Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 2

While straightening books on a Sunday at my workplace library, I came across a set of books that caught my eye. The title character’s name is Mindy Kim, so I immediately wondered to myself if she’s Korean. Yes. It took me naught but a nanosecond to decide I needed to check out the books offered in the library right away. (But I waited to start the first book until I got home. While I love reading, I won’t abuse the time for which I’m being paid.)

            These stories are chapter books for intermediate readers with a level above picture books but not yet ready for middle-grade. According to the copyright page, the series’ target audience are readers ages 6-9.

            The series is by Lyla Lee. Dung Ho is the illustrator.

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (Jan. 14, 2020).

Moving is hard. Being the only Asian (Korean) American in her new school makes it even harder for seven-and-a-half-year-old Mindy Kim (Korean name: Min-jung). On her first day of school, she declares that lunch is already her favorite subject, but her tune changes when her usual lunch of rice, kimchi, rolled eggs and dried seaweed snacks that she always ate in California don’t go over well with her classmates at Wishbone Elementary in Florida. When a new friend, Sally, asks to try a seaweed snack – “My mom always says I should try things out before I decide I don’t like them.” – interest amongst her other classmates is aroused, and they become so popular that she begins trading them for other snacks. Trading turns to selling them for money, which gets Mindy, Sally and a boy named Brandon in trouble. How can Mindy untangle this mess and resume her new friendship with Sally?

            Having spent all of my years within the same school district (Preschool – 12^th Grade), I’ve never had to be the “new kid,” but being the one who stands out based on her Asian appearance is something I understand greatly (even as an adult in all the workplaces I’ve been in). That the main character isn’t only Asian American, but specifically, Korean American, resonates with me, and her character’s perspective is valuable and needed in fiction literature (for any age). Yes, Mindy’s a kid who wants to make friends, fit in and get a puppy. But Mindy’s also a kid who’s known grief (her mom is deceased after a long illness) and notices her dad’s grief. She’s been exposed to micro-aggressions, but is clearly dearly loved by her dad (appa). Mindy’s voice is authentic for her age and the significance of weighty issues isn’t lessened by her age, nor made to sound beyond what a young person might construe about such weight. The illustrations are black-and-white, but complement the story to a T.

Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade (Jan. 14, 2020).

A new year means a new lunar new year, too. (In 2022, Lunar New Year began on Feb. 1.) Mindy isn’t looking forward to it, as it’s the first one without her mom, but her dad really wants to attend the parade in Orlando. She wants her dad to be happy, so she is willing to go and is able to bring her BFF, Sally, who’s excited to attend. Mindy’s hanbok (“a traditional Korean dress that people wear on holidays and special occasions”) that her mom bought her last year still mostly fits, which is a plus. Unfortunately, the parade doesn’t go as planned – there are no Korean performers – and when the girls are distracted by an entry in the parade route, they rush off, thinking Mr. Kim is right behind them, except he isn’t. Despite unexpected turns-of-events, will Mindy find fun in her day and turn disappointment into success? And why is her dad acting so weird around Julie, his coworker whom he runs into at the parade?

            While I grew up in a Caucasian household, I’m not without knowledge of some Korean things. For example, I love that Mindy wears a hanbok to the parade. I happen to have two. I received my first one when I was right around Mindy’s age, and the style is very similar to the one Mindy’s wearing on the cover, but the colors are slightly different. That was a gift from a paternal uncle, who, in those years, spent a lot of time traveling for his job, including trips to Korea. The second one came in my early 20s, a gift from a college friend who, unlike me, grew up in Korea within a Korean family. She and her mom picked it out, and to this day, that hanbok remains such a special gift!

            Reading this story makes me want to eat all kinds of Korean food! Anybody with me?

Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy (June 9, 2020).

Turning eight is a big deal when you’ve been working so hard to prove you’re responsible enough for a puppy! And that is exactly what Mindy has been doing, even going so far as to not have all of her stuffed animals on her bed at one time. Having a birthday party with her dad, her dad’s girlfriend (Julie) and her classmates with her favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream cake is great, but the very best thing is getting a puppy. She names her rescue pup Theodore, because his bushy face kind of reminds her of Teddy Roosevelt, whom they’ve been learning about in class. What she doesn’t realize is exactly how much work it is to train and take care of a puppy. From potty training to teaching commands like “Sit!” to learning that wrecking things isn’t okay to making other doggy friends, Mindy worries that her dad may want to return Theodore. Fortunately, Mindy is armed with lots of love and a bag of treats, and she’s on a mission to make Theodore a part of the Kim family, trained and all!

            Anyone who’s ever had a puppy knows how much work they are – and how adorable they are – and can therefore empathize! I appreciate how these stories continue to have plots that aren’t out-of-proportion for a typical eight-year-old. This one is friendly and sweet.

            I know not everyone is a fan of mint chocolate chip ice cream, but I happen to be a big fan of it, so I LOVE that it’s Mindy’s favorite. (I wouldn’t say it’s MY favorite, but that’s only because I can’t choose a favorite.)

Mindy Kim, Class President (Sept. 15, 2020).

Vote Mindy, Vote Snacks! Mindy has decided to run for class president of Room 303 at Wishbone Elementary. She likes to be kind to everyone, she wants to be friends with everyone, and she enjoys giving out snacks, especially when sharing snacks opens others’ eyes to many of the Korean snacks she so loves to munch on. Mindy is excited to run for class president, but she’ll have to write a speech and present it in front of her entire class, according to their teacher, Mr. Brady. Can Mindy face her fear of speaking in front of people and prove to others, particularly herself, that she can do this and do it successfully? Will she win the majority vote?

            Of the five Mindy Kim books in this post, this is the only one that my local library didn’t have. I’m not sure why they skipped this fourth book. While chapter books may be thought of as simple, I found this story to have depth in Mindy putting in practice and hard work to overcome a fear of speaking in front of others. This also makes the story realistic, because I remember how scary I thought speaking or performing in front of others was! No joke; I was that little girl that would walk onto a stage and then walk right back off! I grew up to find speaking in front of an audience is one of my strengths, but that was definitely not the case when I was in elementary school.

Mindy Kim and the Trip to Korea (June 8, 2021).

It’s Mindy’s first time in Korea! She is nervous to travel so far (Florida and South Korea are very far apart), she knows she’s going to miss Theodore, and she’s nervous about meeting her uncle and cousins in person for the first time. She finds out what jet lag is and is unsure of Korea at first with its unfamiliarity, but soon she’s conversing with her relatives in Korean to the best of her ability, picking out souvenirs and even getting fitted for a hanbok that fits her nine-year-old self. She even helps Julie, her dad’s girlfriend, make kimbap, with a very interesting result on the first attempt, reminding her that it is always okay to ask for help. Surrounded by family, delicious Korean food made by her halmeoni (grandma) and the excitement of visiting places like Seoul (Korea’s capital) and enjoying mulnori (Korean word for “playing in the water”), Mindy is in for the trip of a lifetime. The two weeks that look so far out at the start of the trip, when it still looks intimidating, will actually fly by quick-as-a-wink!

            I’ve been saying this for awhile now, and I’ll say it again many more times, but I want to visit Korea again so much. Korea isn’t home to me; I am a tourist when I go, but I so enjoyed my visit there way back in 2009. I am a strong proponent of traveling, domestic and international, as it is so eye-opening to so many cultures. I want all people to embrace other cultures and not be afraid to learn about them and ask questions!

 

Overall Thoughts: Although my story doesn’t exactly coincide with Mindy’s, to have been introduced to a character who “looks like me” when I was little would’ve been amazing, which means I appreciate these stories all the more as an adult. These stories have real-world flair, but are understandable for young readers making the step from picture books to intermediate stories. Mindy shows us kindness and friendship go a long way, even when it isn’t reciprocated. She also brings us a lesson in culture, as some may not know about Korea, despite the popularity of things like K-pop and K-dramas.