Stone Fruit
{{Short description|2021 graphic novel by Lee Lai}}
{{About|the graphic novel|the fruit|Drupe||||||}}{{Infobox novel
| image = Stone Fruit.jpg
| caption = First edition cover
| author = Lee Lai
| pub_date = May 11, 2021
| publisher = Fantagraphics
}}
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, was a Barbara Gittings Literature Award honor book, and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel/Comics.
Reception
Stone Fruit was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist{{Cite book |last=Hong |first=Terry |date=2021-05-15 |title=Stone Fruit |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Stone-Fruit-/pid=9747043 |access-date=2022-03-17 |via=Booklist}} and Publishers Weekly.{{Cite web |title=Comics Book Review: Stone Fruit by Lee Lai. Fantagraphics, $24.99 (236p) ISBN 978-1-68396-426-1 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-68396-426-1 |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |date=11 May 2021 |language=en}}
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."{{Cite web |last=Sackton |first=Laura Olive |date=2021-05-27 |title=The Sacredness of Queer Aunthood in "Stone Fruit" |url=https://chireviewofbooks.com/2021/05/27/stone-fruit-lee-lai/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Chicago Review of Books |language=en-US}}
The Guardian
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Awards and honors for Stone Fruit !Year !Award !Result !Ref. |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|American Library Association's Best Graphic Novels for Adults |Top 10 |
| National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 Award
|Honoree |
| rowspan="5" |2022
|Barbara Gittings Literature Award |Honor |
| Lambda Literary Award for Graphic Novel/Comics
|Winner |
| Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel/Comics
|Finalist |{{Cite web |last= |title=L.A Times Book Prizes 2022 |url=https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/bookprizes-2022/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Festival of Books |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |title=L.A Times Book Prizes 2022 |url=https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/bookprizes-2022/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Festival of Books |language=en-US}} |
| American Library Association's Over the Rainbow Book List
|Top 10 |
| Stella Prize
|Shortlist |