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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: ALTERATIONS
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Toronto
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; married; children: two sons.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Story artist, illustrator, and writer. Storyboard artist for animated films, including Dunce Bucket (TV), 2009, Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012, Epic, 2013, The Book of Life, 2014, The Angry Birds Movie, 2016, Trolls, 2016, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, 2021, Koati, 2021, Sing 2, 2021, Nimona, 2023, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, 2023, and for television series episodes.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
[open new]An accomplished Canadian storyboard artist, Ray Xu parlayed his narrative talents into the creation of his first graphic novel for middle graders. He was born in Toronto to parents who had immigrated from China along with his sister, who was seven at the time; Xu was born five years later. His mother had once been jailed for trying to illicitly leave China, which her children did not learn about until they were older. His sister was often studious—as destined for a career in finance—but found time to take her little brother to movies, teach him how to drive, and spend time with him. With his mother working at a dry-cleaning and garment-altering business, Xu’s grandmother cooked and took him to parks when he was very young; later in his childhood, she declined owing to dementia. As a youth Xu enjoyed hanging out at the local comic-book store and developed a fondness for the iconic superheroes. He later became a fan of manga. Aspiring to athleticism despite being lanky, he made the volleyball team as a sophomore in high school. His first jobs were at a video-game store in the mall where his mother worked and at his ebullient uncle’s Chinese restaurant.
After finishing his education, Xu gained steady work in the animated-film industry as a story artist. He has worked on sequels like Ice Age: Continental Drift, tie-ins like The Angry Birds Movie, and adaptations of books like Nimona. His credits in the 2020s include the Netflix hit The Mitchells vs. the Machines and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. His experience drawing storyboards and reading scripts led to a naive confidence in his ability to pull off an entire graphic novel. Balancing text and art proved more of a challenge than he anticipated, but his confidence proved justified in the end.
About the impetus behind his middle-grade debut, Alterations, Xu told Amanda MacGregor of School Library Journal: “I wanted to show that a major part of growing up is shifting (or altering) your perspective to realize all the factors that are working together to make your life possible, all the stories of struggle hidden behind every success. My mother, sister, and grandma all made immeasurable sacrifices. … Even today, I’m still learning from reflecting on the women who raised me.” Xu’s mother passed away in 2016, which prompted the creation of tribute vignettes that he originally imagined turning into an animated series. His agent suggested making them into a graphic novel, and the idea proved sound.
Alterations follows ten-year-old Kevin Lee, a Chinese Canadian boy navigating life at home and school in the 1990s. His parents have divorced, leaving his mom extra busy altering garments for work, which Kevin must sometimes help her with. His older sister, Betty, can be difficult, and his grandmother, Pop, can seem weird. One day for lunch she gives him a preserved “century egg,” a Chinese delicacy whose unique appearance leads Kevin’s peers to nickname him Egg Boy. With only two other Asian Canadians at his school, Kevin must deal with recurring casual racism. Comics are his favored means of escapism—including the one he is creating, action-packed fan fiction for Star Odysseys, with excerpts interspersed in the narrative.
Jerry Dear in Horn Book found that “amusing facial expressions and gestures” bring out the characters’ distinct personalities. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that the “portrayals are authentic and lovingly complex” and that Xu’s illustrated scenes “convey a sense of bustling energy.” This reviewer found in Alterations an “evocative slice of school life and the trials of a second-generation immigrant.” In BookPage, Emily Koch hailed the novel as “hilarious and heartfelt” and the graphic elements as “lively and entertaining.” Koch added that the embedded Star Odysseys narrative “adds a layer that will keep readers engaged.” Dear summed Alterations up as a “multidimensional story of navigating the bumpy terrain of family tensions and resilience.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
BookPage, February, 2024, Emily Koch, review of Alterations, p. 29.
Horn Book, January-February, 2024, Jerry Dear, review of Alterations, p. 103.
Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2023, review of Alterations.
ONLINE
American Booksellers Association website, https://www.bookweb.org/ (January 17, 2024), “An Indies Introduce Q&A with Ray Xu.”
School Library Journal, https://afuse8production.slj.com/ (January 30, 2024), Ray Xu, “I See You: How the Women Who Raised Me Inspired Alterations“; (January 31, 2024), Betsy Bird, author interview.
Young Adult Books Central, https://www.yabookscentral.com/ (January 22, 2024), Connie Reid, “Rockstar Tours—Alterations (Ray Xu) Interview.”
Alterations: An Interview Q&A and Excerpt with Ray Xu
January 31, 2024 by Betsy Bird Leave a Comment
Sometimes you just feel drawn to a book the moment you see its cover. What was it about Alterations by Ray Xu (out now!) that just felt so familiar? That look of inescapable horror on its hero’s face? The premise? The roller coasters? The egg? Whatever it was, when I got a chance to interview Ray about his comic debut, I jumped all over it. And I get to show some excerpts from the book too? Woohoo!
But first…. a description of the plot! Cause I’m cool like that.
“Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn his life around, or will it just be another day for Kevin Lee?”
For the record, Dan Santat said this book was, “A funny and heartfelt story that beautifully communicates the honest and awkward relationships we have with life and our immigrant parents.” But let’s hear from the creator himself . . .
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Betsy Bird: Ray! Congrats on your middle grade semi-autobiographical graphic debut! My 9-year-old son and I are a big fan of ALTERATIONS, so I’m just gonna load you down with a slew of them. First and foremost, you’ve done so well as a film animator, why did you decide to go into comics at this stage of the game?
Ray Xu
Photo Credit: Tobias Wang
Ray Xu: Hey Betsy! Thank you so much. Really happy to hear that Alterations clicked with you and your son. To be honest I’ve never thought I would be making comics or graphic novels. Deep down inside I knew I wanted to tell a story, but I just didn’t know what form that would come in. I think having no experience making comics helped in a strange way, because I was going into it with this naïve confidence. I figured I can draw storyboards, and I’ve read hundreds of pages of scripts, so why not comic panels? So, when the opportunity came along to make a graphic novel, I didn’t hesitate. I was quickly humbled! Writing the manuscript was a huge learning experience for me and forced me to think differently as an artist. As a story artist I was used to drawing with words, but for the first time I really focused on the writing first, and then later drawing everything. It was daunting. I was constantly tweaking the balance between what to show vs what to tell. I really want to shout out Tracey Keevan for her guidance and support during the Manuscript phase, she helped me understand how that process worked. She’s the best. Chris Duffy later came on while I was in heavy production mode and was my personal cheerleader. Lots of people to thank for helping me on my journey to the finish line for which I’ll be forever grateful, my agent Albert Lee, all my peers and colleagues that I bounced ideas off of, and my wonderful, patient family for enduring my frantic late nights. If anything, this experience has taught me that creating a graphic novel is extremely hard and humbling, but something I’m getting better at, so I’m feeling pretty grateful that it’s being published by Union Square!
BB: Well, it’s a beautiful final product certainly.
So the term I’m hearing bandied about this book is than it’s semi-autobiographical. I’m just gonna assume that the huge climax of the story (which I won’t give away) probably may not have happened the way that it’s depicted here. That said, I have to know which parts of this tale rang true. Did you really bring a century egg to school? Were you ever called “Egg Boy”? And how much of your grandma was in the book’s grandma?
RX: Can you imagine If only something like that actually existed! Maybe I should get into theme park designs? I really leaned into my animated film background and wanted to create a spectacular climax so I had a lof of fun doing that. I love pushing the artistic boundaries and seeing what I could create. Yes, I did bring century eggs to school one time. I didn’t like them. Turns out it wasn’t a great lunch idea. Part of me searching for my identity while growing up was this idea of an athlete, and I sincerely tried to play sports! My lanky body did not come off fluid, so I got made fun of for it. Looking back, I think I have to give myself a lot more credit! My biggest moment was making the grade 10 volleyball team. All to say, I tried a lot of new things in trying to find my identity, which ties into the motto of the book: sometimes you have to take risks! I am STILL awkward at sports but I recently started playing a lot of basketball with some old friends, and I really enjoy it. Luckily no cracked teeth yet. I was called a lot of things, but “Egg Boy” was not one of them. The term came along during the story development process, and it really helped emphasize the idea of Kevin’s isolation, but it wasn’t clear at first during the drawing process. To me, the idea of “egg boy” also became a representation of new beginnings, the cycle of life, which ties into the rest of the story. The other aspect of Kevin’s life that was like my own is his family dynamic. My grandma helped raise me, while my sister was busy studying, and my parents were working tirelessly. She took me to parks, made food and bathed me. It’s sad that later on in her old age she started declining, and dementia set in. I was not with her later when she passed but was told she would randomly call out “Zhu Zhu”—her nickname for me.
BB: One of the many things I liked best about this book was the messiness of it all. The family relations, and particularly the mom’s backstory vs. how her life is now, intersect in all these different ways. Did you always envision the book in this way as you were writing it, or did you add in some of these elements later?
RX: I wanted to show that families are full of complicated and nuanced relationships but what matters most is that we rally together when it matters most. When blocking out the story, I leaned into my film background and was shooting for that snowball effect where everything culminates in the end. I tried to pick up different points of views and pay homage to the ensemble cast of characters, mainly my mom whose past inspired Kevin’s mom’s backstory. My mom had a massive stroke a few years ago, and afterwards my sister and I became super curious about her past. This story was told to us by my uncle while my mom was getting sicker, and there were so many revelations upon her death that really opened up our eyes as to how resilient our mother was. My sister and I were stunned when we heard she was jailed for trying to escape China. How did she not tell us this before? So telling her story in Alterations was a way to record her history. I think it was important to highlight through this flashback that we as kids don’t know how much pressure parents put on themselves to be their best. I understand this a lot now that I am a parent of 2 boys. I think overall, family relations and life are always messy, from conflicts to unconditional love and showing up when it matters – I hope that this is one the main takeaways.
BB: Was there anything you originally wanted to include that you had to cut out for one reason or another?
RX: I think this version is ultimately the one that was meant to be made. The original concept had more of a ‘Wonder Years’ narrative style, and Kevin was slightly younger because I wanted to include moments where he would escape into these imagination vignettes. I realized this type of storytelling may have been better suited for animation. Although my inner artist voice will always find something to nitpick, I am truly proud of what I was able to accomplish.
BB: Have you any interest in a sequel or did you always see this book as a standalone in some way?
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RX: I am open to exploring more of Kevin’s world and continue telling his story. However, I believe that Alterations works great as is. I owe this to Tracey Keevan who told me to just do the best I could in my debut and to not worry about sequels. I thought that was incredible advice because it allowed me to focus on perfecting this story. As a new author, I found this to be a huge learning moment which elevated my own storytelling abilities in writing, as well as storyboarding.
BB: Finally, what’s next for you right now? Books or otherwise.
RX: I am busy storyboarding on films I can’t really discuss now. I didn’t know how much work it was going to be to write and illustrate a graphic novel so I’m looking forward to enjoying this release. Looking back on this whole experience, I can say it was probably one of the most fulfilling artistic moves ever, and I would love to continue telling stories. I would love to do picture books and continue experimenting in different genres in the graphic novel world. I am excited for what’s to come!
Thank you, Ray! But for all of this, I still feel as though you readers haven’t quite gotten the full gist of the book. I know! Why don’t you read some of it for yourself? I feel like that always helps:
Great big thanks to Ray for taking the time to answer my questions today. Thank you too to Jenny Lu and the folks at Union Square Kids for putting this together. Alterations is on shelves everywhere as of yesterday, so go and grab yourself a copy ASAP!
I See You: How the Women Who Raised Me Inspired ALTERATIONS, a guest post by Ray Xu
January 30, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor Leave a Comment
My debut novel hinges on the power of the women in my protagonist Kevin’s life. This semi-autobiographical graphic novel is inspired by the women who helped raise me and that inspiration starts with the title, Alterations, which references my own mom’s work at an alteration and dry-cleaning store.
When I was 9 or 10, my mom was working with three other Chinese women in a small alterations and dry cleaning store in a downtown mall. Sometimes, after school, I would go to her work and stay with her until she got off work so we could go home together. The store was off the beaten path of the mall, but it had a steady stream of customers dropping off things that needed to be either altered or dry cleaned. The place hummed with sounds of sewing machines. There was a video game store a few stores down, which would be where I would get my first part-time job when I got older.
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I recall seeing my mom hunched over the sewing machine working tirelessly on a huge pile of clothes. Every time I saw her at work, she was always busy multitasking, no wasted moments. She absolutely had to get her clothes done. One day, instead of going home like we usually do after she finished her shift, she took me to see The Lion King at the adjacent theater. I remember this sticking with me because this had never happened before. Mom being spontaneous? Spending money on an excursion? And it began to make me think about whether I lacked a full understanding of her. Did I just view her as a person with no personality or interests outside of work? That day, I saw a completely different side of her—she seemed like she could take a break. I began to understand that my mother had an entire world of self beyond the one that I saw every day.
My sister and I are 12 years apart. She was just 7 when they came to Toronto. (I was not born yet obviously.) My sister faced the challenge of adapting to a new culture while aiding our parents in navigating this unfamiliar world. Beyond taking on a lot for our parents, she was the one who introduced me to pop culture, music, took me to see movies, taught me how to drive, and let me hang out with her older friends in spite of how much it probably annoyed her. I even wore her hand-me-downs. (We didn’t have much in the budget for fashion expenses back then, but luckily, I had a mom who was a master clothing manipulator – it allowed me to alter old clothes to keep up with the changing fashion trends!) Despite a codependent mother, a needy younger brother and facing her own challenges as a young adult trying to make something of herself, she was still able to graduate university with honors and have a successful career in the field of finance. I still ask her for advice whenever I have important life decisions to make (like buying a house). In my relatively carefree childhood, I couldn’t see then all the pressure and sacrifices my sister had to face to make our entire family’s life easier.
My grandmother cared for me as a young child. She called me “Zhu Zhu”, which, translated to English, means, Pig Pig. I was born in the year of the Pig. By the time I was old enough to really remember her, she had faded into the background as dementia set in. But I did learn about her through stories.
My mother and uncle recounted Popo’s perseverance through the Japanese invasion, the Communist takeover, and the Cultural Revolution. The life-changing events of those decades seemed unimaginable, especially one after the other, highlighting the strength required to endure such times—and the unknown strength that brought me to my childhood in Canada. Nevertheless, she always looked so cheerful.
In writing Alterations, I wanted to show that a major part of growing up is shifting (or altering) your perspective to realize all the factors that are working together to make your life possible, all the stories of struggle hidden behind every success. My mother, sister, and grandma all made immeasurable sacrifices, and my novel is all about highlighting the stories that Kevin doesn’t, and I didn’t, immediately understand.
Even today, I’m still learning from reflecting on the women who raised me, especially while working on Alterations and helping raise two young sons.
My mother’s trajectory from an employee to a business owner was full of constant hard work and sacrifices. Her frugality and reluctance to treat herself was like a superpower. The phrase, “a penny saved is a penny earned” defined her lifestyle. Despite eventually allowing herself some enjoyment, like photography lessons and vacations, it came too late. A severe stroke in 2012 marked the beginning of her health decline leading to her passing in 2016. The limited time to savor the fruits of her labor is still a poignant reminder of the importance of balancing work and life.
As I reflected on these experiences, I knew I had to start learning how to appreciate life’s moments. I’m not very good at it yet, but just like how I keep reminding my own kids to “keep trying,” I’m working on making some improvements. My mom never had much self-compassion, so I take pride in how I try to balance work and family. Enjoying simple pleasures like buying a good cup of coffee, not feeling bad to not working hard enough, and focusing on the good parts of life more.
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The sacrifices my mother, sister, and grandmother made directly influence how I want to live my life. I strive to improve upon those lessons, so that I can impart this wisdom to my kids, just like the women who raised me did for me. From watching their resilience, I saw that every breakdown was followed by a determined rise, and I hope to pay homage to that in Alterations.
Meet the author
Photo credit: Tobias Wang
Ray Xu is a Toronto-based story artist for television and feature films. His recent work includes the 2021 Netflix animated hit The Mitchells vs. The Machines; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem; and more. He invites you to visit him online at http://raymond-xu.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayxuxu/
About Alterations
For fans of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova’sAwkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all.
Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn his life around, or will it just be another day for Kevin Lee?
Fans of middle school graphic novels exploring identity and self-esteem will appreciate the poignant yet humorous journey of finding one’s place in the world, and readers who are looking for Asian representation in books will connect with Kevin’s story of racism, bullying, and the immigrant experience. With its mix of family relationships, friendships, and a thrilling amusement park climax, this inspiring read is perfect for fans of humorous middle grade fiction with diverse characters overcoming obstacles.
ISBN-13: 9781454945857
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Publication date: 01/30/2024
Age Range: 8 – 12 Years
Rockstar Tours- Alterations (Ray Xu) Interview & Giveaway!
January 22, 20243 Comments
Written by Connie Reid, Site Manager
Posted in Blog Tours, Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ALTERATIONS by Ray Xu Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check outmy post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: ALTERATIONS
Author: Ray Xu
Pub. Date: January 30, 2024
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 240
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/ALTERATIONSXu
For fans of Gene Luen Yang’s American
Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova’s Awkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade
coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning
to be seen by all.
Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto
apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes
unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids
makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to
Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn
his life around, or will it just be another day for Kevin Lee?
Fans of middle school graphic novels exploring identity and
self-esteem will appreciate the poignant yet humorous journey of finding one’s
place in the world, and readers who are looking for Asian representation
in books will connect with Kevin’s story of racism, bullying, and
the immigrant experience. With its mix of family relationships,
friendships, and a thrilling amusement park climax, this inspiring read is
perfect for fans of humorous middle grade fiction with diverse
characters overcoming obstacles.
Praise for Alterations
“A funny and
heartfelt story that beautifully communicates the honest and awkward
relationships we have with life and our immigrant parents.” —Dan Santat,
Caldecott Medal winner and creator of A First Time for Everything
“A busy, evocative slice of school life and the trials of a
second-generation immigrant.” —Kirkus
Interview:
YABC Q&A
What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
Alterations started as little vignettes of my childhood, and as mini tributes to my mom. She passed away in 2016, and I guess I was working through my feelings. I framed all those illustrations as happy, fun moments. My childhood memories became a feature in them, and as I kept chipping away, it snowballed into an idea for animated series. Or so I thought! I wanted to explore the world of my childhood memories of growing up as a kid of immigrants, and how we navigated life and family, fitting in, the sacrifices my mom made to start over in Toronto. There was so much content that it ended up more suitable as a graphic novel, and now here we are!
Who is your favorite character in the book?
The Uncle! He was based loosely on my own uncle, who’s restaurant I used to work in as a kid. I watched him cook and craft delicious meals daily. His skillset was incredible. He ran a Chinese restaurant all by himself at one point, and I always admired his work ethic, and the way he ate! And boy did he enjoy eating food! I was happy to feature him.
Which came first, the title or the novel?
I’m not sure I could have come across the title without the illustrations first. I must give credit to my wife, when I was putting together this idea to pitch, and she suggested “Alterations”. As soon as she said that it all clicked together nicely.
What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I really enjoyed drawing the rain scene, when they all have their big conflict and they all split off. In the planning stages I remember blocking this out as an important scene. I wanted a combination of a minimalist approach and a stage play, where the lighting would play a huge part in elevating the scene, making the moves and characters’ emotions stand out. I wanted to mute out the background and have them against a dark palette while rain drops on them. Something that wouldn’t have been too distracting for the readers. In the end I found a happy balance of drama, lighting, and composition. I must give credit to the letterer, Rob Leigh, who did a fantastic job of placing the text so that it was easy to track.
Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
I admit I’m still pretty new at this. When I first started this book, it was my editor Tracey Keevan who recommend I write the manuscript first. No drawings. This was a big challenge for me because I was used to writing with drawings as a story artist. My day job is to take a script and turn it into images. So this was essentially working in reverse to what I’m typically used to. It was an amazing experience. I learned so much, and I think one of the big takeaways from this was that it’s so important to be clear. Clarity of what you’re trying to say in a particular scene and finding that balance of what to show vs. tell.
What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I am so happy everyone was on board with the ‘vertigo’ feel of the poster. I wanted to simultaneously capture the messiness of Kevin’s mind, the story and plant little nuggets like the CN tower and landmarks of the story.
What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?
Aside from my own you mean! Haha! When it comes to graphic novels, I’m a big fan of Dan Santat’s stuff and I know he has some titles ready to launch so I’m excited to see what he does!
What was your favorite book in 2023?
I just finished Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and it was so much fun. It was hard to put down, and I really enjoyed her writing style. It was oddly resonant because it centered about a writer, and I felt it did a good job at detailing the struggles of a new author trying to get their foot in the door.
What’s up next for you?
Aside from working as a story artist on some films I can’t talk about right now, I really don’t know what’s next for me in the publishing world. It was stressful at times but making a graphic novel was an amazing experience and super fulfilling. I loved it. I also want to do a picture book as well. I dunno…I really hope that I get to keep telling stories, and I am excited for what comes next!
Is there anything that you would like to add?
It’s incredible that my book is being published! I’m not going to get over that I think. I want to continue this journey of writing & drawing new books!
Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
Most scenes with my Mom. I revisited old memories and photos of my mom and it just reminded me of what an amazing person she was. All the sacrifices she made. One can argue this whole graphic novel started with her. But it was a bit cathartic in way, and I kept thinking about how proud she would be of what I was able to do with Alterations.
Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
I think Kevin. He is a main character, and they are always difficult to figure out. Are people going to resonate with him? Is he likeable? Does his story arc make sense? Is it compelling enough? Meanwhile the side characters are fun and their motivations are clearer. Kevin’s was harder to finesse, because in the end you want a character that readers will invest in and go along with for the journey.
Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?
The drafting. It is probably the most fun I have on any creative project, whether it’s thumbnailing storyboards or writing down rough ideas. That doesn’t mean my ideas come easy thought, sometimes it takes a lot of procrastination to get something remotely good, and even then, there’s a ton of reworking to do. I love freely exploring the possibilities of any idea, and I really enjoy that process.
What would you say is your superpower?
Unfortunately, no superpowers whatsoever…that I know of.
Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
Not a particular organization, but my youngest son has recently experience bullying in school. It was unexpected and the whole thing hit us really hard emotionally, because there seemed like nothing that we could personally do for him. We as a family must find a way to build his confidence up, and hope that he perseveres through this. I would love it if I can find a way to make content that helps this issue in the future.
About Ray Xu:
Ray Xu is a Toronto-based story artist for television and feature films.
His recent work includes the 2021 Netflix animated hit The Mitchells
vs. The Machines; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem;
and more. He invites you to visit him online at http://raymond-xu.com.
Jan
17
2024
Indies Introduce
An Indies Introduce Q&A with Ray Xu
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version
Ray Xu is the author of Alterations, a Winter/Spring 2024 Indies Introduce young adult selection and January/February 2024 Kids’ Next List pick.
Xu is a Toronto-based story artist for television and feature films. His recent work includes the 2021 Netflix animated hit The Mitchells vs. The Machines; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem; and more.
Andi Richardson of Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia, served on the bookseller panel that selected Xu's book for Indies Introduce. Richardson said of the book, "Ray Xu delights in this graphic memoir about immigration, family, and fitting in in middle school. The art and the story are both top-notch and it’s so easy to identify with the characters as they navigate the ins and outs of their new [life]. This will bring joy to readers of all ages.”
Here, Xu and Richardson discuss Alterations.
Andi Richardson: Tell us a bit about your publishing journey and how it feels to get your book on shelves!
Ray Xu: Let me just start by saying I never thought I’d publish a book! Alterations started with these little slice of life vignettes about my childhood and family. I always thought it might work well as an animated series but I think that’s because I work in that field. I didn’t even consider the possibility of a book until I was introduced to my agent, Albert Lee, who saw the potential as a graphic novel. I already had a mini show bible and pitch package that I was shopping around to studios and tweaked it to send to publishers. Luckily it worked out!
The story and art resonated with a lot of people. The interest was quite validating and the whole process was an incredible learning experience, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of Union Square, shout out to Tracey Keevan who championed me from the very beginning, and guided me through the manuscript process. She’s the best. Chris Duffy was my personal cheerleader during the production phase and helped me across the finish line. Rob Leigh did the amazing lettering when I realized that was harder than I thought. Making Alterations pushed me to become a better artist and there were many times where I thought writing and illustrating a book was the craziest thing I’ve ever done, but to see all that effort come to life into a physical book, I’m so proud of it all and I still can’t believe it! It’s surreal.
AR: How close is your life to Kevin's story?
RX: Kevin is probably the idealized version of myself that I aspired to be during that period of my life. Specifically, the way he reaches that moment of clarity and self-awareness. This concept eluded me until adulthood. There is that moment where Kevin meets the substitute gym teacher, who is this buff, athletic looking Asian man. This type of mentorship-seeking is something I still think about sometimes as one of the enduring impacts of my parent’s divorce was having no male role model to look up to growing up. It’s the same with Kevin’s comic book hero Maverick. It’s this version of a boldness I wish I had more of.
Other things, like the intricacies of the immigrant experience, failed childhood crushes, the exploration of identity, the challenges of fitting in, and the struggles with self-esteem continue to shape my life. I think writing this story really helped me feel gratitude for what I have accomplished and for the amazing people in my life. I recognize that now. Elements such as the grand finale at the theme park, an incident involving the gym teacher’s tooth, and the creation of the imaginary hero Maverick served as narrative devices to enhance the appeal to younger audiences. I certainly did not hang upside down from a stalled rollercoaster!
AR: How tough is it to bring out your own personal feelings about growing up?
RX: As someone who dwells on regret daily, I’ve been trying to view past decisions as opportunities for learning and growth. Childhood was full of positives too; I somehow fell into the right social circles and made some lifelong friends. I was a little more resilient than I thought. I’ve worked to gain more confidence but I’m still chipping away at that. Talking about my family is probably the toughest, especially memories about my mom. Alterations started from little vignettes about my childhood and mostly featured my mom. It was a tribute to her memory, after she passed in 2016. When I think of her, I think of moments: phone conversations, visiting her when she was in the hospital, or a time we went to Red Lobster for her birthday and she was so happy when I paid for it. All the little sweet moments were simultaneously sad and nice to relive.
But throughout the process, I also kept thinking about how I was going to put this out to the world to see and knowing that my mom would be proud that I was able to honor her memory like that. I play a scenario in my head where I think she feels proud to know all her sacrifices were meaningful. And a little self-compassion helps along the way. If anything, after making this book, I feel more grateful for where I am now.
AR: You started out in film and TV — what made you want to try your hand at a print book?
RX: I don’t think I could’ve done a print book without all that time spent helping people shape and mold their films. I’ve been a story artist for animated films for over 15 years and I gained so much valuable story experience from reading hundreds of pages of scripts and drawing in different styles. At some point I knew I wanted to create something of my own…but I just didn’t know what form that would take. I used to hang out at the comic bookstore a lot as a kid (like Kevin). I was really into superhero stories like Superman, X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman…all the iconic heroes. Then I started reading graphic novels in my early twenties and got introduced to manga, but still felt that my main wheelhouse was animation and film.
I honestly didn’t realize how much I would enjoy the writing process until I started making Alterations. It was amazing to have so much creative freedom with details like the design of the visuals, the narrative style or fun ways to place the panels. Union Square gave me a ton of freedom to play, and I appreciate them for that.
I also consider myself lucky to have my debut book be this personal story of mine and was given an opportunity to craft it the way I envisioned. Having no prior experience making comics was turned out to be beneficial, because I was loaded with this naïve confidence. I was able to really focus on making a great story with cool art and I didn’t know what the boundaries were. It allowed me to push myself even more as a writer and artist. It’s been a great learning experience and I hope that I can do more!
AR: What’s next for you?
RX: Currently storyboarding on a film that I can’t really discuss. I am always going to continue to be involved in the animation industry, but looking back on this whole experience, I can say it was probably one of the most fulfilling artistic moves ever, and I would love to continue telling stories. I would love to do picture books and continue experimenting in different genres in the graphic novel world. I am excited for what’s to come and I really hope I can do it again!
Alterations by Ray Xu (Union Square Kids, 9781454945840/9781454945857, Hardcover/Paperback Middle Grade Graphic Novel, $24.99/$14.99) On Sale: 1/30/2024
Find out more about the author at raymond-xu.com.
Alterations
By Ray Xu
MIDDLE GRADE
Kevin Lee just wants space and time to draw comics. At home, if he's not bickering with his sister, Betty, he needs to help their single mom at her alteration shop. Plus, his grandmother has been staying with them for the last six months. Though Kevin loves Popo, he also finds her incredibly embarrassing.
School isn't much better, as Kevin stands out as one of the only three Asian Canadian students. Things go from bad to worse when Popo sends Kevin to school with a century egg for lunch, and eating it leads his peers to give him a new nickname: "Egg Boy."
Alterations (Union Square, $24.99, 9781454945840) is Ray Xu's debut graphic novel, but he is well-versed in drawing funny stories, with experience as a storyboard artist for films such as Captain Underpants. Kevin's story is hilarious and heartfelt, with semi-autobiographical elements from Xu's childhood in Toronto in the '90s. Alterations is like the century egg Kevin eats. On the outside, it looks like one thing: a story about school drama, but once you bite in, you realize the family dynamics are an unexpected umami flavor you can't ignore.
The graphic elements are lively and entertaining. An embedded narrative of a fanfiction comic that Kevin is creating for a series called Star Odysseys adds a layer that will keep readers engaged, even if it does occasionally result in abrupt transitions. Background colors pop with cartoon-like onomatopoeias. The colors of the narration boxes helpfully change throughout: yellow for Kevin's story, blue for the fanfiction comics, and pink for Popo's folktales.
Semi-autobiographical graphic novels for middle grade readers are booming, and rightfully so. A tad more fantastical than Dan Santat's A First Time for Everything and a bit more realistic than Yehudi Mercado's Chunky, Alterations will certainly appeal to fans of both.
--Emily Koch
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 BookPage
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Koch, Emily. "Alterations." BookPage, Feb. 2024, p. 29. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779267784/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6703774a. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.
Alterations
by Ray Xu; illus. by the author
Intermediate, Middle School Union Square 240 pp.
1/24 9781454945840 $24.99
Paper ed. 9781454945857 $14.99
Kevin Lee, a 1990s Chinese Canadian boy, struggles with being invisible among his peers, but somehow lands in the spotlight at the most embarrassing moments. When he brings preserved eggs to middle school for lunch, he becomes a laughingstock and gains the nickname "Egg Boy." Then in gym class he throws a basketball and accidentally hits the substitute teacher, knocking out a tooth. His parents' divorce doesn't make his life any easier: his older sister resents taking on extra responsibilities as she prepares for college, while his mother barely makes ends meet running an alterations shop. When Popo, his maternal grandmother, arrives from China, she reminds him that "today's pain is tomorrow's strength." Xu's coming-of-age graphic novel follows Kevin's ups and downs as he strives to fit in at school, get along with his sister, and help his mom. He takes refuge in a fantasy world of comics depicted by lively, action-packed panels--a world that later comes to life at an amusement park. Amusing facial expressions and gestures capture the distinctive persona of each character and their interactions. Themes of sacrifice, survival, and love abound in a multidimensional story of navigating the bumpy terrain of family tensions and resilience across generations.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Dear, Jerry. "Alterations." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 100, no. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2024, p. 103. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A781187791/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=303d22e3. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.
Xu, Ray ALTERATIONS Union Square Kids (Children's None) $24.99 1, 30 ISBN: 9781454945840
A Chinese Canadian daydreamer faces the tough realities of school and family life.
Navigating a recently divorced mom, a moody older sister, and a weird grandmother at home, 10-year-old Kevin seeks refuge in his comics. In addition to eagerly awaiting the next issue of Star Odysseys, Kevin imagines and draws his own deep-space adventures. School life comes with further challenges--his former friend (and maybe crush) Lily hates his guts, and as one of his school's few Asian kids, he's subject to a fair amount of casual racism. When Kevin brings a century egg to school, he sets off a disastrous chain of events that culminates in a thrilling transformation. Mostly taking place over the course of a week in 1994, the story feels a little disjointed at times, with Kevin's fantasy world intercutting his real-life struggles. The cultural specificity and humor shine, however: From Kevin's refreshing lack of self-consciousness about the century egg and his mom's backbreaking work at the family's clothing alterations business to his popo's love of game shows, the portrayals are authentic and lovingly complex. Most characters who populate Kevin's Toronto are white, except for his family and his two Asian friends (one is Japanese and white, and the other is Chinese from Hong Kong). The detailed, loosely drawn illustrations emphasize the characters' emotions and convey a sense of bustling energy.
A busy, evocative slice of school life and the trials of a second-generation immigrant. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Xu, Ray: ALTERATIONS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A770738733/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=baf7c9fe. Accessed 3 Aug. 2024.