Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 1

Here marks my first chapter books compilation of 2024. It features three books from the same series. If interested, I’ve attached links to the previous posts at the end of the eighth novel’s write-up.

Mindy Kim Makes a Splash! (July 5, 2022) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the eighth novel in a series.>

Swimming in P.E. class. What fun! Or it would be, if Mindy Kim knew how to swim. She’s never taken swimming lessons and thinks she’s too old as a nine-year-old in a class with six-year-olds. But Mindy is determined to learn so she can:

                        “1. SWIM WITHOUT FLOATIES

                          2. LEARN TO SNORKEL

                          3. MAKE FRIENDS WITH MANATEES AND DOLPHINS.”

She’s also been challenged by Brandon, the meanest kid in her class, to a swim race. The bully’s challenge will push her to learn quickly, but will it be enough? Will she splash to success or find a belly flop in her wake?

            It’s another delightful tale from Lee with complementing illustrations from Ho. While I love that this series features a main character who is, specifically, Korean, it’s a wonderful series for any chapter book readers, including emergent readers. The text is mostly simple, though adults may need to be on hand for occasional words like harrumphed. Lee’s Mindy Kim series puts a little more positivity into this world, and as long as she keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading them!

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

            Mindy Kim Book 7: Mindy Kim and the Fairy Tale Wedding

Mindy Kim and the Summer Musical (July 4, 2023) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the ninth novel in a series.>

Auditioning for the community theater’s summer musical, Cinderella, is new and nerve-racking, but it helps that her friends, Sally and Lindsey, are auditioning, too. She remembers the lyrics of her chosen song, and Ms. Maria Kamper, children’s musical director at Sunshine County Community Theater, laughs when Mindy reads lines for both Cinderella and an evil stepsister. Mindy really wants to be Cinderella, and she’s horrified when she’s cast as stepsister. She worries that being cast as an evil stepsister means that Ms. Kamper noticed meanness in her during her audition, which means she might not be a good, big sister in the future. With her dad’s reassurances that she doesn’t look like a bad kid and that the stepsisters’ roles are the comic relief, Mindy’s ready to “make the best of being an evil stepsister” by being funny.

            Lee’s writing is so naturally inclusive of all ethnicities, and they’re fun to read. They’re also relatable for the age; Mindy and her friends have recently finished 3^rd Grade in this installment. Being cast as an “evil” character may sound dramatic to Mindy when we as adults know the evil stepsisters are actually comedic in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. She and the cast must also deal with a bully. The story is delightful and resonates with realness.

Mindy Kim and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept. 26, 2023) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the tenth book in a series.>

After Mindy’s harabeoji (grandfather) passes away, Mindy, Dad and Julie travel to Korea to be with her dad’s family for the funeral. Korea’s annual, traditional mid-autumn festival – Chuseok – falls during their visit. Chuseok focuses on honoring one’s ancestors. Mindy is excited to participate in this celebration, which she’s never experienced in Korea. They’re gathered in Korea for a sad reason, but Mindy wants to figure out a way to celebrate her late grandpa. Will it be in eating his favorite kind of fish (cod)? Or setting out his favored fruit (apples)?

            I think it’d be an adventure participating in Chuseok in Korea. While one might call it Korea’s Thanksgiving, it isn’t like our American Thanksgiving, though there is also a lot of food involved. I love that, with this book, Lee is introducing a traditional festival that many may be unfamiliar with. I would’ve gobbled up these stories if they’d been present when I was a child and am happy to consume them as an adult. The story is uncomplicated, but still deals in life lessons (coping with the death of a loved one) and has a cultural theme. This 10th story is as adorable as the first nine.