Stone Fruit Explained

Stone Fruit is a graphic novel by Lee Lai, published May 11, 2021 by Fantagraphics.

In 2022, the book won the Lambda Literary Award for Graphic Novel/Comics,^[1] was a Barbara Gittings Literature Award honor book,^[2] and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel/Comics.^[3]

Reception

Stone Fruit was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist^[4] and Publishers Weekly.^[5]

Publishers Weekly applauded how Lai "skillfully captures the ways family dynamics and histories play out in romantic relationships, and how heavy those legacies can land," which results in "a poignant and mature rumination on how people change, and change each other, proving Lai a talent well worth watching." Terry Hong, writing for Booklist, called the novel a "jaw-dropping debut" with "stunning artistry," complementing by Lai's "complex narrative skills." Laura Olive Sackton, writing for the Chicago Review of Books, also applauded the novel, calling it "[a] remarkable contribution to this chorus of queer storytelling," saying the narrative is filled with "smart dialogue and character growth" and that through the illustration, Lai "literally draws transformation, and the feelings it evokes, onto the page."^[6]

The Guardian's Rachel Cooke provided a mixed review, calling Stone Fruit "[a] downbeat but moving exploration of the aftermath of a relationship."^[7] Cooke noted that while the book is affective, "you finish it with no hope at all that its characters will ever be able to resolve their difficulties. There is something intensely bleak at its centre."

Awards and honors for Stone Fruit!Year!Award!Result!Ref.

2021	American Library Association's Best Graphic Novels for Adults	Top 10	[8]
	National Book Foundation's "5 Under 35" Award	Honoree	[9]
2022	Barbara Gittings Literature Award	Honor
	Lambda Literary Award for Graphic Novel/Comics	Winner
	Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel/Comics	Finalist	[10]
	American Library Association's Over the Rainbow Book List	Top 10	[11]
	Stella Prize	Shortlist	[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Segal . Corinne . 2022-06-13 . Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Lambda Literary Awards! . 2022-06-16 . Literary Hub . en-US.
2. Web site: Chapman . Monica . 2022-02-01 . 2022 Barbara Gittings Literature Award and Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award of the Stonewall Book Awards announced . 2022-03-17 . American Library Association . en.
3. Web site: L.A Times Book Prizes 2022 . 2022-03-17 . Festival of Books . en-US.
4. Book: Hong, Terry . 2021-05-15 . Stone Fruit . 2022-03-17 . Booklist.
5. Web site: Comics Book Review: Stone Fruit by Lee Lai. Fantagraphics, $24.99 (236p) ISBN 978-1-68396-426-1 . 2022-03-17 . PublishersWeekly.com . 11 May 2021 . en.
6. Web site: Sackton . Laura Olive . 2021-05-27 . The Sacredness of Queer Aunthood in "Stone Fruit" . 2022-03-17 . Chicago Review of Books . en-US.
7. Web site: Cooke . Rachel . 2021-05-25 . Stone Fruit by Lee Lai review – breaking up is hard to do . 2022-03-17 . the Guardian . en.
8. Web site: 2022-01-23 . 2021 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List . 2022-03-17 . American Library Association . en.
9. Web site: Lee Lai . 2022-06-06 . National Book Foundation . en-US.
10. Web site: L.A Times Book Prizes 2022 . 2022-06-06 . Festival of Books . en-US.
11. Web site: Chapman . Monica . 2022-02-15 . Over the Rainbow Committee announces 2022 Top 10 Book List . 2022-03-17 . American Library Association . en.
12. Web site: 2022-04-14 . Announcing the 2022 Stella Prize Shortlist . 2022-06-06 . Stella . en-US.