Level Up by Gene Luen Yang and Thien Pham

Dennis, the son of Chinese immigrants, yearns to play video games like his friends and, upon his strict father's death, becomes obsessed with them but later, realizing how his father sacrificed for him, he chooses a nobler path.

Really enjoyed this. The art was so different from American Born Chinese, it took me by surprise! But I liked the simplistic style and I found the story easier to follow. Very touching.

This is one of those stories that can only be told through its chosen medium, an exemplar of the form. I'm not sure I would have thought a “boy comes to term with his father's death through medical school and videogames” story could have been pulled off successfully, but there you go. It's heart-wrenching, redeeming, joyful and a little bit crazypants.

I was surprised by this! IDK, I thought it was going to be Scott Pilgrimy or something but it was very simple and moving and made me want to call my parents and thank them for their parental sacrifices. THANKS PARENTS.

Another coming of age sort of tale. Dennis is wrestling with the expectations of his parents and his desire (and talent) for playing video games. And seriously, what kid hasn't had to deal with this? Along the way Dennis makes friends and falls in like with a girl who tries to set him straight when it comes to his destiny. It isn't until he's faced with the broken promises of his father that Dennis starts to think for himself, but is it really the right kind of thinking?

The artwork is simple, but fitting. The angels kind of reminded me of Powerpuff Girls. Though I liked everything about this, I didn't love it the way I loved The Shadow Hero, but that's okay. Can't love everything, right?