Becoming Boba

by Joanna Ho, Amber Ren (illustrator)

From New York Times bestselling creators, Joanna Ho and Amber Ren, comes a sweet, bubbly tale about a young boba tea who learns that being you is being enough!

Milk Tea Town was steeped in tradition. That is, until... Mindy came along.



Mindy isn't like the other classic milk tea flavors, with their sensible straws and varying shades of brown. Instead, Mindy shines with her green, white and red colors. Worried about not being milk tea enough, Mindy decides to dive into their history so she can be less different. As she and her friends embark on this journey, they make a surprising discovery about the truth behind milk tea that could change the town forever...





A charming and delightful story about self love and being true to who you are, with a subtle, underlying message about the Asian-American identity and immigrant experience -- what does it mean to be Asian enough?

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Asian American, History, Aapi

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Joanna Ho Bradshaw is the author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (HarperCollins, Jan 2021), Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma (HarperCollins, Fall 2021), and One Day (Winter 2023). She is a writer and educator with a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism and equity work. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s from the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley. She has been an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, and a professional development mastermind. She is currently the vice principal of a high school in the Bay Area, where she survives on homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids. Keep your eyes open for more books to come!

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the art showcasing the different types of milk teas. However, I thought the moral of the story was too in your face. I don’t think this book will hold the attention of my almost 3 year old toddler.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boba that doesn't look like the other bobas is born and more follow after her. They try to be "milk tea" enough in their Milk Tea Town, so they attend culture classes, go to night school to learn about their ingredients, and do a history project to honor classics. The kids put on a presentation for the town and the elders are scandalized but learn how to accept their growing differences as a good thing as the kids share their family history and how boba has evolved over time. There is a section in the back of the book with facts about boba's creation and evolution (including different countries' contributions). It's like...an interesting mix of a story? The way it's written clearly sets it up with an undercurrent of "the old people think the young people are crazy and different and scandalous for not being like them, but the young people show them that evolution and different identities is a good thing!" and also teaches about Taiwanese boba history ??? Also the illustrations will really appeal to the kids - each boba has a different face and apparal LOL. 1-4 short sentences per page. 

[MrsK Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

How sweet is your tea? Little Boba tea is totally, and wonderfully sweet. Mindy arrived in Milk Tea; a town steeped in tradition. Yet, Mindy was not easily soothed. Although she was the first that was beginning to "look" different, Mindy decides to begin a research project. Searching through the Milk Tea town library, Mindy discovers how the Milk Teas came from various continents. Each tea ingredient had unique qualities. Unfortunately, most adult teas had forgotten. Will the presentation that Mindy and her friends created help the adults to understand the truth about the special qualities of each tea?

This is an adorable picture story that will bring inspiration and fun discussions to every family or classroom story time. End the story with a Milk Tea tasting,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becoming Boba resonated with me so much! I was lucky enough to attend an event where Joanna Ho read and discussed this picture book to the audience (while baby carrying no less!). The power of this story is how it integrates the history of bubble tea with very relatable concepts of feeling "not enough" or out of place. I loved Mindy's journey and the community building aspects.

This picture book would be a great addition to collections at home, school, and the public library. The illustrations are so bright and engaging. Teachers could use this high-interest book for so many lessons or unit studies (like Then and Now, how communities change over time, cultural traditions and contributions, etc). Especially today, we need more stories like this.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable book about being a bit different, breaking the mold, and redefining traditions and expectations. All of that in a book about Boba? Yep! Also, along the way, you get to learn some about the origins and traditions surrounding this delicious drink.

The back matter is fun, with a section titled, "The Drama and Intrigue" (that tells where milk tea likely got its start and how it's changed over the years). Also, there's an author's note and an illustrator's note where they talk about their introduction to Boba and why they love it.

The illustrations are adorable, and the text is engaging. There are quite a lot of words, so this would likely work best for an elementary school storytime, rather than one for younger folks. Some middle schoolers may appreciate it as well.

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cheese foam, this book is amazing! Becoming Boba by Joanna Ho is charming picture book that celebrates self-love and identity and reminds readers that there is always room for unique flavors in our communities. Readers are transported to Milk Tea town where everyone’s milk tea is the same classical flavor…until Mindy is born with a kaleidoscope of colors. Worried about not being enough, Mindy learns everything she can about how to be a proper milk tea and makes an astounding discovery about what it means to be traditional milk tea after all. This book is delightfully cute and charming and has deeply important messages that are especially needed today.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about the phenomenon of Boba Tea and how it started as milk tea and grew in popularity. Mindy dives into the history of milk tea and now Boba tea. Mindy will not be brown tea or milk tea but wants to have boba skills. The history included adding pearls (tapioca-cassava starch)to the tea and new colors and flavors were added. Back matter explaining how people in China had tea with milk, pearl milk tea-boba adding tapioca balls. Some added pudding, jellies, and sago. Pearl milk tea is a combination of different cultures and ideas and boba balls. Boba represents pride, creativity and innovation. And sharing it with the world.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandchildren took me to my first Boba shop, a new experience of a new drink to me, and I was hooked! Joanna Ho tells of a young Mindy who, with her friends, believes there really can be new kinds of milk teas. Townspeople disagree until Mindy researches the history and discovers so much more about what it is, where some things started, how things changed, all under the same name! Amber Rein's illustrations allow the boba teas themselves tell all, with color-filled pages and expressions that delight - all from the Bobas themselves! There is a timeline at the back and notes from both author and illustrator!

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one does not live up to the hype. I was hoping to learn a lot about boba but instead it danced around the issue and focused on the world of milk tea and the baby milk tea that seems a little different. So it talks about all the ways that milk tea becomes boba tea but then even in the author's note doesn't even give you a good explanation-- I want to know, each boba we meet in the book-- what is it made of, how does it taste, what makes the flavors?

It had more potential to be as informative as it was fun, but it focused on the fun and not the learning it could have provided to create more milk tea drinkers.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just when you think that every picture-book subject has been addressed, along comes a story about the Pearl family from Milk Tea Town. Turns out that the residents are color-conscious purists steeped in traditions, just like the pearl milk tea drinkers who lament the downfall of milk tea culture brought on by “colors.” Holy cheese foam! Milk Tea Town has had quite a colorless history indeed. Will the residents buy Mindy’s Critical Boba Theory? Will all the personalized beverages be quaffed by boba-thirsty cannibals? Quirky illustrations stir up some questionable analogies.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this "one the nose" about the importance of diversity instead of maintaining a homogenous society? Yes. However, it's clearly not a concept that a lot of Americans understand. The history and cultural significance of milk tea evolving into the more wide-spread diversified drink that is boba is appealing and fun. Amber Ren did an absolutely beautiful job with the artwork that is both bright and eye-catching.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and colorful book that reminds us that traditions can change as we gain more understanding--even in Milk Tea Town!

Now that milky beverages are being made with plant-based milks--nothing new, in actuality, plant milks have a very long history in different cultures, this is an important reminder for those who would seek to shut down these innovations.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Ho uses milk teas to remind all of us that we have always been changing and stagnating is counter to our natures. Mindy is not the usual milk tea and she work hard to blend in and change. Then, her friends discover their histories and realize that none of them are pure milk tea. Everyone came from somewhere else and learned to grow together.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable story about celebrating the differences that make us unique and how to create accepting communities, with luscious colorful illustrations and some boba history and facts, too. So fun.

[Shana Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising, unexpected, but as with all of Ho’s books, full of heart. I was especially appreciative of the distilled history at the end of the book. A neat way to commentate on identity and finding connection to one’s roots.

[Sarah Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! It’s a beautiful story of being yourself accompanied with cute illustrations. So thankful to have received an ARC of this at NCTE. A new family favorite!

[Dawn Evans Editions Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! Love the vibrant colors and the story of the little Milk Tea town. The added history lesson is great - and what a creative way to share such an important part of tea culture.

[Carrie Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by this author. 🤩

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations and a story that reminds us we all belong! And I loved learning some history of boba. I like mine with green tea, lychee or passionfruit, and mango jelly!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are adorable, but the message is very heavy-handed, and the many metaphors make the story confusing.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great book that's about embracing differences expect we use boba to tell it!

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story that uses boba as an allegory to talk about cultural traditions and diversity.

[Yapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with several layers of meaning! Absolutely adorable illustrations as well. For grades 1 & up.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute illustrations. The back matter is good too. The story itself is a bit on the preachy side, but I still liked it.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute little read about embracing diversity as well as giving the history of Boba and Milk tea.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted and cute.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen. I just cannot<\i> with personified food. I just can’t. The illustrations are cute, but no. *shudder*

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit preachy, but my 8 year old daughter was able to get the overarching message (it's OK to be different).

[Literate Duck · Rating 4 out of 5]

little one loves it. cute characters. story could be stronger.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A picture book detailing the history of Boba drinks