Until We Meet Again - by Lily Kim Qian

Book Synopsis

A poignant and vividly illustrated graphic memoir about a young woman's search for belonging as her immigrant family moves between Canada and China.

Lily isn't sure where home is anymore. Her family is constantly on the move, resettling in different towns across Canada and, eventually, in Shanghai, China. Her father plays the role of primary caregiver while her mother is absent for long periods of time. When she reappears, her strange behavior turns Lily's life upside down. As Lily enters her college years, she strives to better understand her family and her place in the world. But can she escape the inherited trauma passed down by her immigrant parents?

Review Quotes

"In beautiful images, Qian talks about what it means to feel abandoned by a parent, to have to abandon places and people you love--and to abandon yourself as a result. In fragmentary scenes, the author gently reveals herself to us as she reconstructs her childhood and youth in search for a new identity."
--Nora Krug, author of Belonging and Diaries of War

"Lily Kim Qian's beautiful colors and symbolic and poetic illustrations soothe wounded hearts. Until We Meet Again is a touching story of courage and warmth for anyone who has fallen and is trying to get back on their feet."
--Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, author of Grass and Dog Days

About the Author

Lily Kim Qian is a Chinese-Canadian artist based in New York. She graduated with a BFA in illustration from Parsons the New School of Design in 2021. Along with her illustration practice, she works as a junior designer at Penguin Young Readers. In her spare time, Lily enjoys volunteering at animal shelters and hanging out with her very own cat assistant, Edgar. Until We Meet Again is her debut graphic novel.