Leaving China

“A compelling and intricate tale.” B>VanityFair.com

“The complex family relationships are carefully and delicately described, and details of the history of the period . . . are intriguing. The artwork nicely balances the text . . . And beyond their aesthetic qualities, the paintings bring significant emotional and cultural context to this story of a young artist’s struggle for self-acceptance.” B>NewYorkTimes.com

“Evocative . . . McMullan brings his early years alive through sprightly prose and the delicate, violet-tinged paintings that grace every page.” I>Entertainment Weekly

“[A] compelling story . . . Leaving China is a collection of 55 short stories, each illustrated with a stunning full-page watercolor impressionistically illuminating McMullan’s recollections.” B>TheAtlantic.com

“Who knew that behind all those wonderful watercolors I have admired since coming to New York are all these magic memories of childhood? It is like finding pearls inside unexpected shells.” B>Peter Sis, author of The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

“[McMullan] tells his tumultuous story in a series of spreads with a one-page essay facing a full-page illustration. This structure gives the reader time to exhale and contemplate between emotional episodes. There are soldiers in the streets, long painful separations, and quiet pleasures. The publisher recommends the book for ages 12 and up. I hope it finds the large audience it deserves among the ‘ups.’” I>The Boston Globe

“Fascinating . . . Deeply affecting.” I>Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Leaving China is a beautiful book . . . The selection of events and scenes is unerring. The prose and the art go together remarkably.” B>E. L. Doctorow

“The exquisite full-color pictures are filled with air and space, reminiscent of the Chinese scrolls that fascinated him as a child. These pictures and the evocative text are a happy exercise in harmony. A fascinating, seamless portrait of a young life and the wartime world that will have appeal not only to young readers but to adults as well.” B>Booklist (starred review)

“[A] poignant memoir . . . Delicate layers of pale green, soft lavender, and rich ocher tones bleed and blend into deep violet shadows--a subtle visual nod to the themes of nostalgia, isolation, and loss explored throughout the work. McMullan’s compositions are both quiet and stirring in their depiction of a lonely little boy struggling to find his place in a chaotic and often unkind world.” I>School Library Journal

“James McMullan's book is so hauntingly evocative that it made me nostalgic for a time and a place I never experienced.”