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Table of Contents
About The Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.
Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.
Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.
As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.
About The Author
Photograph by Eira Tse
Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.
About The Illustrator
Photograph by Eira Tse
Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.
Why We Love It
“Not only are sports rivalry stories immensely engaging as a genre, but Lion Dancers is especially compelling as it highlights a sport that many people in the United States are familiar with but don’t know the intricacies of. Cai Tse’s art is dynamic and her storytelling is reminiscent of the best sports anime that it’s impossible not to fall in love with this immediately.”
—Celia L , Executive Editor, on Lion Dancers
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 16, 2024)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665927239
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"This graphic novel leaps onto the stage as a great option for those who enjoy team sports manga."
– School Library Journal
"Friendship, self-confidence, and the physically demanding art of Chinese lion dancing are the focuses of this engaging debut graphic novel...Hand this to readers who enjoy sports/martial arts–adjacent stories."
– The Horn Book
"...the focus on lion dancing is refreshingly new and the smooth artwork nicely carries through the story’s grounding emotional core. Middle-grade readers who are looking for offbeat sports stories will appreciate this."
– Booklist
"Across vibrantly saturated, digitally rendered panels, emotions run high in the rivals’ battle to be the top lion dancer in this heartfelt graphic novel debut, which highlights the rise and fall of former friends as they learn the meaning of teamwork and forgiveness."
– Publishers Weekly
"A passionate and visually enticing love letter to the art of lion dancing."
– Kirkus Reviews
Awards and Honors
- Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Lion Dancers Trade Paperback 9781665927239
- Author Photo (jpg): Cai Tse Photograph by Eira Tse(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
