What do you think?
Rate this book
Living With Viola
This graphic novel from a debut creator is an exploration of mental health, cultural differences, and the trials of middle school.
Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school--and then there's Viola. Viola is Livy's anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola's relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola's days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola.
Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to craft a personal story.
Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school--and then there's Viola. Viola is Livy's anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola's relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola's days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola.
Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to craft a personal story.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
37 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Rosena Fung
4 books42 followersRosena Fung is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Toronto, Canada. She is the creator of the graphic novel Living With Viola. Her second graphic novel is forthcoming May 2024.
Her illustration clients include Chickadee Magazine, The Bentway, The Globe and Mail, CBC Arts, and the Toronto Transit Commission. She has created work for magazines, newspapers, and public art murals.
When she is not drawing, Rosena can be found teaching illustration, vending at zine fairs, and going to the library. Her favourite activities also include petting cats, eating snacks, and learning to play both acoustic and electric guitar (she is not great at it but it doesn't matter, it makes her happy to cradle her rockstar dreams!). She lives with her partner and the most adorable cat in the entire universe.
Her name is pronounced "Rosanna".
Her illustration clients include Chickadee Magazine, The Bentway, The Globe and Mail, CBC Arts, and the Toronto Transit Commission. She has created work for magazines, newspapers, and public art murals.
When she is not drawing, Rosena can be found teaching illustration, vending at zine fairs, and going to the library. Her favourite activities also include petting cats, eating snacks, and learning to play both acoustic and electric guitar (she is not great at it but it doesn't matter, it makes her happy to cradle her rockstar dreams!). She lives with her partner and the most adorable cat in the entire universe.
Her name is pronounced "Rosanna".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
June 17, 2024
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade graphic novel about a girl who is haunted by her inner demons while also dealing with the anxiety of starting at a new school. Explores many complex themes about mental health in this age group. Quite a nice book; no major complaints.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🌷 Olivia as the protagonist: Sensitive, sweet, smart. She knows what works for her and does her best to stay way from trouble and controversy. It is sad to see her struggling with stress, but because of her nature, it is easy to root for her. A very realistic portrayal of a ten-year-old.
🌷 Viola: From the title, I had assumed that Viola would be the protagonist. Instead, she is the antagonist, and a strong one at that! While all of us battle our demons, sometimes, we feed our own demons. This is one such example. As a realistic personification of mental anxiety, Viola demonstrates how our inner voice can affect not just our confidence but also our daily functioning.
🌷 The focus on how much pressure exists on today’s children, with stress coming not just from school curricular/extra-curricular requirements but also from peers, parents, and relatives. Olivia’s struggle to live up to the standard of being a “good daughter” leads her to compromise on what her heart wants, which is true of so many children.
🌷 The realistic ups-and-downs of middle-grader friendship: such a convincing depiction rather than the typical fictional peer relationships that are either supportive or condescending. Also love that Olivia was not shown to be a loner but with a strong friend circle. It disproves the myth that only introverts and/or those without friends suffer from mental health issues.
🌷 The various aspects of issues faced by immigrants (with Olivia’s family being Chinese immigrants in Canada): including the usual apprehension against immigrant families, the difference between first vs. second gen immigrants, and the concept of being “Chinese-Chinese”.
🌷 The story includes a little advice for tackling such issues, but not too much. Readers will find some basic stress-handling techniques herein, but will also realise that seeking professional help is important if the anxiety is too big to manage alone. I also appreciate how the book shows that you can’t get rid of anxiety but can only learn to manage it better.
🌷 The author’s note is honest and heartfelt, depicting her own experience at age 10 with anxiety disorder. Don’t miss it.
🌷 The speech bubbles are dual coloured, with red text for Cantonese and black for English. Love this idea of indicating the two languages distinctly without making the panels seem cluttered.
🌷 A glossary of Cantonese terms at the end – helpful!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 I would have loved to see the origin of “Viola”. As Viola is an anagram of Olivia, did Olivia purposely name her that way, as a twisted version of herself?
🌹 I appreciate how Olivia’s mom is portrayed as being supportive instead of the typical Asian ‘tiger mom’ stereotype. The other Asian characters are mostly typical. But some of their arguments do make sense to me. (Perhaps as I am an Asian parent myself?) What parent doesn’t want a stable career and happiness for their child? While I see how they are wrong in setting out only limited career options for their kids, I also see where they are coming from. The intent is good, the approach isn’t.
🌹 The flow of the resolution is too smooth. The class teacher is fabulous, friendships at the new school are almost instant, the doctor is understanding, the diagnosis is immediate,… Doesn’t happen this easily in real life. Then again, it is middle-grade (auto)fiction, so I suppose a little smoothening of bumps is warranted.
🌹 The art style is very good, but some pages are a bit too chaotic, especially when Viola is weaving her deviousness in Olivia’s mind. This does work wonderfully for the story, but if neat panels and clear text are your preference, you might find this disorganised.
All in all, I enjoyed the journey of reading this book. As an OwnVoices story focussing on immigrant and mental health issues, it tackles both serious topics with equal focus. This graphic novel delivers not just on plot but also in its life lessons, especially in how it highlights the importance of asking for help when needed.
Mental health is often undiagnosed at this age because adults can’t fathom the idea of children having mental devils. So while this book serves as a great way of spreading awareness, it might also be triggering if you suffer from anxiety. Viola is very menacing, so she can be tough with her judgements. Do ensure that you are in the right headspace if you intend to pick this up.
Definitely recommended to middle-graders and teens, whether they suffer from anxiety or not. It is a great story that goes much beyond the core theme. I read this along with my elder daughter, and it was an easy 5 star for her. We both had read this author’s latest graphic novel – ‘Age 16’ – together, but she found this one more impressive.
4.5 stars.
Thanks much to my GR friend Alexander for the rec!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
For quite some time, ten-year-old Olivia Tong has been ‘haunted’ by the shadowy Viola, who is a personification of Olivia’s anxiety. Now, with her joining a new school, Viola’s judgemental remarks are further messing up Olivia’s nerves. She finds relief only when she indulges in her favourite activities such as reading, sketching, and cooking with her mom. Even her new friendships at school are somewhat helpful. But when the pressure from home as well as school starts building up, Viola grows more menacing than ever. Will Olivia learn how to handle her?
Bookish Yays:
🌷 Olivia as the protagonist: Sensitive, sweet, smart. She knows what works for her and does her best to stay way from trouble and controversy. It is sad to see her struggling with stress, but because of her nature, it is easy to root for her. A very realistic portrayal of a ten-year-old.
🌷 Viola: From the title, I had assumed that Viola would be the protagonist. Instead, she is the antagonist, and a strong one at that! While all of us battle our demons, sometimes, we feed our own demons. This is one such example. As a realistic personification of mental anxiety, Viola demonstrates how our inner voice can affect not just our confidence but also our daily functioning.
🌷 The focus on how much pressure exists on today’s children, with stress coming not just from school curricular/extra-curricular requirements but also from peers, parents, and relatives. Olivia’s struggle to live up to the standard of being a “good daughter” leads her to compromise on what her heart wants, which is true of so many children.
🌷 The realistic ups-and-downs of middle-grader friendship: such a convincing depiction rather than the typical fictional peer relationships that are either supportive or condescending. Also love that Olivia was not shown to be a loner but with a strong friend circle. It disproves the myth that only introverts and/or those without friends suffer from mental health issues.
🌷 The various aspects of issues faced by immigrants (with Olivia’s family being Chinese immigrants in Canada): including the usual apprehension against immigrant families, the difference between first vs. second gen immigrants, and the concept of being “Chinese-Chinese”.
🌷 The story includes a little advice for tackling such issues, but not too much. Readers will find some basic stress-handling techniques herein, but will also realise that seeking professional help is important if the anxiety is too big to manage alone. I also appreciate how the book shows that you can’t get rid of anxiety but can only learn to manage it better.
🌷 The author’s note is honest and heartfelt, depicting her own experience at age 10 with anxiety disorder. Don’t miss it.
🌷 The speech bubbles are dual coloured, with red text for Cantonese and black for English. Love this idea of indicating the two languages distinctly without making the panels seem cluttered.
🌷 A glossary of Cantonese terms at the end – helpful!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 I would have loved to see the origin of “Viola”. As Viola is an anagram of Olivia, did Olivia purposely name her that way, as a twisted version of herself?
🌹 I appreciate how Olivia’s mom is portrayed as being supportive instead of the typical Asian ‘tiger mom’ stereotype. The other Asian characters are mostly typical. But some of their arguments do make sense to me. (Perhaps as I am an Asian parent myself?) What parent doesn’t want a stable career and happiness for their child? While I see how they are wrong in setting out only limited career options for their kids, I also see where they are coming from. The intent is good, the approach isn’t.
🌹 The flow of the resolution is too smooth. The class teacher is fabulous, friendships at the new school are almost instant, the doctor is understanding, the diagnosis is immediate,… Doesn’t happen this easily in real life. Then again, it is middle-grade (auto)fiction, so I suppose a little smoothening of bumps is warranted.
🌹 The art style is very good, but some pages are a bit too chaotic, especially when Viola is weaving her deviousness in Olivia’s mind. This does work wonderfully for the story, but if neat panels and clear text are your preference, you might find this disorganised.
All in all, I enjoyed the journey of reading this book. As an OwnVoices story focussing on immigrant and mental health issues, it tackles both serious topics with equal focus. This graphic novel delivers not just on plot but also in its life lessons, especially in how it highlights the importance of asking for help when needed.
Mental health is often undiagnosed at this age because adults can’t fathom the idea of children having mental devils. So while this book serves as a great way of spreading awareness, it might also be triggering if you suffer from anxiety. Viola is very menacing, so she can be tough with her judgements. Do ensure that you are in the right headspace if you intend to pick this up.
Definitely recommended to middle-graders and teens, whether they suffer from anxiety or not. It is a great story that goes much beyond the core theme. I read this along with my elder daughter, and it was an easy 5 star for her. We both had read this author’s latest graphic novel – ‘Age 16’ – together, but she found this one more impressive.
4.5 stars.
Thanks much to my GR friend Alexander for the rec!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 24, 2022
This is a Middle Grade Graphic Novel that follow a Chinese Girl that lives in Canada that is having a lot of anxiety. I really enjoyed this book, and I think this is a really good book for a young kid to read. My daughter has anxiety disorder, and I have already preorder this book for her. The pictures in this book is cute, and I love her anxiety is show has a person she call only see. I found sometimes it was hard to figure when she is talking to her anxiety or out loud. I cannot talk about moving to a different country to live, but I do think that is another great thing that is talked about in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Annick Press) or author (Rosena Fung) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
October 19, 2021
living with viola is a sweet middle grade graphic novel about livy, a chinese-canadian kid who is struggling with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder.
livy faces typical preteen anxiety, along with high expectations from her family, racist microaggressions from her peers, panic attacks, loneliness, and negative thought spirals. her anxiety is personified with as viola, the dark part of her that reminds livy of all her worst fears and bad thoughts about herself.
i really appreciate the author's note, which explains that the story was inspired by fung's own childhood struggles with anxiety. there's also a helpful cantonese glossary. the cultural representation, and livy's eventual embrace of her chinese-canadian identity, are really nicely done.
the cute art style keeps this debut from feeling too dark, considering its heavy subject matter. livy's struggles feel real and scary, but ultimately, they are manageable. i'd absolutely give this book to a kid struggling with anxiety or isolation. representation of mental health issues is so important in middle grade fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
livy faces typical preteen anxiety, along with high expectations from her family, racist microaggressions from her peers, panic attacks, loneliness, and negative thought spirals. her anxiety is personified with as viola, the dark part of her that reminds livy of all her worst fears and bad thoughts about herself.
i really appreciate the author's note, which explains that the story was inspired by fung's own childhood struggles with anxiety. there's also a helpful cantonese glossary. the cultural representation, and livy's eventual embrace of her chinese-canadian identity, are really nicely done.
the cute art style keeps this debut from feeling too dark, considering its heavy subject matter. livy's struggles feel real and scary, but ultimately, they are manageable. i'd absolutely give this book to a kid struggling with anxiety or isolation. representation of mental health issues is so important in middle grade fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
April 24, 2021
Olivia is a young girl, of Chinese-Canadian heritage, who is hitting that age where she starts thinking about her identity. Both her parents are Chinese, she speaks Cantonese, she eats Chinese food.. but she's also the new girl at a Canadian school, with new Canadian schoolfriends.
And then there's Viola - her inner alter ego that constantly berates her, tells her she's worthless, tells her people are laughing at her. If you have known any kind of anxiety in your life, this'll sound familiar. Viola is relentless - only the moments where Olivia can retreat in her drawings, offer her some peace.
Olivia also feels a lot of pressure from her family, who are quite traditional in their thinking. If you don't want to become a lawyer or a doctor there must be something wrong with you. Imagine wanting to be an artist.
Slowly Olivia starts caving in on herself, and it's heartbreaking to read. I have problems with anxiety and depression myself, and with low self-esteem in particular. I know how hard it is to see these negative thoughts for what they are, and how unfathomably difficult it can be to ask for help.
I think a book like this will be incredibly helpful to schoolgoing children, to help them see that they're not alone, or to help them see how others may be struggling, and to see how you don't need to spend your life drowning in fear, there is help out there.
Loved it.
(Picked up a copy through Edelweiss)
And then there's Viola - her inner alter ego that constantly berates her, tells her she's worthless, tells her people are laughing at her. If you have known any kind of anxiety in your life, this'll sound familiar. Viola is relentless - only the moments where Olivia can retreat in her drawings, offer her some peace.
Olivia also feels a lot of pressure from her family, who are quite traditional in their thinking. If you don't want to become a lawyer or a doctor there must be something wrong with you. Imagine wanting to be an artist.
Slowly Olivia starts caving in on herself, and it's heartbreaking to read. I have problems with anxiety and depression myself, and with low self-esteem in particular. I know how hard it is to see these negative thoughts for what they are, and how unfathomably difficult it can be to ask for help.
I think a book like this will be incredibly helpful to schoolgoing children, to help them see that they're not alone, or to help them see how others may be struggling, and to see how you don't need to spend your life drowning in fear, there is help out there.
Loved it.
(Picked up a copy through Edelweiss)
October 14, 2021
This new graphic novel depicts what it is like to live with anxiety. Viola is Livy's anxiety and negative self-talk personified. In many of the panels Viola is overwhelming Livy until she feels like she is drowning in a sea of negativity. No doubt so many readers will relate to Livy's predicament. Hopefully if they have not yet asked a parent or trusted adult for help, this book may at least plant a seed for future relief. Loved the glossary at the end. All the descriptions of the Chinese food made me quite hungry. Not a huge fan of the style of illustration, so not a five-star read. I will be recommending this one to readers at my library for sure. Will be popular with fans of Vera Brosgol, Cece Bell, and Jen Wang.
Thank you to Annick Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Annick Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
Olivia Tong, an 11-year old Chinese Canadian, has such a strong critical inner voice that it is embodied as a doppelganger of herself she calls Viola. Viola always floats by her ear, whispering how Olivia is failing at everything, letting everyone down, and is a worthless loser.
This is one of those books that is good as an illustrative or educational tool, but is rather dull to actually read for pleasure. It's slow and overlong as it does that thing where the story doesn't get to develop organically but rather has to be stretched out over the course of an entire school year. (Harry Potter really drove that trope deep into the ground for me.) And even then the actual ending in regard to friendship and family problems feels too quick and pat.
When reading, be aware that there is a glossary of Cantonese terms in the back that explains all the untranslated terms and phrases thrown around in the story.
This is one of those books that is good as an illustrative or educational tool, but is rather dull to actually read for pleasure. It's slow and overlong as it does that thing where the story doesn't get to develop organically but rather has to be stretched out over the course of an entire school year. (Harry Potter really drove that trope deep into the ground for me.) And even then the actual ending in regard to friendship and family problems feels too quick and pat.
When reading, be aware that there is a glossary of Cantonese terms in the back that explains all the untranslated terms and phrases thrown around in the story.
July 14, 2022
An absolute MUST read #ownvoices middle grade graphic novel about being the daughter of Chinese immigrant parents, struggling to fit in and living with anxiety. This was such an impactful read that I am sure young readers will be able to relate to so many of the themes in this book. I LOVED Livy and especially how well the author embodied her anxious thoughts in the form of "Viola." Highly, highly recommend this one by new to me Canadian author Rosena Fung!
May 10, 2021
Living with Viola is an #OwnVoices graphic novel by Rosena Fung that explores mental health, cultural differences, and the trials of middle school.
Livy loves reading books, drawing, and making dumplings with her mom. And those are the only times when Viola can’t seem to reach her. Viola is her shadowy twin that is always putting doubts in her head — her anxiety brought to life.
Because of Viola, Livy has a hard time fitting in at her new school. Then she starts working with Charlotte, Beth, and Maddy on a science fair project. Beth tries out for the basketball team, Maddy is wrapped up in her new smartphone, so Charlotte and Livy start hanging out together. They are both Chinese, and lead very different lives, but they may have more in common than they think.
This book focuses heavily on familial and cultural pressures. Livy’s parents are embarrassed that they have service jobs and aren’t doctors or lawyers. But they moved to Canada so Livy could have more opportunities, even still those expectations are passed down to the next generation.
This was also a great visual representation of how anxiety and panic attacks can manifest themselves. Livy learned how to use her creative outlet to conquer her anxiety and she learned some new coping techniques too.
Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy. In stores Oct 5, 2021!
Livy loves reading books, drawing, and making dumplings with her mom. And those are the only times when Viola can’t seem to reach her. Viola is her shadowy twin that is always putting doubts in her head — her anxiety brought to life.
Because of Viola, Livy has a hard time fitting in at her new school. Then she starts working with Charlotte, Beth, and Maddy on a science fair project. Beth tries out for the basketball team, Maddy is wrapped up in her new smartphone, so Charlotte and Livy start hanging out together. They are both Chinese, and lead very different lives, but they may have more in common than they think.
This book focuses heavily on familial and cultural pressures. Livy’s parents are embarrassed that they have service jobs and aren’t doctors or lawyers. But they moved to Canada so Livy could have more opportunities, even still those expectations are passed down to the next generation.
This was also a great visual representation of how anxiety and panic attacks can manifest themselves. Livy learned how to use her creative outlet to conquer her anxiety and she learned some new coping techniques too.
Thank you Annick Press and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy. In stores Oct 5, 2021!
August 17, 2022
This is a sweet book about a Olivia, a girl who has created an alter ego, Viola, that is constantly criticizing her. She starts sixth grade at a new school. She's upset that she has no friends, and mostly that she's just not good enough, as Viola keeps telling her. Even after she makes some friends, she still has constantly tears herself down (with Viola's help). Her Chinese-American parents try to help her, but the extended family, who they get together with occasionally, can be a bit scary, especially with all their high expectations.
Finally, a kind teacher notices that Olivia is having problems, and her parents get her some counseling for her anxiety and panic disorder. The counselor helps her with coping mechanisms, and by the end of the book, the stage is set for her to get better.
The story is told well, and the artwork is nice, though I'm not so hot for pink triangle noses. I enjoyed reading it. This would be a good book for kids with anxiety, other kids who don't fit in, and kids who are readers (Olivia is one, an endearing touch).
Finally, a kind teacher notices that Olivia is having problems, and her parents get her some counseling for her anxiety and panic disorder. The counselor helps her with coping mechanisms, and by the end of the book, the stage is set for her to get better.
The story is told well, and the artwork is nice, though I'm not so hot for pink triangle noses. I enjoyed reading it. This would be a good book for kids with anxiety, other kids who don't fit in, and kids who are readers (Olivia is one, an endearing touch).
September 27, 2021
Livy has trouble fitting in as the new girl at school, and she's very Chinese. Tensions rise for Livy at school and at home as she struggles to manage her life. Plus, Viola, Livy's anxiety, speaks louder and more frequently. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola and discover the beauty that is her life.
I appreciate the beautiful illustrations in this book. Also, the author balances showing and telling with plenty of dialogue that supports the story. I would like to see more useful ways to manage anxiety. For example, consulting a doctor is important, but there's not much information about breathing, mindfulness, using tactile tools, and other practical strategies.
I appreciate the beautiful illustrations in this book. Also, the author balances showing and telling with plenty of dialogue that supports the story. I would like to see more useful ways to manage anxiety. For example, consulting a doctor is important, but there's not much information about breathing, mindfulness, using tactile tools, and other practical strategies.
March 31, 2022
A sweet graphic novel about Livy, whose parents immigrated from Hong Kong to Canada, struggling to fit in in middle school. Even in moments when she's finally feeling happy and making friends, there's a little voice in her head that reminds her of her worst fears and telling her she doesn't deserve happiness. This voice is represented externally as Viola, which I think really helps us understand and emphatise with her anxiety. I felt for Livy when she's scared and sad, and her learning how to talk about her anxiety and live with it towards the end warmed my heart. It's a great message to send that we should not try to cure anxiety but learn to live and cope with it. I also loved the cute drawings of Chinese and Cantonese food throughout :P
January 6, 2025
Living with Viola
- adorableee
- beautiful representation of anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- this made me want some dumplings yum
- the graphics are beautiful
- The societal and family pressure is so real
- her love of books is sooo me
- this graphic novel was so cute
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- adorableee
- beautiful representation of anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- this made me want some dumplings yum
- the graphics are beautiful
- The societal and family pressure is so real
- her love of books is sooo me
- this graphic novel was so cute
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 4, 2021
I worked with Rosie for several years and she would occasionally, if I was feeling low, draw me a hamburger or taco. Always kept in touch after she left to continue pursuing her career as an illustrator.
I told her about how her book was making me feel. I grew up in a mixed Jewish family, not wealthy, but went to school with largely fully Jewish and upper class Jewish kids. Rosie truly captured the anxiety of being different, the worry of embarrassment and the fear of being hated for things you can't help. Now I'm just some guy crying in his apartment at all these memories and feelings that came out of her book.
She told me she's working on another book and honestly? That sounded like a threat. 100% stoked for it.
I told her about how her book was making me feel. I grew up in a mixed Jewish family, not wealthy, but went to school with largely fully Jewish and upper class Jewish kids. Rosie truly captured the anxiety of being different, the worry of embarrassment and the fear of being hated for things you can't help. Now I'm just some guy crying in his apartment at all these memories and feelings that came out of her book.
She told me she's working on another book and honestly? That sounded like a threat. 100% stoked for it.
November 18, 2022
This is a beautiful, heart-rending middle grade graphic novel about a Chinese Canadian 10-year-old immigrant named Olivia starting a new school and being plagued by anxiety and panic attacks. She dubs her anxiety Viola. When the anxiety hits, it's hard for Olivia to parse out what's real and what's her anxiety, and it's difficult for her to react. She's trying to make friends, and when she's paired with three other girls for a science project it seems like the perfect chance. But her anxiety will not let her have happiness.
Ugh, this brought me right back to junior high, the absolute worst time in my life. Rosena Fung did such a good job of capturing anxiety and also the interpersonal relationships between the friends. I also like that she shows Olivia going to a therapist, getting a diagnosis, and receiving techniques to help. I wish it typically happened that fast in real life! The illustrations are also wonderful and I think I should take up drawing cute cat things as pandemic stress relief. Not a bad idea...
Ugh, this brought me right back to junior high, the absolute worst time in my life. Rosena Fung did such a good job of capturing anxiety and also the interpersonal relationships between the friends. I also like that she shows Olivia going to a therapist, getting a diagnosis, and receiving techniques to help. I wish it typically happened that fast in real life! The illustrations are also wonderful and I think I should take up drawing cute cat things as pandemic stress relief. Not a bad idea...
May 17, 2021
Living with Viola by Rosena Fung is about a Chinese-Canadian girl who is haunted by her anxiety who takes the form of Viola, telling her that she is not worthy, that she is stupid, that drawaing is not a real job for when she grows up. All the hate that you sometimes have running through your head.
At first, it is manageable, but as the story progressed, it gets worse, until I was just crying and crying for poor Livy, hoping that an adult would see what was going on and help. On top of that there are microaggressions, such as her white friends making fun of her lunch, which they tell her stinks.
Look out for this. This is such an amazing story. Brought back the bad parts of middle school for me. And as the author said, a lot of it was based on her own experiences, though her anxiety did not take the form of viola, as LIvy’s does.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
At first, it is manageable, but as the story progressed, it gets worse, until I was just crying and crying for poor Livy, hoping that an adult would see what was going on and help. On top of that there are microaggressions, such as her white friends making fun of her lunch, which they tell her stinks.
Look out for this. This is such an amazing story. Brought back the bad parts of middle school for me. And as the author said, a lot of it was based on her own experiences, though her anxiety did not take the form of viola, as LIvy’s does.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
May 11, 2024
Such a great representation of anxiety, from the story and the setting to the illustrations <3
June 14, 2024
I think had I not read Buzzing before this, I might have enjoyed it more. But equally an important graphic novel!
Not as big of a fan of the drawing style, but I appreciated the discussion of her culture, her love of drawing cute things, and friendship.
Not as big of a fan of the drawing style, but I appreciated the discussion of her culture, her love of drawing cute things, and friendship.
May 22, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for this recent read of mine.
I am very happy to have been approved to read this early, I had a feeling by the cover it was going to be one that would communicate with and enjoy. The art work is actually very cute to look at and understand when reading.
Livy is a normal girl living with anxiety and panic attacks but also love’s to draw and read… these are the many things i can connect with while reading this as well as living in Canada! The only thing that is different would be the ethnic of the characters, however i did love learning about the difference she had between her style home and her friends that lived/grew up in Canada.
This is story is very beautiful and heartwarming and actually educational to mental health.
I am very happy to have been approved to read this early, I had a feeling by the cover it was going to be one that would communicate with and enjoy. The art work is actually very cute to look at and understand when reading.
Livy is a normal girl living with anxiety and panic attacks but also love’s to draw and read… these are the many things i can connect with while reading this as well as living in Canada! The only thing that is different would be the ethnic of the characters, however i did love learning about the difference she had between her style home and her friends that lived/grew up in Canada.
This is story is very beautiful and heartwarming and actually educational to mental health.
January 3, 2022
This one really hit home. I could totally empathize with Olivia who feels sad and anxious a lot of the time, and thankfully has parents who help her out when she needs it.
June 16, 2022
Pretty great little JGN about living with anxiety and panic attacks.
Love the inclusion of Cantonese words.
The illustrations are accessible, but a little more arty than similar titles for the same audience. Livy's anxiety is depicted as an invisible-to-everyone-but-her duplicate of herself.
Love the depiction of the school library as a sanctuary.
Colorful illustrations with a slightly limited color palette, engaging illustrations that are easy to follow.
Read with Guts and lots of other great new kid graphic novels.
Love the inclusion of Cantonese words.
The illustrations are accessible, but a little more arty than similar titles for the same audience. Livy's anxiety is depicted as an invisible-to-everyone-but-her duplicate of herself.
Love the depiction of the school library as a sanctuary.
Colorful illustrations with a slightly limited color palette, engaging illustrations that are easy to follow.
Read with Guts and lots of other great new kid graphic novels.
December 31, 2021
Wow, this book is fantastic! It actually made me cry a little. But mostly for good reasons. Living with Viola is about a girl in 6th grade who has started at a new school but things really don’t seem to be going right. Everything she tries to do, there’s a voice in her head (Viola) who shoots Livy down telling her she isn’t good enough, she doesn’t deserve friends, everyone is mad at her and hates her, etc. At times she is able to chase Viola away by doing things she loves and spending time with her parents and friends having fun together. But as things seem to add up, it gets harder for her to enjoy things she normally does and to keep the negative thoughts (Viola) away. It’s harder for her to reject those thoughts and she begins to accept some of them as the truth.
By the end, Livy fees able to open up to her parents and to get help and the book even talks about some of the techniques she learns at therapy for overcoming her anxiety and panic disorder. I really love that it shows some of those techniques and how going to therapy was able to truly help Livy be able to cope with day to day stress. I also love that this book was written about a 6th grader and for a middle grade audience because I feel like a lot of people don’t think about kids when they think about mental health disorders like anxiety. But in actuality, the average onset of anxiety disorder is 7 years old, that’s 2nd graders in the US! Also, going into 6th grade is a huge change in a lot of ways and opens up a lot more stress for kids in general. Whether or not they have a mental disorder like anxiety or depression or whatever else, therapy can be really helpful to learn these sorts of coping techniques.
It was so heartwarming to see how supportive Livy’s parents were of her and even when the rest of the family was looking down on some of her behaviors and what the family thinks means a lot to her parents. Anxiety is a scary thing and it’s scary to tell people about it because not only is there a very real stigma, but the anxiety itself makes you think of all the awful things people will think about you if they knew. A book like this where a young girl is able to finally open up about it regardless of her fears is just so amazing <3.
By the end, Livy fees able to open up to her parents and to get help and the book even talks about some of the techniques she learns at therapy for overcoming her anxiety and panic disorder. I really love that it shows some of those techniques and how going to therapy was able to truly help Livy be able to cope with day to day stress. I also love that this book was written about a 6th grader and for a middle grade audience because I feel like a lot of people don’t think about kids when they think about mental health disorders like anxiety. But in actuality, the average onset of anxiety disorder is 7 years old, that’s 2nd graders in the US! Also, going into 6th grade is a huge change in a lot of ways and opens up a lot more stress for kids in general. Whether or not they have a mental disorder like anxiety or depression or whatever else, therapy can be really helpful to learn these sorts of coping techniques.
It was so heartwarming to see how supportive Livy’s parents were of her and even when the rest of the family was looking down on some of her behaviors and what the family thinks means a lot to her parents. Anxiety is a scary thing and it’s scary to tell people about it because not only is there a very real stigma, but the anxiety itself makes you think of all the awful things people will think about you if they knew. A book like this where a young girl is able to finally open up about it regardless of her fears is just so amazing <3.
February 27, 2022
"𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱" 🌱
tells the story about olivia who is living with anxiety & panic disorders. her parents immigrated from hong kong to canada and the author//illustrator, rosena fung, shares in her author's note that olivia is inspired by her own experiences - both as an outsider & daughter of immigrants as well as her struggle with mental health - and by her passion for reading and drawing. 📚✍️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i cant express how much i love this graphic novel 🥺💚🌱 i wish this book exists in my earlier life so that people around me would be more aware of it in the first place. its so relatable and i found myself seeing lots of similarities to my own life and the fact that olivia and i have similar hobbies too 😭😭😭 its so refreshing to finally see a story about mental illness that was about learning to live alongside it rather than to cure it. rosena fung did such a fantastic job and i really appreciate everything she does in this book UGH I HAVE NO WORDS thank you thank you thank you 🌱
even though its targeted to young readers, i feel that its still a necessary read for all. :') mental illness and mental health are tough topics for most people to talk about but to be able to start the conversation, it will definitely help people to understand what is happening and how to seek help from their loved ones.
there is no shame in having a mental illness. there is no shame going to therapy. there is no shame in having to take medication. once we start opening the lines of communication with each other, we can start understanding each other better which is what we need the most right now. ✨
tells the story about olivia who is living with anxiety & panic disorders. her parents immigrated from hong kong to canada and the author//illustrator, rosena fung, shares in her author's note that olivia is inspired by her own experiences - both as an outsider & daughter of immigrants as well as her struggle with mental health - and by her passion for reading and drawing. 📚✍️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i cant express how much i love this graphic novel 🥺💚🌱 i wish this book exists in my earlier life so that people around me would be more aware of it in the first place. its so relatable and i found myself seeing lots of similarities to my own life and the fact that olivia and i have similar hobbies too 😭😭😭 its so refreshing to finally see a story about mental illness that was about learning to live alongside it rather than to cure it. rosena fung did such a fantastic job and i really appreciate everything she does in this book UGH I HAVE NO WORDS thank you thank you thank you 🌱
even though its targeted to young readers, i feel that its still a necessary read for all. :') mental illness and mental health are tough topics for most people to talk about but to be able to start the conversation, it will definitely help people to understand what is happening and how to seek help from their loved ones.
there is no shame in having a mental illness. there is no shame going to therapy. there is no shame in having to take medication. once we start opening the lines of communication with each other, we can start understanding each other better which is what we need the most right now. ✨
April 18, 2021
Beautiful semi-autobiographical fiction piece about 10 year old Olivia, the Canadian-born daughter of two hardworking immigrants from China. Olivia is shy and loves art and books, but struggles when her parents enroll her in a new and "better" school where she has to make all new friends. Olivia is haunted by Viola, the shadow-self name she gives to her anxiety and depression that constantly taunts her about her Chinese heritage, her shyness, and any and all insecurities. Olivia's distress is only added to as the family whispers about a mysterious cousin Leonard who was sent away for, apparently, psychological treatment and her aunts remind her endlessly that she is obligated to be a "good daughter" (ideally by being a perfect child and then, eventually, either a doctor or a lawyer). Viola's haunting is both claustrophobic and relentless, a sometimes genuinely distressing (but accurate) representation of anxiety and panic disorder. Other themes include anti-immigrant bias, class, race, friendship, authenticity, and coming of age.
May 20, 2021
A amazing, hilarious, and emotional story that explores growing up, friendship, accepting your culture, and mental health. The story follows Livy as she starts a new school and must deal with the cultural differences, her crippling anxiety, and surviving middle school. Livy has a shadowy twin that is essentially a manifestation of her anxiety that only Livy can hear, Viola follows Livy around and constantly makes her question everything. Livy is hoping to make new friends, but just as a new kid in school, it’s not always as easy. The story is relatable, funny, and just such a good portrayal of the cultural differences kids go through when starting at a new school and dealing with mental health. I found the story high relatable to my own experiences. The story follows author Rosena Fung’s own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents. It’s a charming and deeply personal story that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
*Thanks Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd. for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd. for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
October 28, 2021
I read this in one sitting and honestly it took me back to when I was in the 6th grade. The only difference is my parents weren't great and I didn't get help with my anxiety until my late 20's. I wonder how different my life would have been if I have sought help. Excellent read, the subject matter was handled nicely and I recommend everyone with anxiety to read it. The artwork was good as well.
-
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
-
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2023
4.5/5
Aku lagi seneng-senengnya baca dan nyari graphic novel yang menarik lalu ketemu deh buku ini di goodreads! Pas cek libby... eh ternyata ada. Langsung kupinjem deh.
Pernah kebayang gak orang dengan anxiety disorder tuh hidupnya gimana? Meskipun baru didiagnosis di pertengahan menuju akhir cerita, kalian bisa dapet gambaran gimana sih kehidupan orang dengan anxiety disorder melalui buku ini.
Tokoh utamanya namanya Olivia Tang. Keluarganya chinese, tapi pindah ke Kanada karena mereka merasa akan lebih banyak kesempatan yang terbuka disini terutama bagi Olivia. Dari awal masuk sekolah, kita bisa liat si Olivia ini kyk 'dihantui' bayangan dari dirinya yang terus menerus mengkritik apa yang dia lakukan atau yaa memberikan pikiran negatif deh ke Olivia. Olivia menamai bayangan ini Viola. Viola ini aku liat2 sih adalah perwujudan anxiety si Olivia. Ya emang sih ada beberapa kali 'omongan' si Viola ini bener, tapi banyaknya cmn bikin Olivia sedih, kebingungan, dan merasa tenggelam dalam pikirannya sendiri. Ini menunjukkan kalau anxiety tu ga berarti selamanya buruk, kadang dia juga kyk ngasih sinyal gitu kalau ada yang salah (ini juga disampaikan di bukunya).
Apa Viola selalu ada? Nggak juga sih. Ada beberapa saat ketika Viola menghilang, misalnya pas Olivia menggambar.
Di buku ini, Olivia mengalami beberapa permasalahan yang membuat 'omongan' si Viola ini makin menjadi-jadi. Misalnya, pas ketemu dengan tantenya dan si tantenya ini mulutnya pedes banget ngomongin Olivia & keluarganya (ya mungkin maksudnya ngasih masukan cmn nyebelin aja sihh), terus pas temen-temennya satu per satu mulai meninggalkan lingkaran pertemanan Olivia—Beth & Maddy berantem dan gamau ngomong satu sama lain, Charlotte kecewa karena Olivia bohong tentang suatu hal ke dia.
Menjelang akhir cerita, Olivia mulai terbuka ke ibunya dan akhirnya mulai ke psikiater deh!
Overal aku suka sama buku ini. Ilustrasinya gemes, ceritanya juga bagus! Hanya saja menurutku endingnya cepet bgt gitu tiba2 masalahnya resolved begitu aja. Yah mungkin karena sebenernya buku ini diperuntukkan buat middle grade kali yaa jd ga dibuat ribet2 atau gimana... tapi intinya worth to read!
Aku lagi seneng-senengnya baca dan nyari graphic novel yang menarik lalu ketemu deh buku ini di goodreads! Pas cek libby... eh ternyata ada. Langsung kupinjem deh.
Pernah kebayang gak orang dengan anxiety disorder tuh hidupnya gimana? Meskipun baru didiagnosis di pertengahan menuju akhir cerita, kalian bisa dapet gambaran gimana sih kehidupan orang dengan anxiety disorder melalui buku ini.
Tokoh utamanya namanya Olivia Tang. Keluarganya chinese, tapi pindah ke Kanada karena mereka merasa akan lebih banyak kesempatan yang terbuka disini terutama bagi Olivia. Dari awal masuk sekolah, kita bisa liat si Olivia ini kyk 'dihantui' bayangan dari dirinya yang terus menerus mengkritik apa yang dia lakukan atau yaa memberikan pikiran negatif deh ke Olivia. Olivia menamai bayangan ini Viola. Viola ini aku liat2 sih adalah perwujudan anxiety si Olivia. Ya emang sih ada beberapa kali 'omongan' si Viola ini bener, tapi banyaknya cmn bikin Olivia sedih, kebingungan, dan merasa tenggelam dalam pikirannya sendiri. Ini menunjukkan kalau anxiety tu ga berarti selamanya buruk, kadang dia juga kyk ngasih sinyal gitu kalau ada yang salah (ini juga disampaikan di bukunya).
Apa Viola selalu ada? Nggak juga sih. Ada beberapa saat ketika Viola menghilang, misalnya pas Olivia menggambar.
Di buku ini, Olivia mengalami beberapa permasalahan yang membuat 'omongan' si Viola ini makin menjadi-jadi. Misalnya, pas ketemu dengan tantenya dan si tantenya ini mulutnya pedes banget ngomongin Olivia & keluarganya (ya mungkin maksudnya ngasih masukan cmn nyebelin aja sihh), terus pas temen-temennya satu per satu mulai meninggalkan lingkaran pertemanan Olivia—Beth & Maddy berantem dan gamau ngomong satu sama lain, Charlotte kecewa karena Olivia bohong tentang suatu hal ke dia.
Menjelang akhir cerita, Olivia mulai terbuka ke ibunya dan akhirnya mulai ke psikiater deh!
Overal aku suka sama buku ini. Ilustrasinya gemes, ceritanya juga bagus! Hanya saja menurutku endingnya cepet bgt gitu tiba2 masalahnya resolved begitu aja. Yah mungkin karena sebenernya buku ini diperuntukkan buat middle grade kali yaa jd ga dibuat ribet2 atau gimana... tapi intinya worth to read!
December 18, 2021
Love how the author personifies anxiety. It reminds me of Lynn Lyon's nonfiction book Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents that recommends giving anxiety a name so you can talk to it and control it. In this graphic novel Viola is the little voice in Olivia's head making Livy anxious and worried. The story handles anxiety well along with immigrants' experiences (Livy's parents). The colors are bright and vivid and blue is used whenever Viola is part of the scene which adds to the personification. Middle schoolers will understand Livy's desire to please her parents and the pressure she puts herself under to fit it. Everyone will cheer when Livy finally gives Viola the boot. There are so many feelings in this story, and it could be a good impetus to discuss mental illness with tween and teens.
I appreciate how Fung shares her own experiences with anxiety when she was growing up at the end of the book. The Cantonese glossary at the end is helpful.
I appreciate how Fung shares her own experiences with anxiety when she was growing up at the end of the book. The Cantonese glossary at the end is helpful.
March 11, 2023
Graphic novel about a middle school girl named Viola living with undiagnosed anxiety disorder. This was an eye opening illustration of how some children may experience anxiety, and ways to manage it. I found the story sweet, and I learned a lot.
February 13, 2022
Great book for kids who are struggling with anxiety and trying to find their place in the world. Anxiety can be a hard concept for adults to understand! The author does a wonderful job illustrating the chaotic and negative thoughts that can be overwhelming in a relatable and easy to understand manner.
May 17, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Publishing for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review
I wish I’d read this as a child/young teen! The anxiety rep was lovely, perfect for explaining to someone who doesn’t have anxiety what it’s like, or for making someone with anxiety see how they’re not alone. I sometimes felt like an outsider as an awkward kid, though I didn’t have the cultural difference, so this was such an interesting insight.
I wish I’d read this as a child/young teen! The anxiety rep was lovely, perfect for explaining to someone who doesn’t have anxiety what it’s like, or for making someone with anxiety see how they’re not alone. I sometimes felt like an outsider as an awkward kid, though I didn’t have the cultural difference, so this was such an interesting insight.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews