Is this book by Kenny Loui perfect? No, but it is freaking entertaining and fun. The title (There is No Shrimp … And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents) ) tells you everything you need to know (though sometimes his mother’s lies are less malice and more “age appropriate” explanations, having a tease (at her son’s expense) and/or herself uncomfortable explaining the situation). These lies range from the downright silly (why are all of her photographs in black an white? Because there was no color back then, so isn’t Kenny lucky to live in such a colorful world) to the typical mom (no there is no shrimp in this dish…. (taste) Lie detected…why the lie? She thought shrimp was good for you. I won’t say why he didn’t like shrimp).
Each chapter is just the one lie explored. However, every so often there is a “Kenny” talking to a (I am assuming) stuffed piggie (I am also assuming if you know their webcomic (Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher: An Autobiographical Manga in solid form since February 2023) you will understand the stuffed toy obsession) and how the stories came to be. While things are non-fiction, everything reads as a story. While I do not recommend it for under aged 12 or 13, as there really is not anything wrong with the work, but it has concepts that might be a bit abstract or mature.
Clever illustrations (traditional manga colors, details, style) by Yamawe and overall good times fill the pages of this (read via online reader copy; due soon in July 2023) graphic novel. The bonus story has a few bumps (information was missing or I missed it), but otherwise it is a fun read.
