PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT by Kelly Loy Gilbert is a beautiful and honest book about a young, queer, Asian American boy attending an ultra-competitive high school with dreams of being an artist.

CW: suicide (past), depression, car crash, choking, panic attacks, racism, child trafficking 

This book was not what I expected, in the best way. It’s one of those books that’s hard to describe because there’s just so much going on. It’s extremely heavy, and I would definitely consider the content warnings before reading it. 

The story is set in the Chinese-American community in Cupertino, California. Protagonist Daniel wants to be an artist, and unlike most Asian American families, his parents fully support his dreams. However, we find out that his parents have a secret, and one of the central plot lines of the book is Daniel trying to uncover it. 

📈 Strong points: Portrayal of family dynamics and relationships, complex central friendships, plot twists. 

📉 Weak points: Organization and trying to tackle too many intense topics in too little time. 

Overall, I was NOT okay after reading this book. I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and characters, and although it was a bit depressing, I still think it was a beautiful and compelling work of art. 

“Other people don’t exist just to be your happy ending.” - Kelly Loy Gilbert