Animated Identities
Laura frequently draws herself and others in the exaggerated, emotional style of this Japanese animation medium.
What is Anime/Manga?
Laura and her friends are obsessed with this series about a teenage wizard, even sorting themselves into its famous four houses.
What is Harry Potter?
To assimilate and bond with her classmates, Laura leans heavily into her love for this sport, idolizing players like LeBron James.
Early in the book, Laura compares the bustling, vibrant nature of her hometown of Wuhan to this massive, iconic American city to help Western readers understand its scale.
What is New York City?
When non-Asian classmates find out Laura is Chinese, they often immediately compare her to this sword-wielding Disney princess.
Who is Mulan?
During her tween years, the intense debate between "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" from this vampire romance franchise dominates the school hallways.
What is Twilight?
The frequent use of this early 2000s communication method visually interrupts the panels to show digital conversations.
Texting
In the prologue, references to Wuhan in the media drastically shift to news broadcasts focused entirely on this global event.
What is the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a child trying to fit into her Texas environment, Laura primarily draws her comic characters with this specific physical characteristic.
What is white/Caucasian?
Laura deeply connects with her heritage and her feelings of isolation through the legend of this Chinese Moon Goddess.
Who is Chang'e?
During high school, Laura discovers a vibrant, queer community on this microblogging platform, which she uses as a digital diary.
What is Tumblr?
This specific, pungent street food from Wuhan becomes a recurring motif representing Laura's authentic roots, despite her initial embarrassment of it in America
What is Stinky Tofu?
To visually represent how she adapts her personality to fit in with different social groups at school, Laura uses the metaphor of this traditional Chinese performing art.
What is Bian Lian (Face-Changing)?
In her quest to understand her sexuality away from the judgmental eyes of her peers, Laura turns to reading and writing this specific type of transformative internet literature.
What is fanfiction?
The type of media is Laura referencing when using terms such as "level up".
What are videogames?
The title of the graphic novel, Messy Roots, is a direct reference to the chaotic, intertwined nature of this staple Wuhan breakfast dish.
What are Hot Dry Noodles (Reganmian)?
When the graphic novel shifts to Laura’s early childhood memories in Wuhan, the visual color palette heavily features warm tones and this specific color.
What is Red?
Laura finds comfort in this animated series featuring Aang, connecting deeply with its Asian-inspired world-building and themes of balance.
What is Avatar: The Last Airbender?
To communicate with family back in China, Laura's parents heavily rely on this all-in-one Chinese messaging app.
What is WeChat?
The massive, life-giving river that runs through Wuhan.
What is the Yangtze (Yellow) River?