends (instead of trying to do everything alone).
The art is full of small details which invite readers to take a closer look. Much of the dialogue is bilingual in several Asian language as well as English (the author explains her reasoning in an afterword). There are also a number of pages with suggested discussion topics for classroom or book club discussion. There's also a reassuring diversity of characters, one of whom is nonbinary.
Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home or classroom use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Noodle & Bao is a well written and beautifully illustrated all-ages book about community and standing up for what we believe in written by Shaina Lu. Due out 15th Oct 2024 from HarperCollins on their Quill Tree imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.
Momo, Bao, and their families live in Town 99, a tightly knit community of folks with restaurants, bookstores, and everything else they need. Their entire community is threatened when Ms. Jujube starts buying up and "improving" their town, raising rents so much that many of the residents can't afford to live there anymore.
This thought provoking accessible novel has a lot of good takeaways for everyone: gentrification, strength in diversity, the power in collective grassroots action, and depending on our friends (instead of trying to do everything alone).
The art is full of small details which invite readers to take a closer look. Much of the dialogue is bilingual in several Asian language as well as English (the author explains her reasoning in an afterword). There are also a number of pages with suggested discussion topics for classroom or book club discussion. There's also a reassuring diversity of characters, one of whom is nonbinary.
Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home or classroom use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 7, 2024
5 Stars. This story was adorable and oh so heartwarming. Momo has lived her whole life in Town 99, she knows all of the ins and outs and most importantly where to get the best eats–Noodles & Bao. May I just say that Gua Bao sounds amazing! Noodles & Bao lost their storefront due to their landlord selling the building and had to transition to a food cart. A swanky new restaurant called Fance Cafe quickly replaces the former location of Noodles & Bao. To take it a step further, Jujube, the new owner of Fance Cafe even forces Noodle & Bao to relocate their food truck. Noodles & Bao tell a heartwarming story of a community trying to hang on to its roots and support one another. I loved the art and the seemingly random mix of animals and humans. Noodle is not a human and neither are Momo’s parents, but there were humans too. It was a quirky style choice that just added to the story’s overall charm. I can see where the references to Animal Crossing come from now. I liked the inclusion of pronouns when introducing the main characters and the inclusion of Chinese in the speech bubbles as well. All in all, this book addresses some pretty challenging topics, from immigration, community, and gentrification, all while tantalizing readers with mouth watering food and charming characters. Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, Shaina Lu, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review!
September 25, 2025
4.5 stars rounded down.
Noodle & Bao is a love story. But, uh, not that kind of love story! It’s a love story between people and their town.
Momo is an exuberant girl who loves everything about her hometown, Town 99, but especially the people and the food. When Noodle & Bao, the restaurant run by her best friend’s family, loses its building and is replaced by a fancy Western-style restaurant, Momo worries about the future of her friends and her town. When plans for new construction threaten the entire street, Momo decides that it’s up to her to save Town 99 and everything she loves.
This graphic novel uses manga-style illustrations in a minimalist, three-color palette with a mixture of English and Chinese text to tell the story of a Chinatown community threatened by gentrification. The charming illustrations portray a diverse cast of characters, and the art and pacing pair well with the themes of the story.
Encouraging persistence and teamwork, the story follows Momo as she learns about community organization and resistance while fighting to save her town and discovers the true meaning of community along the way. “Town 99 is not a place of buildings, or even food. But it is a place of people” (p. 210).
VERDICT: An inspiring and empowering story about the power of determination, friendship, and community perfect for fans of Aquicorn Cove by Kay O'Neill and Animal Crossing!
Noodle & Bao is a love story. But, uh, not that kind of love story! It’s a love story between people and their town.
Momo is an exuberant girl who loves everything about her hometown, Town 99, but especially the people and the food. When Noodle & Bao, the restaurant run by her best friend’s family, loses its building and is replaced by a fancy Western-style restaurant, Momo worries about the future of her friends and her town. When plans for new construction threaten the entire street, Momo decides that it’s up to her to save Town 99 and everything she loves.
This graphic novel uses manga-style illustrations in a minimalist, three-color palette with a mixture of English and Chinese text to tell the story of a Chinatown community threatened by gentrification. The charming illustrations portray a diverse cast of characters, and the art and pacing pair well with the themes of the story.
Encouraging persistence and teamwork, the story follows Momo as she learns about community organization and resistance while fighting to save her town and discovers the true meaning of community along the way. “Town 99 is not a place of buildings, or even food. But it is a place of people” (p. 210).
VERDICT: An inspiring and empowering story about the power of determination, friendship, and community perfect for fans of Aquicorn Cove by Kay O'Neill and Animal Crossing!
February 16, 2025
What this book appears to be about: Cute kids who live in a town of animal people and like eating snacks 🍜🥟
What this book actually is: A cozy comic that tackles issues of gentrificiation, development, community & coalition-building, and activism with a multiracial cast (not counting the fact that Momo’s parents are literally pandas and that security guards are actual pigs…), a nonbinary central character, and bilingual (trilingual??) dialogue. 🤩
Taking this book at face value, it’s cute and cuddly for the most part. But I’ve never encountered a children’s book that so seamlessly blended cartoony dreamscape imagery with real-world activist strategies, or so much varied representation. I’ve noticed that more picture books are including diverse groups of people in montage images to showcase multiracial and sometimes disabled community members (which this one also does), but I’ve never seen a book use language quite this way, and didn’t register it until I was partway through the book. Two dialects of Chinese are spoken in this comic.
I went in with much lower expectations than this book deserved, and I love how little fuss is made over the various elements. The characters are who they are, and while they face problems together, their identities are never the issue. Love it. Fits right into my liberal agenda. 😋
What this book actually is: A cozy comic that tackles issues of gentrificiation, development, community & coalition-building, and activism with a multiracial cast (not counting the fact that Momo’s parents are literally pandas and that security guards are actual pigs…), a nonbinary central character, and bilingual (trilingual??) dialogue. 🤩
Taking this book at face value, it’s cute and cuddly for the most part. But I’ve never encountered a children’s book that so seamlessly blended cartoony dreamscape imagery with real-world activist strategies, or so much varied representation. I’ve noticed that more picture books are including diverse groups of people in montage images to showcase multiracial and sometimes disabled community members (which this one also does), but I’ve never seen a book use language quite this way, and didn’t register it until I was partway through the book. Two dialects of Chinese are spoken in this comic.
I went in with much lower expectations than this book deserved, and I love how little fuss is made over the various elements. The characters are who they are, and while they face problems together, their identities are never the issue. Love it. Fits right into my liberal agenda. 😋
February 1, 2025
Momo (who is Taiwanese) lives in Town 99, which is a weird mix of humans and human-sized animals. (Momo appears human, while her parents are a cute panda couple. I don’t know if the author has an intended message about this.) Her favorite bao shop closed and was recently resurrected as a street cart. The restaurant in its place is Fance Cafe (pronounced Fan-say) and is run by a cruel, beautiful and rich white woman, Ms. JuJube, who won’t let the cart be parked in front of the restaurant. After losing a bao contest, she agrees to close the restaurant, but instead will tear down everything on the block for a luxury hotel. The community bands together, and they manage to stop the hotel and save their little town.
The story is set in a fictional Chinatown, and while it is heavy-handed when portraying gentrification and community organizing, the message is often derailed by other details like the angry grandma who owns the cart and much talk about bao making. (I also really craved a good bao while reading it!) I wish it was two different books, and that the emotions surrounding Momo’s love of her hometown came through clearer. Final pages give more information about the topics covered in the book.
For grades 3-6.
D.B.
Ret. YS Librarian
The story is set in a fictional Chinatown, and while it is heavy-handed when portraying gentrification and community organizing, the message is often derailed by other details like the angry grandma who owns the cart and much talk about bao making. (I also really craved a good bao while reading it!) I wish it was two different books, and that the emotions surrounding Momo’s love of her hometown came through clearer. Final pages give more information about the topics covered in the book.
For grades 3-6.
D.B.
Ret. YS Librarian
March 17, 2025
I read this book for my middle school library collection. First of all, the graphic style of this book is adorable! I love the bubbly, cutesy design, the black/white/red hues, and the mix of human and anthropomorphic animal characters. The comparison in its overview to that of Animal Crossing is so accurate!
As for content, I loved how the book tackled difficult concepts while staying true to the anime/manga-like action, over exaggerated expressions, and silly one-liners. This book did a great job simplifying what is so wrong about gentrification. Bao says it best in the end of the book: "The working-class needs to lead the change." Change can be beautiful and necessary, but there is a right way to go about it. Change in towns and communities should still honor the history and cultures of its people.
At the end of the book, the author provides a few pages of information, terminology breakdowns, and pictures of real life situations just like the one in the story. This book is a great way for readers to learn about the powerful history of chinatowns and how they came to exist, as well as the overarching message that is relevant to many working-class communities across the country and world, while still enjoying a lighthearted visual story.
As for content, I loved how the book tackled difficult concepts while staying true to the anime/manga-like action, over exaggerated expressions, and silly one-liners. This book did a great job simplifying what is so wrong about gentrification. Bao says it best in the end of the book: "The working-class needs to lead the change." Change can be beautiful and necessary, but there is a right way to go about it. Change in towns and communities should still honor the history and cultures of its people.
At the end of the book, the author provides a few pages of information, terminology breakdowns, and pictures of real life situations just like the one in the story. This book is a great way for readers to learn about the powerful history of chinatowns and how they came to exist, as well as the overarching message that is relevant to many working-class communities across the country and world, while still enjoying a lighthearted visual story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews