In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, bombing and gunfire quickly raged across China. Chinese people were suffered from the Japanese invasion, including YaYa — a little girl who got lost because of the Japanese bombardment. YaYa failed to board a ship to Hong Kong with her parents because she was captured by some gangsters. Tuduo, a little boy who was forced to work for the gangsters, rescued YaYa. The two young children embarked on a journey to find YaYa’s parents while the war cloud and the gangsters were chasing them from behind. This is a story about hope and trust.

The Ballad of YaYa is a graphic novel based on a real historical background: China in World War II. War is a relatively rare topic among junior publications. The authors portray the chaotic and helpless atmosphere of war through detailed illustrations with the least violence. In contrast, the optimistic smiles of the two innocent children bring hope and joy to the people in the wartime, and the readers.

The friendship between YaYa and Tuduo is very touching in this book. Although they did not know each other before, the children established trust and friendship through the dangerous journey. Tuduo kept looking for YaYa when she was lost. YaYa, was being naïve and had a privileged life before. She still remembered the boy who saved her when she lost her memory.

Another great delight of this book is the innocence and optimism of these children. YaYa’s faith in finding her parents and Tuduo’s trust in YaYa encouraged them to overcome various challenging hours: Escaped from sharks’ mouths, being kidnapped, and even the threats from Japanese soldiers. Hope and friendship helped them to continue their journey.

The nine-volume graphic novel tells us war is a tragedy for every person. It separates families and warps people’s minds. However, it also reminds us how hope and trust help people get over the hard times.