Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology

by Angela Hsieh

This graphic novel follows a girl who learns more about friendship and family as she journeys across the fantastical land of Lirrin to tend to its majestic animals.

Lu dreams of being a great adventurer, just like her ah-ma, who is a world-renowned geozoologist. Ah-ma has traveled far and wide, researching unique animals like dreamy cloud-jellies, enormous sunfish, and playful mossgoats. There’s nothing Lu loves more than reading Ah-ma’s letters about her quests, even if she and her mom struggle to understand the Cylian language Ah-ma writes in.

But when Ah-ma’s letters suddenly stop, Lu becomes worried. So when a nearby town needs a geozoologist, Lu decides to go on the journey to find Ah-ma. She charts a course with the help of Ren, an old friend turned new travel buddy.

As they follow in Ah-ma’s footsteps, Lu begins to discover the complex relationships between geofauna—and between people. What stories has Ah-ma never told her? And what’s Ren hiding from her?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Comics, Animals, Fiction, Childrens

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Angela Hsieh is a Taiwanese American author and illustrator whose choices are mostly explained by her love of goofy animals. Her life experiences include fireman-carrying a sedated bear cub and catching a belligerent wallaby. She has 1.5 cats.

She illustrated ANTARCTICA: THE MELTING CONTINENT, a critically acclaimed nonfiction book about real-life scientists and explorers. LU AND REN'S GUIDE TO GEOZOOLOGY is her first graphic novel.

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute graphic novels always catch my eye and of course I couldn't miss out on one about a fantastical journey through a land full of magical creatures. We follow Lu and her friend Ren who set out to find Lu's missing grandmother, a well-known geozoologist. I think that Angela Hsieh did a remarkable job with the two main characters, because both Lu and Ren had strong personalities. They butted heads a lot and were often stubborn, but their behavior was a result of the problems they face every day. They dealt with generational differences inside their families and had a hard time with connecting with their ancestors' culture or with meeting expectations. It's commendable that these themes are mentioned in a middle grade book, and not as the main plot but simply as something that is a part of the characters' everyday life. It was great to see such real and relatable themes in a fantastical story. The journey across the country was interesting as well and I really liked how it showed that actions have consequences in nature and how different areas in a far-reaching land are still connected in some way. The art style was nice with many bright colors. I had to get used to the way characters were drawn at first, but it made for a unique style, and I thought that the facial expressions transported emotions and especially the humorous parts pretty well. All the fantastical animals were awesome and I found some of the ideas to be very creative. The middle grade age range is appropriate, but I had a good time with this graphic novel too. It's worth checking out.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORE this graphic novel. The illustrations are so beautiful that immediately after finishing it, I spent an irresponsible amount of money on art prints. (The prints aren't expensive... I just bought a lot of them.) I love the queernorm world, the sweeping landscapes, and the fantasy critters. (Though I feel like "critter" doesn't cover an animal as large as a mountain.) The story is sweet and heartfelt, about grief, family, independence, cultural divides, and more. If you love the Tea Dragon Society, as I do, you need to pick this up. I only wish there were more!

[Megan Sanks]

Absolutely adored the animals in this book!!!

[Krissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-graphic novel arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a touching and gorgeous graphic novel! The plot was great and very sweet as you set out on an adventure between two friends to learn more about geofauna while also trying to find Lu's grandmother, who inspired her interest in adventure and knowledge. There are great lessons for kids in this graphic novel, and the characters are well written. They are relatable to struggles that kids can face and end with good resolutions.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology" is perfect for middle grade audiences and up! It follows 2 younger teen girls, Lu and Ren, who set off on a journey to find Lu's grandmother, a famous Geozootologist who has been missing for a few years. Along the way, they struggle to read the field notes Lu's grandmother left on the magical geozoologic creatures across the land, due to it being written in a language each of them only speak but cannot read. They come across many mystical creatures and have to help them using the knowledge Lu's grandmother taught her, while continuing to search for Lu's grandmother.

This novel deals with themes of friendship, grief, self discovery and many more coming of age topics in a way perfect for the middle grade audience. The art style is similar to the "Tea Dragon Society", brightly colorful with an art style perfect to grab the attention of younger readers. The story had a lot of depth to it and was really sweet. I highly recommend it to anyone 8 or older!

I was a bit confused at who Ren was for a bit because young Ren looked nothing like older Ren-I thought they were different characters and for a bit I though older Ren was a guy based on the way she is illustrated, but I guess that was just a stylistic choice the illustrator made. I'm curious to know if any other readers were confused and didn't realize Ren was the same as Lu's young friend Ren from the beginning of the book. It didn't detract from the story at all, just was a bit confusing.

5/5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg]

The jellyfish were breathtaking

[Philip Reari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t know what to expect with this. Turned out to be very creative if lacking some storytelling finesse. Great illustrations.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The geozoological creatures were the best - loved them all

[melsthemoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely wonderful & GORGEOUS graphic novel! Not only were the illustrations stunning, but I was also incredibly engaged by the plot. It was such a sweet story with characters to fall in love with, enchanting & creative world-building, and beautiful artwork. This is definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels!
(& my first official 5 star of the year!!)

Thank you so much to Netgalley & HarperCollin’s Children’s Books for providing me with an arc!

[rachel x]

"Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this beautiful graphic novel follows a girl who learns more about friendship and family as she journeys across the fantastical land of Lirrin to tend to its majestic animals."

[Beauregard Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is middle grade graphic novel about a girl and her friend who go searching for her geozoologist grandmother who has presumably gone missing during her fieldwork. I thought the world with rock creatures was charming, and the art was soft and cozy feeling. I'm not generally a fan of artwork without line work, but I felt it really worked here. The story examines the tension between following in your family's footsteps and living the life you want to live. I think the author must have a background in biology or at least did some research, as the explanations for the world and creatures followed real world logic to a point.

[Book Riot Community]

This is one of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2025:

One of my favourite books of all time is The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill. I've been searching for a book that is as comforting and beautiful as that one, and I've finally found it. When Lu stops getting letters from her ah-ma, the famous geozoologist, she and her best friend set out on a trip to find her, learning more about geofauna along the way. This queernorm middle grade fantasy graphic novel is a cozy story that also deals with grief and cultural divides between generations. The illustrations are so stunning that I finished the book and immediately ordered several art prints, which are now proudly displayed on my wall.

- Danika Ellis

[Julia Pika · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations were great, but I thought the world was a bit confusing with how it was designed. Good messages for kids though.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

A delightful and artistic graphic novel about family, friendship, and learning to be your own person. Also, mountain-sized guinea pigs.

Lu’s adventuring grandmother has gone missing. When they receive a letter for her from a nearby village asking for help with their local wildlife, Lu and her friend Ren set out to help the village and find Lu’s grandmother.

I can’t describe exactly how this book makes me feel but from the fantasy elements to the art style, I couldn’t get enough. I’m so glad that this wasn’t a short blink-and-you’ll-miss-it graphic novel, but long, lavish, and soft.

My favorite parts were definitely seeing the fantasy critters, called geofauna. A fascinating mix of geological features and familiar, but larger than life, animals. From giant axolotls to dogs made of sunlight, the graphic novel introduces the reader to a variety of its fantasy wildlife. I’m so glad that instead of focusing on one creature, we were introduced to many through Lu and Ren’s travels. I’m blown away by Angela Hsieh’s creativity, and I want more.

Overall, I think the art style speaks for itself. The cover displays Hsieh’s beautiful style, and it’s maintained throughout. Each of the images are soft while also being bright and colorful. She utilizes backgrounds and space brilliantly. I particularly loved the way she used space to emphasize the terrain or the panels that relayed Lu’s frustration in translating her grandmother’s journal.

The graphic novel felt like the perfect length and managed to pack in a variety of messages for young readers. The main messages focused around family, Lu running to find hers while Ren tried to run away from the pressures of hers. The two girls learned independence traveling on their own and how to make amends for the hurt they cause. They learn to see things from new perspectives and overall, how to recognize and atone for their mistakes. I felt that Lu’s journey of growing and realizing that all people have faults and can’t be perfect was particularly well done. Each of these lessons come naturally and don’t feel forced into the narrative.

I can’t say enough good things about this book and don’t have any active criticisms. Hsieh has crafted a masterpiece here with real and engaging characters and environments, excellent pacing, and a compelling narrative and art styles.

[Steff Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology by Angela Hsieh is a story that follows two young girls with very different goals on a quest together. Lu is on a journey to see the sunfish eclipse, but also to find her missing ah-ma who had always promised to take her to see it while Ren, fed up with the unachievable expectations of her family, is simply on a journey to find herself outside of all the disappointment.

Filled with absolutely stunning artwork and worldbuilding, this story takes readers through various places as the two characters travel—they encounter different people, many of whom have been impacted by Lu’s ah-ma, and tons of unique animals along the way. As they trek farther, soon they find themselves needing to outrun Ren’s brother, who is intent on returning her home.

All in all,, I think this was a fun graphic novel that middle graders will love to delve into. The number of adorable fantasy creatures that are interspersed throughout the story are sure to keep kids engaged and loving this story for years to come.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jordan Tu'ulauulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely, whimsical, and heartwarming story! Angela Hsieh does an immaculate job of pulling you into this magical world and making you want to leave this world behind, in a similar vein to Kay O'Neill and Bee Paulsen. Lu and Ren are friends that embark on a journey to find Lu's grandmother, Shan, who is missing. Lu's grandmother is a geozoologist that travels around the world and studies magical creatures, something Lu wishes to do when she is older. While on this journey, Lu and Ren encounter external and internal conflicts in the form of sick animals, a mysterious shift in the ecosystem, angry villagers, the mystery of where Shan is, but also friendship, belonging and identity, and family. Overall it was a spectacular story, beautiful illustrations, heartwarming relationships, and a world to die for.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous illustrations and super imaginative! i would love to see more in this world

[Rapunzel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology was such a fun read! I love the worldbuilding here - the entire concept of geozoology (animals that are also geographic features like mountains, stones, etc.) was fascinating, and I loved seeing all the different creatures Lu and Ren encounter throughout this book. The full-color illustrations truly bring them alive, and added a very MG feel to the arc of the story.

That said, there’s also a much deeper element to Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology - the side about Lu’s relationship with Ah-ma and what she never learned about her, and Ren’s familial relationships. At times Lu got a little bit on my nerves, but overall I really enjoyed following her story and the complicated relationships she had with both Ah-ma and Ren. There was also an ecological element here I really liked around understanding what’s really needed to preserve the natural beauty of an area - and that it isn’t what you necessarily expect.

The art is very beautiful, capturing a sense of adventure and brilliantly depicting both the landscapes and creatures Lu and Ren encounter. I couldn’t resist stopping to admire the illustrations, which reminded me of the artwork in The Tea Dragon Society. I definitely recommend Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology if you enjoy vibrant graphic novels and quest-type narratives!

4.5/5 stars, rounded up.

Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet cozy fantasy about one girl’s attempt to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother and see a magical eclipse that only happens twice in a lifetime.

Lu’s Ah-ma is a geozoologist. She spends years traveling to study different animals and brings back stories to share with her family. Normally she writes monthly to tell them all about what she’s seen and done in that time, but this time is different. As the months pass and no word comes back, Lu begins to worry and wonder what could have happened to make her unable to write her.

This was as beautiful as it was heartbreaking. The artwork, the story, the character growth were all done so well. I enjoyed every page more than the last and kept hoping that the story wasn’t going in the direction I thought it would be. I was wrong.

I could definitely read more books in this world and there is quite an opening for the story and friendship to continue on, so I hope they give the people (me) what they want! Moreeeeee!!!

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a touching story about a girl and her friend searching for her missing grandmother. It was interesting to see the contrast between how much Lu wanted to be like her family when Ren wanted nothing less.

I could see this becoming a series about Lu and Ren's adventures around the country, becoming true geozoologists.

I love the art style in this. Their shocked faces are especially great. I want to read the other graphic novel the author worked on, solely because she illustrated it.

I liked the guide in the back that described the different animals a bit more, and where their names came from.

I wish there was more on what geozoology is. Probably rock-based animals, because of the name, but I don't think it was ever actually stated.

CW: death of a loved one

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Hwee Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

When there’s a giant axolotl on a book cover, you’re kind of committed to reading it. Yes?

Lu’s Ah-Ma is a world-renowned geozoologist. She travels the world studying the migration and habits of dreamy cloud-jellies, enormous sunfish and mossgoats.

Ah-Ma goes missing, and when a nearby town needs a geozoologist, Lu jumps at the chance to go, hoping to find Ah-Ma along the way. She ventures out with Ren, a good friend who’s herself embroiled in difficult family dynamics.

Author-illustrator Angela Hsieh presents a textured adventure, heavy on both action and emotion. With a theme of geozoology, giving animal characteristics to geological formations — she also touches on species invasion, and humanity’s indelible (and mutual) impact on animals.

The art is beautiful and Hsieh’s imagination, boundless. Thank you, @closetfulofbooks for the best book recs!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danika at the Lesbrary highly recommended this book on the All the Books podcast as a readalike to The Tea Dragon Society, so I immediately requested this from the library. 

Hey, she's right! The art is lush, the characters are awesome. This is a well thought out graphic novel, a bit text heavy but utterly engaging story of a young girl and her bestie going on a journey to find her legendary geozoologist grandmother who has stopped sending letters for too long now. 

I can see the similarities to Tea Dragon Society but Lu and Ren's Guide is very much its own story. Highly rec and hoping to see more from this Angela Hsieh!

[gaby.readsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, from the beautiful artwork and colors to the lovely story about family it was an all around stellar read. The story of being an 1st generation immigrant really resonated with me, the friendship showcased here was also so well done and shows that sometimes friends disagree and can talk through their feelings to find common ground. I loved this magical world and the creatures that were featured, I had such a fun time reading it.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, all opinions are my own.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for the honest review.

This was cute and had a lot of things I really like to see - colorful illustrations, an interesting world, POC characters, an ownvoices author. There is a lot to like here, but this is (I believe) the author's first graphic novel and it does show a bit. While the pages are colorful, the storyboarding is hard to follow in parts, and the worldbuilding could be stronger, especially considering the actual concept of Geozoology is absolutely amazing. A great effort but I am not 100% sure I'd read a sequel.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love magical zoology in all forms, all the time. also love the power of friendship, and navigating friendships when you come from very different home lives and families. one day, I'll read a middle grade graphic novel without crying, BUT TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY.
great artwork, fantastic magical ecosystems, heartbreaking relationships- would recommend

[Sean Briere · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a selling line like "Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society" I was expecting it to hit a little harder than it did. I do expect this to do well with the Middle grade crowd, however. I don't know why but I couldn't get myself to care about the characters. I was bored.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thanks to Net Galley and Quill Tree Books for e-arc*

This was so beautiful! While the audience is for children I believe that anyone that likes cozy fantasy will enjoy this. The created creatures were so cute and I want more stories with them in it. This story made me want to go off on my own adventure and explore nature. I just loved it so much and hope there will be a sequel!

[Darth Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal writing. Decent art.

And while it's true that I wish I had this comic as a third culture kid, but I it helped heal something in me now, as an third culture adult. Love how Hsieh navigates Asian filial piety, abuse, lost language, diaspora, and disconnect.

[Poison Ivy 🌵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins for giving me an e-ARC of this stunning graphic novel ✨

What an adorable story centered around family and belonging! This would be great to snuggle up with in the winter or to read under a shaded tree on a nice spring day. The art was superb, incorporating animals into geological formations was a unique and adorable touch. The background colors, like in the sky during the jellyfish migration, were simply amazing. I especially love the goofy faces the characters make. I would definitely trade my current life to live in this story and become a geozoologist.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went into topics like grief, familial expectations/pressure, but super cute and enjoyable as well. Reminiscent of Tea Dragons!