Broken

by X. Fang

Overview

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book! • Join Mei Mei on her hilarious and emotional journey in this dramatic and tenderhearted picture book about guilt and forgiveness, from the acclaimed creator of We Are Definitely Human.

When Mei Mei accidentally breaks her ama's favorite cup, she's convinced it's the end of the world. What if Ama is angry? What if she yells? What if she kicks Mei Mei out of her house? Mei Mei can't face it. But when Mimi, the innocent cat who witnesses her crime, ends up being blamed, the guilt is too much! Mimi's accusing eyes follow Mei Mei until she just can't take it anymore, and the truth comes spilling out.

With vibrant and moody cinematic illustrations and pitch-perfect pacing, X. Fang's newest picture book is filled to the brim with comedic drama and the comforting sweetness of a grandparent's forgiving hug.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774882009
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	10/14/2025
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

X. FANG is a visual artist and maker of books for young readers, including Dim Sum Palace, winner of the 2023 Society of Illustrators' Dilys Evans Founder's Award among other honors, and We Are Definitely Human, an Ezra Jack Keats Illustration Award winner, an American Library Association Notable Children's Book, an Indie Next Pick and the recipient of five starred reviews. She exhibits her art throughout the U.S. and internationally and has worked professionally as a graphic designer and art director for film and television studios. Born in Taichung, Taiwan, raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives in rural Maine with her husband, son and their dog, Pamela.

Editorial Reviews

A 2025 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book
One of Kirkus Reviews' 90 Most Anticipated Fall Books for Young Readers, 2025
A 2025 Heather's Pick
A 2025 Kids Indie Next Pick for November/December
One of the Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids of 2025
A Brightly Best Picture Book of 2025

"Fang’s illustrations are rich with color and texture. Cinematic framing and clever use of perspective draw readers into Mei Mei’s inner world and show how a young child experiences difficult feelings, turning an everyday accident into a relatable tale of honesty, repair and love." —New York Times

"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." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"This flawless picture book teaches young readers that with honesty, love, and a little glue, there is no mistake too big to fix. Fang is back with a heartwarming tale of a universal childhood (and adulthood) experience: breaking something important. . . . 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." —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"Peace settles over the living room with the understanding that objects and trust alike become more precious for having been lovingly mended." —Publishers Weekly

"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." —Booklist

"Broken is about the unbreakable bond between a grandmother and her grandchild, and also the reassuring truth that many things that are broken can be repaired." —Imaginary Elevators

"The impeccable pacing of the back and forth, laugh-out-loud stare-off between Mei Mei and Mimi heightens the tension of the narrative as the little girl’s growing guilty conscience urges her to tell the truth. A touching ending with grandmother and grandchild fixing the broken cup together reminds readers that 'every patch and every repair tells a story' and that love is built on honesty and forgiveness." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"X. Fang is now three for three in the absolutely terrific picture books department. . . . I cannot wait to do this story in storytime." —Mr. Brian's Picture Book Picks

"Broken is a gentle story of a little girl with big feelings rendered in soft layered colored pencil. This story is simple, but soothing, and a reminder that what’s broken can always be fixed (and to perhaps not trust cats, who are always up to something)." —The Southern Bookseller

From the Publisher

★ 2025-07-04
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)

Kirkus Reviews

2025 New York Times Best Illustrated Book, Winner