Picture Us in the Light

Danny Cheng is a talented high school senior art student in the Bay Area who has earned admission to RISD, his dream school. His seemingly stable life begins to crack when he discovers a box of mysterious documents in his father's closet, leading him to question everything he knows about his family's past. Against the backdrop of his final year of high school, Danny grapples with his feelings for his best friend Harry while trying to uncover the truth about his parents' history and a tragedy that haunts their small community. The story follows Danny as he navigates complex relationships, family secrets, and his identity as a Chinese American teen. Danny's pursuit of answers about his family coincides with his development as an artist and his struggle to capture authentic human connections in his work. His journey forces him to confront questions about belonging, inheritance, and the weight of the past on the present. This coming-of-age novel explores themes of identity, family, immigration, and the connections between art and truth. The story examines how the choices of one generation ripple through to the next, and what it means to truly see and understand the people closest to us.

Readers highlight the book's nuanced portrayal of Asian-American family dynamics, mental health, and coming-of-age struggles. Many note the authenticity in depicting both the pressures of academic achievement and LGBTQ+ identity in Asian communities. Readers appreciated: - Complex family relationships and secrets - Realistic teen dialogue and friendships - The Bay Area setting details - Integration of art themes throughout Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Multiple plot threads that some found hard to follow - Some character decisions that readers found frustrating Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (180+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 "The characters feel like real people I know," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another reader on Amazon wrote, "The story tackles heavy topics without becoming overwhelmingly dark." Some readers mentioned difficulty connecting with the narrative style, with one noting "the introspective tone sometimes slowed the momentum."

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan A teenager travels to Taiwan after her mother's death and uncovers family secrets while processing grief through art.

Finding Home by Estelle Laure Three siblings navigate foster care, family bonds, and identity after their father's incarceration forces them to leave their home.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee Fourteen Japanese-American teenagers' lives intertwine as their families face internment during World War II in San Francisco.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo A Chinese-American teen in 1950s San Francisco discovers her identity and first love while confronting family expectations and societal prejudices.

The Incredible Jelly Bean Crisis by Vincent Chen A Taiwanese-American high school senior grapples with parental pressure, college decisions, and cultural identity in the Bay Area.

✦ Kelly Loy Gilbert wrote much of this novel while working as a children's art teacher, which helped shape the protagonist Danny's artistic journey and the book's authentic portrayal of visual creativity. ✦ The novel addresses the complex history of Asian immigration to Silicon Valley, incorporating real historical elements about Chinese immigrant experiences in the Bay Area. ✦ The book was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2018 and received multiple starred reviews for its nuanced handling of family secrets, grief, and LGBTQ+ themes. ✦ The author drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in the Silicon Valley area to create the book's setting and capture the unique pressures faced by students in highly competitive academic environments. ✦ While writing the character of Danny Cheng, Gilbert conducted extensive research into art school portfolios and application processes to ensure accuracy in portraying a young artist's journey toward higher education.