The Double Life of Benson Yu

by Kevin Chong

The only word for this book is brilliant. As well as a fascinating plot, it is an intense study of an author’s process, as well as the effects of poverty, child abuse and immigration on a person’s soul. It is about healing deep wounds and, ultimately, hope. The story weaves between being that of a character on the pages of a graphic novel and the life of its author, until they ingeniously merge into one, making transparent the way in which a writer’s life inevitably drives their work and that work overtakes their being. In keeping with its graphic novel subject matter, the narrative skips from one scene to another, without long passages digging deep, but beautiful details and well-placed feelings involve the reader on an emotional level. Chong’s writing is sharp, witty and unexpected—as is the whole novel.