Review by Booklist Review
When Mei Mei breaks Ama's cup, her guilt escalates to comic heights in the latest from critically acclaimed Fang (We Are Definitely Human, 2024). Mei Mei's being a little reckless when she knocks Ama's mug off the table, so she flees the scene and promptly begins to imagine all the terrible things that are going to happen--will Ama kick her out?! But when her grandmother finally tracks her down, it's only to offer her a piece of cake. When Ama blames the cat, Mimi--and Mimi stares Mei Mei down with a deeply judgmental gaze--Mei Mei can't take the guilt and the truth spills out. In illustrations rendered with fine-lined shading, off-kilter angles, and pleasantly chunky figure design, Fang wryly taps into a childlike sense of anxiety and fear of consequences, as well as the relief of forgiveness and unconditional love. Mei Mei's emotional roller coaster is comically but unmistakably telegraphed in Fang's depictions of faces and gestures, and kids who need a reminder that accidents happen will be especially heartened by the warm resolution.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Let me tell you the story of the day I broke Ama's cup" begins the narrator of this compassionate work from Fang (We Are Definitely Human). Young Mei Mei, portrayed with pink skin and dark hair, recalls being bored at Ama's house and bumping into a side table while seeking to scare Mimi the cat--an act that launches the mug into the air and then "down, down, down, until CRASH!" At first certain of Ama's anger (an illustration imagines the child literally being booted from the house), Mei Mei seems to be off the hook when Ama blames Mimi for the break. But the cat's relentless, implacable stare, captured in digitally colored pencil drawings, haunts Mei Mei so much that the child retreats until the truth forces its way out, depicted in a cutaway schematic. Luckily, Ama, who believes that "what's broken can also be fixed" and that "every repair tells a story," works restorative magic on both grandchild and cup, soothing Mei Mei's tears and patching together the object "until it had its own story to tell." Peace settles over the living room with the understanding that objects and trust alike become more precious for having been lovingly mended. Ages 3--7. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This flawless picture book teaches young readers that with honesty, love, and a little glue, there is no mistake too big to fix. Fang (Dim Sum Palace, We Are Definitely Human) is back with a heartwarming tale of a universal childhood (and adulthood) experience: breaking something important. Playful young protagonist Mei Mei accidentally knocks over Ama's favorite mug, and this is the story of the hilarious path she takes to make things right. The first-person narration will help listeners build empathy and connection for Mei Mei. The illustrations vividly and comically tell the story on their own, conveying the wide range of emotions Mei Mei experiences throughout her ordeal. Simple sentences and ample white space will also help beginning readers access this text. VERDICT This is a perfect fit for SEL lessons about owning up to one's mistakes and asking for forgiveness. A must-buy and ideal read-aloud for all libraries.--Maria Bohan
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Review by Horn Book Review
A young girl tells a story about a cup, a cat, and some cake. While visiting her grandma, bored Mei Mei decides to scare Mimi the cat but in doing so accidentally breaks Ama's cup. Running outside, Mei Mei imagines Ama's reaction: will she get mad or yell or kick her out of the house? Instead, Ama invites her in for tea, then affectionately calls the cat naughty for breaking her cup. Stricken with guilt, the girl tries very hard to eat some cake but is stopped by Mimi's indignant stare; successive spreads show the cat's face getting larger and larger, culminating in four horizontal panels of "CAKE! / MIMI! / CAKE! / MIMI!" She soon breaks down and confesses. Ama gives her a hug, saying, "What's broken can also be fixed," and together they repair the cup with glue. In a final spread, Ama drinks from her cup, Mimi naps, and Mei Mei finally enjoys some cake. Digitally colored pencil drawings convey the high drama of a child's emotions: in a rotated vertical spread, Ama looks tall as a giant when she finds her granddaughter huddled outside; when Mei Mei later admits to her mistake, she cries a river of tears. Fang's (Dim Sum Palace, rev. 9/23) story is laced with humor; don't miss the endpapers showing a wide-eyed Mimi knocking the mended cup off a table. Jennifer M. BrabanderNovember/December 2025 p.46 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After accidentally breaking a relative's treasured possession, a child worries about facing the consequences. While playing with Mimi the cat, Mei Mei, a youngster of Chinese descent, bumps a table and smashes a cup belonging to Ama (Grandmother). Mei Mei runs off, terrified. But Ama isn't mad; she blames the incident on Mimi and sets about serving tea. Will Mei Mei get away with it? No, Mei Mei's guilty conscience makes enjoying Ama's cake impossible, especially with Mimi's accusing stares. Mei Mei runs off to hide in the closet. When the youngster finally comes clean, Ama reveals that she has a talent for fixing things. She points out that "every patch and every repair tells a story." Her favorite cup now has a rich story to tell. Fang's digitally colored pencil artwork uses an innovative mix of compositions to advance the narrative's emotional arc. Mei Mei's vivid imaginings ("What if Ama yells at me? What if Ama kicks me out?") are depicted in panels, while well-placed close-ups and dramatic perspectives capture the child's inner turmoil with cinematic flair; an especially effective scene intercuts Mimi's silently judgmental face with images of the cake. Laudably, Fang makes room for both laugh-out-loud humor and moments of genuine empathy; rife with homey details, her softly rounded illustrations exude warmth. A common childhood experience, conveyed with an uncommon mix of sensitivity, mirth, and heart.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
