On Your Way

Wallflower Allison Wong has three constants in her life: school, studying, and clandestine guitar lessons from a ghost named Keefer. After her mom sets her up with a peer tutor to fix her unacceptable chemistry grades, Allison finds herself thrust into the thriving indie music scene of the late 90s. Finally, Allison feels like she belongs somewhere, but she has to decide if she’d rather give up on her newfound friendships in order to keep her mom happy, or if she’s brave enough to fight for the person she’s becoming.

Meanwhile, back in 1971, studious Katherine Chen lives in the shadow of her charismatic older brother, Keefer. She works tirelessly towards her dream of becoming a doctor, yet no one, least of all her father, takes her or her goals seriously. When she helps a mysterious shopkeeper, she is granted a single wish as thanks. Katherine can finally have everything she ever wanted, but at what cost?

Set in Vancouver between and across the two time periods, On Your Way is a story about imperfect love, breaking patterns, and the music that carries us through it all.

“Two Chinese Canadian girls living decades apart have big dreams for their futures, but their parents’ expectations stand in the way… A heartwarming story that highlights intergenerational patterns.”
— Kirkus

“Chou combines adolescent drama with supernatural mystery to chronicle the lives of two Chinese Canadian teens living in different time periods… it all adds up to a thoughtful examination of finding the courage to choose one’s own path.” — Publishers Weekly

“On Your Way is such a compelling read; I couldn’t put it down! I love the characters Emily Chou has created here: messy, flawed, unpredictable, big-hearted. Artistic expression and friendship take centre stage in this complex and satisfying coming-of-age story — what a refreshing choice! Chou manages the large cast and multiple time periods with the skill and flair of a seasoned cartoonist. And did I mention that the artwork is beautiful? Expressive, clear and distinctive. I highly recommend this book to fans of Jillian Tamaki, Lee Ostertag or Jen Wang, and to anyone who loves well-crafted comics.” — Sarah Leavitt, author of Tangles

About the author

Emily Chou is a writer/cartoonist from stolen xʷməθkʷəy ̓ əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ territory. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and publications in Room, Geist, Chinatown Today, and various other magazines and anthologies. She has lived in the UK, Japan, and Italy and can recommend snacks in all three.

Publication details

ISBN: 9781772621259
344 pages, 6×8 inches
colour, trade paper
October 2026