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Noodle & Bao
Noodle & Bao | Shaina Lu
1 post | 1 read
Perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Measuring Up, this whimsical and empowering middle grade graphic novel follows a girl who helps her friend�s humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood. Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and rhythms: the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best meal: Noodle & Bao, run by Momo�s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle. But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture�Fanc� Cafe. Fanc� is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they're only beautifying Town 99 with good business. Momo knows that�s not true, and knows that if she doesn�t do something, she�ll lose everything she loves about her neighborhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it�s too late?
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oddandbookish
Noodle & Bao | Shaina Lu
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The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story).

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/review-noodle-bao/

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