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MESSY ROOTS takes readers on a journey both past and present of author and artist Laura Gao. Born in Wuhan, China, Laura was raised there until her family immigrated to Texas. Frustrated that no one could pronounce her Chinese name, she demanded that she be allowed to choose a new name, hence the name Laura.
That name change didn't solve all of her problems. Most people had never heard of Wuhan and insisted that she must be from Taiwan. Little did she know that years later with the arrival of Covid-19, she would be heckled and jeered as being responsible for the disease.
Laura shares the frustration of having a Chinese family whose expectations didn't match what she wanted for her life. Her parents were thrilled when she showed promise as a mathlete/nerd, and they were angry when she dropped Math Club in favor of basketball. Years of Chinese lessons on the weekend didn't really help Laura pick up the language. It wasn't until the family traveled home to Wuhan one summer that she recognized the important of learning the language.
High school offers the usual teen drama - dating, studying, friends, and sneaking out at night. It isn't until everyone begins talking about college choices that Laura realizes that might be just the escape she needs. Leaving Texas for a university in Pennsylvania means Laura will be in charge of her own life for the first time. That's when experiences lead Laura to the realization that she is queer. This opens the world for her as she confronts her family about her real dreams and wishes.
Gao's artwork enhances the amazing story of her life as she struggles to please family, fit in with her peers, and still stay true to herself. I highly recommend this for any high school graphic novel collection.
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