Lion Dancers by Cai Tse

I'm always on the look-out for sport themed books, especially for the middle grade audience. There never seem to be enough of these. Today's read takes an original twist in this direction...I didn't realize that a lion dancer is really a sport, but that's what it's being sold as. And maybe, it is one. I'm not a Lion Dancer guru. Actually, that's one reason I was glad to get my hands on this. I'm hoping that, while the story spins around friendship and arguments, there will also be a little information dropped in along the way to teach what Lion Dancing is all about. Add that it's a graphic novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.

So, let's learn something new! (Unless, you already know something about this area.)

(Note: This one is going on my possible favorite graphic novels list for 2025)

I almost forgot that it's Monday! That means there is tons of middle grade goodness over at the MMGM (Marvelous Middle Grade Monday) over HERE. Knowers and lovers of literature for this age group recommend all sorts of tales to dive into. So, if you're into middle grade literature, you're going to want to head over there and take a peek.

LION DANCERS

by Cai Tse

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Sports   /  Graphic Novel

299 pages

ages 8 to 12

Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.

Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.

Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him the self-proclaimed star, Hung.

As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Competition, finding friends, and dealing with past problems becomes interesting and grabbing in a read, which introduces the joy of (and facts surrounding) Lion Dancing.

Wei has been trying to find more friends at school and even joined the basketball team, but this leads to more problems than he had before. He always ends up alone on the bench and increasingly becomes the butt of the other players' jokes. When he notices a guy wearing a shirt from a lion dancing team on the street, he takes the risk of asking the stranger about it. After all, Wei's own father was a champion lion dancer, and Wei himself had been training for the sport when he was younger...before his father's death. Deciding to give, at least, another peek at the sport, he visits the team and wonders if he should get involved. But not only is he not sure he's ready to revisit something he did with his father years before, but his ex-partner and once best friend isn't thrilled to see him again. 

When I picked this up, it was more due to the lion dancing aspect than the friendship drama. This book ended up surprising in both categories. The author is a lion dancer, and her love for the sport comes across in every scene. The exciting aspects and fun of learning to do the moves comes across clearly, while the frustration, hard work, and exhaustion also keeps it more than grounded. It's a well-rounded look into the sport and is no problem to relate to, especially for those readers who have participated in physical activities and competitions themselves. Of course, readers learn about lion dancing and what it involves during the story, but the author adds facts and explanations behind the moves and such at the beginning of each chapter. These movements occur in the tale as well (very smoothly worked into the plot), which gives the readers 'aha' moments.

While all this goodness around the unique sport already make this an intriguing read, the human and social aspect works well, too. Wei tries to force himself to be something he isn't, which leaves him more lonely than before. Even when he enters the lion dancing realm, it isn't without difficulties. His ex-best friend's attitude is selfish, but as Wei's past and the ex-friend's family life comes to light, it becomes understandable...even when it's still, obviously, not okay. To make sure the story doesn't become too emotional, the problems between the two characters are kept more as a side-story as the Wei needs to rediscover the sport and relearn what it takes to succeed. Messages surrounding determination, working with others, and even dealing with past trauma are hit upon.

The graphics really bring each moment to life, which not only melds with the text to drive the tale forward with tension, emotion, and excitement, but also opens up the sport of lion dancing on a visual level...which is very important for this type of activity. 

It's an engaging read...even more than I thought it might be...and hard to put down. I wonder if there will be a second book because it'd be fun to see where Wei goes from here.

 

And here she is...

Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.