Love of the half-eaten peach Inspired by a true story

Set in ancient China, this story is inspired by the real-life romantic relationship between Yuan, Duke Ling of Wei, and the man he loved, Mi Zi Xia. Preparing to be a ruler, Yuan ponders the notion of excellence and is perplexed by its philosophical impossibility: "How can I understand perfection, if nothing is perfect?" Mi Zi Xia embarks on a gallant search to find Yuan something flawless, but neither the smoothest of silks nor the most fragrant of teas is without shortcomings. When Zi Xia bites into a delicious peach, he sweetly shares the remainder with Yuan. Wind's spare text is full of poetic turns of phrase ("on his tongue 999 cranes took flight") and striking similes ("The riddle weighed on Yuan, like a long winter robe soaked by rain"). Chen's delicate ink-and-watercolor illustrations elegantly evoke the time period. An author's note provides more information about the expression "love of the half-eaten peach" and its historical use to signify love between men in China. A tender picture book with folktale-like flourishes.

K-Gr 4--In this historical retelling, the young Duke of Wei in 500 BCE is told that he must understand perfection to be a good ruler. His best friend Mi Zi Xia searches the land for something perfect to give to his friend--tea, silk, song. All fall short of absolute perfection. Zi Xia leaves on a quest for perfection, returning with a perfect peach that the two share. The peach is delicious, but the two men learn that true perfection lies in their love for one another. The artwork is stunning, with environments inspired by classic Chinese art and characters with figures and expressions like those in the best graphic novels. Back matter explains that the titular phrase is a Chinese expression meaning gay. VERDICT A unique story that celebrates queer love and Chinese folklore, and a distinctive addition to the LGBTQIA+ shelves.--Chance Lee Joyner