Follows Momo, a girl who helps her friend’s humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood. 15,000 first printing. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

Follows Momo, a girl who helps her friend's humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood. - (Baker & Taylor)

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—Fancé Cafe. Fancé 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?

Booklist Reviews

Momo loves Chinatown-inspired Town 99, with its lively atmosphere and delicious treats, especially from her friend Bao's food cart, which they run with their grandma Noodle. But in Town 99, rents are rising, and businesses are getting pushed out. A fancy new café ignites a conflict between a wealthy developer and Noodle & Bao's food cart, though Bao, who dreams of culinary school, is hungry for change. In bubbly, manga-inspired artwork, Lu thoughtfully and respectfully dives into issues around gentrification, specifically pertaining to food culture: Noodle resists Bao's new flavors, which reflect the multicultural milieu they've grown up in, but she ultimately acknowledges that businesses like theirs need to grow and change to survive. Momo's efforts at community organizing, too, are handled with nuance: she learns that it's not as easy as making signs and shouting. Back matter explains the history of Chinatowns in America and describes both gentrification and community organizing in more detail. Young readers will likely recognize Town 99's struggles in their own communities and be empowered by Momo's challenging but galvanizing experiences of activism. Grades 3-7. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.