In this “unique, amusing, and compulsively
readable” (School Library Journal, starred review) debut
graphic novel, a girl born on a day considered unlucky in Chinese superstition
starts to wonder if she really is cursed when she’s troubled by visions of doom
set to occur on her thirteenth birthday.
Twelve-year-old Eugenia Wang has never celebrated her birthday on her actual
birthday, April 4th, because of her mom’s belief in the Chinese superstition
that four is an unlucky number. And that’s not the only thing Mom’s strict
about; she won’t let Eugenia go to a summer comic art camp because she thinks
art is a waste of time. This year, Eugenia is determined to defy her mom by
applying for the camp, having her party on her actual birthday, and inviting
her super cute crush while she’s at it, too!
But when Eugenia gets hit in the head with a sneaker during PE, she starts
getting unnerving visions of impending doom about her upcoming birthday. It
might be the aftereffects of her head injury, or maybe she’s just anxious about
turning thirteen. As the visions get worse, even affecting her artwork, Eugenia
suspects an unseen force may be sending her messages. If she’s haunted after
all, Eugenia will have to figure out why before it’s too late. Even more
horrifying, she may have to do the unthinkable: admit her mom was right.
About the Author
Stan Yan is a first generation American-born Chinese writer,
illustrator, caricature artist, and instructor from Denver, Colorado, who has
been drawing comics before he realized it. He helped cofound the Squid Works
comic creator cooperative, was a board member of the Colorado Alliance of
Illustrators, and is currently the co-regional advisor for the Rocky Mountain
Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The
Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang is his debut graphic novel.