Lost in Taiwan

An apathetic white American teen must open himself up to new experiences to find his way home in a foreign country in this expansive graphic novel by Crilley (The Comic Book Lesson). Paul has been visiting with his older brother, Theo, in Taiwan for four days, but instead of sightseeing, all he’s done is eat McDonald’s and play games on his phone. While Theo is busy, Paul heads out seeking a video game store using his phone’s GPS. But when the store is a bust and his phone stops working, he finds himself hopelessly lost with no way back to Theo’s apartment. Paul eventually encounters Peijing, a Changbei native who offers to help him retrace his steps. As the pair traverse Taiwan’s landmark teeming, twisty streets via moped, Peijing shows Paul everything he’s been missing, such as cultural foods, serene rice paddies, and sacred temples. Softly penciled panels and a hazy color palette gently portray Paul’s growing excitement in experiencing the world around him. The teens’ conversations surrounding their dreams, their fears, and their futures provide a grounding counterpoint to their playful banter and bombastic adventure. An author’s note details Crilley’s connection to Taiwan. Ages 12–up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (May)