"Wish Upon a K-Star" by Kat Cho

Wish Upon a K-Star (Apr. 29, 2025) by Kat Cho.

<This is both a standalone and spin-off novel.>

The world’s biggest K-pop group, WDB, is dealing with dating scandals, and Moon Minseok – otherwise known as Moonster to his fanbase – has to step up and take charge of the group’s image, even though he’s not the leader. Shin Hyeri is a veteran to scandals. Once part of the now-disbanded K-pop girl group Helloglow, she was pitted early on against fellow member Kim Ana. Netizens have labeled her a bully and a nepo baby, claiming her inclusion in the group was only due to her idol brother, Hyejun, of the K-pop group AX1S. When a scandal arises involving Minseok and Hyeri as co-hosts at a K-pop midsummer festival, it’s decided that going on Korea’s popular variety show, Our Celebrity Marriage, is the key to saving both of their reputations. On this show, celebrities get fake married and participate in newlywed challenges. The plan is simple enough: pretend to get along, create swoony moments for the fans, win back those fans and move on with their lives, Minseok actively back with WDB and Hyeri gaining momentum as an up-and-coming K-drama actress. Will their fake marriage lead to true love? Or will the weight of scandal lead them to shame-faced ruin?

            A K-popping K-drama this contemporary romance YA definitely is. I didn’t feel the swoony tone or romcom vibes that are likely the author’s aim, but my opinion shouldn’t stop any readers of any K-pop or K-drama fandoms from enjoying this story. It’s overall written well, the author highlighting the less glittery and glamorous side of the K-pop world. She takes on sasaengs (obsessive fans) and anti-fans, gender double standards and the overwhelming pressure on idols to be perfect. The chemistry between Hyeri and Minseok is obvious, and there is some kissing, but Hyeri’s anxiety is so next-level that the “romance” feels weak. The main characters are both charming, their journey rocky but not without hope. When it comes to Hyeri, I simultaneously want to shield her from brutal anti-fans, shake her for always cowering in front of her selfish, overbearing mother, and talk until I’m blue in the face if it’d help her see her self-worth. It’s fiction, but it’s not only literary clickbait for real-life idols, and that’s alarming. No one should have to put up with that “just because” they’re famous.

            Also by Kat Cho: Once Upon a K-Prom

"ASAP" by Axie Oh

ASAP (Feb. 6, 2024) by Axie Oh.

<This is a sequel novel to XOXO.>

As the daughter of Joah Entertainment’s CEO (her mother) and politician father, Min Sori is no stranger to the spotlight and scandal and the pressure of maintaining a flawless, perfect daughter image. Between her mother’s stringent running of her company and her father’s extramarital affairs, Sori’s years of being a Joah trainee for her mom and her dad’s political ambitions for her, her relationship with her highly-motivated (ruthless), absentee parents is tense at best. Sori’s admitting to herself that her dream isn’t to be a K-pop idol, and her mother, surprisingly, accepts this, and she accepts her mom’s request to help train Woo Hyemi. Hyemi will be debuting with ASAP, Joah’s first female idol group. Sori’s thoughts keep straying to her ex-boyfriend, XOXO’s Nathaniel Lee (Korean name: Lee Jihyuk). Before XOXO became one of the world’s biggest K-pop groups, their whirlwind romance almost caused a scandal. Fortunately, Sori was referred to as an anonymous trainee, and her name was left out of the tabloids. But more and more are noticing their natural chemistry, and she invites Nathaniel to stay with her when he needs refuge from the prying paparazzi outside XOXO’s house. It’s hard for either to deny their feelings. Will Sori pursue a second chance at love? Or will she sacrifice her happiness for Joah Entertainment and her mother?

            “XOXO” was originally meant to be a standalone, but the popularity of that novel prompted this one, and I’m so glad, as a reader, to read Sori’s story, too. Oh’s “ASAP” is a YA contemporary romance that is a literary K-drama with K-pop elements. This dynamic bildungsroman for Sori is a charming, swoony companion to “XOXO.” It’s an approachable novel even for those unfamiliar with K-pop, K-dramas or Korea. The story is richly written and the main characters, wealthy through family money or as earned as an idol, remain surprisingly relatable. They’re characters you’d want to befriend for their goodness and defend from bullies. Should I hope that “ASAP” is popular enough that Oh gives readers another story? Perhaps Oh Sun’s?

            Book One: XOXO

"XOXO" by Axie Oh

XOXO (July 13, 2021) by Axie Oh.

<This is the first novel in a duology (originally a standalone).>

Her dream is to get into the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) and perform as a professional cellist. Go “Jenny” Jooyoung is so focused on that dream that she’s never bothered with boys or K-pop. Since her dad passed, it’s been Jenny and her mom, whose relationship with her own mom is rocky. Jenny’s skills are spectacular, she wins competitions, but her latest judges’ remarks say that she lacks spark, though her technical skills are perfection. Bold and incensed, she challenges Bae Jaewoo to a karaoke song competition and unexpectedly ends up spending time with him in L.A. before he returns to Korea. Jaewoo is swoony and handsome. Jenny can’t stop thinking of him, but he never responds to her text messages. When her mom decides to go to Seoul to see to her ailing mom, Jenny pushes to go along. She’s accepted into an elite arts academy, where Jaewoo is also a student. Not only that, he’s one-quarter of XOXO, one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world. Jaewoo is their main vocalist and is the most popular member. Rounding out the group are: Oh Sun – leader, rapper; Lee “Nathaniel” Jihyuk – vocalist and main dancer from NY; and Choi Youngmin – rapper and maknae (youngest) of the group. XOXO is managed by Joah Entertainment, and they’re forbidden from having romantic relationships. How much are the two willing to risk for love?
        Landing in Korea finds Jenny making her first close friends. There’s Angela Kwang, a trainee at Neptune Entertainment who moved to Seoul three months ago from Taiwan, and Hong Gi Taek, a classmate who aspires to be a Joah trainee. Min Sori is her roommate, and while friendship at first seems impossible, Sori winds up becoming a best friend. Sori is the daughter of Seo Min Hee, CEO of Joah Entertainment, and a Joah trainee. Sori’s family can easily afford for her to have a single room, but it turns out that Sori’s been hoping for a friend.
        It appears that I have a penchant for novels with K-pop energy and K-drama vibes, and I make no apology for that! This YA bildungsroman is a contemporary forbidden romance that incorporates duty, reconciliation, humor and drama with Korean honorifics against an authentic Seoul backdrop. Oh’s conversational writing tone will find rank with readers who are fans of K-pop and K-dramas, but it’s also accessible to those who aren’t familiar with the same. The characters are likeable in this clean, breezy romance. The intergenerational dynamic between Jenny and her halmeoni (grandma) adds dimension to this feel-good story.

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.

"Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-Reum

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop (Feb. 20, 2024/US edition) by Hwang Bo-Reum.
   Shanna Tan, translator.

< This is a standalone novel.>

<I own the UK edition, published 26 Oct 2023.>

She did what was expected: went to university, married a decent man and got a respectable, permanent job. Then it all fell apart. Lee Yeongju left her career, divorced her husband and quit talking to her increasingly judgmental mother. Yeongju opens a bookshop in quaint Hyunam-dong, a [fictional] neighborhood of Seoul. She’s figuring out what it is to be an entrepreneur, a business owner. It’s not easy going; she thinks she may only be open for two years. She hires a lonely barista, Kim Minjun, who’s questioning his life path. Yeongju’s coffee beans come from Jimi, unhappily married coffee roaster and owner of Goat Beans. Jungsuh knits and crochets and orders coffee every few hours so as not to be a bother. “Mincheol’s mother,” Jeon Heejoo, is pressuring her son to be more engaged in life, but Mincheol seems dispassionate about everything. Hyun Seungwoo is a regular company employee who’s become known for his expertise in writing, and Yeongju captivates him. They all have disappointments of the past and/or present. The bookshop is a hub where they can find acceptance of themselves while basking in the restorative power of books.
        The novel surprised me by not having a significant plot. There’s also a lack of character development. This quietly philosophical novel, translated from Korean, reflects upon living a meaningful life, addresses the meaning of work and considers what is happiness and community. It highlights reading, of course, not in the bestsellers, but in finding the lesser-known stories. I do not love it, but I appreciate its reflective and sentimental charm. It is serene, as noticed with lines like, “Over small sips of coffee, they made small talk; conversations that stayed in the moment, words that need not be remembered for a long time” (p. 132). This is totally a bookshop I’d want to visit, though, apologies to Minjun, I don’t drink coffee.

"I Guess I Live Here Now" by Claire Ahn

I Guess I Live Here Now (May 24, 2022) by Claire Ahn.

<This is a standalone novel.>

After a minor transgression (in her eyes), Melody Solmi Lee is stunned to hear that she and her mom are leaving New York City to join her dad in Seoul, like, right now! She barely has time to say goodbye to Sophia Taye, her best friend, before she’s flying First Class (how?). Melody is resentful and homesick. But she soon finds herself trying to settle into her family’s luxurious apartment, while being set up on blind dates, gaining rich friends at her fancy international school, struggling through AP courses when she’s not entirely fluent in Korean herself (Honors Korean, for real?), and comparing Seoul to NYC and constantly finding it wanting. It takes a new friend calling her out on her judgmental attitude to really begin seeing that she isn’t being fair to her new home and some of the people around her. Thanks to her new friends, her eyes are opened to amazing food, trendsetting fashion and design that she loves but was unfamiliar with (hanoks). It doesn’t hurt that her dad has a black card and a personal driver, and there’s a cute boy named Wonjae in her new friend group. There are cracks, too, in the strained relationship that her dad has with his parents and in his treatment of her (to Koreans, strictness is the norm, but not so for one who grew up in America) and in the secrets her mom’s been keeping from her. Melody has a plan to return to NYC. All she needs to do is make the final round for a prestigious design internship and then have the best interview to be the overall choice. Oh, and she has to come out of all of her ultra difficult midterms with straight-As. That’s it. Ha.

            Reading this YA novel, in which a fully Americanized teenager is sent “home” to Korea, is fresh and fun. Melody (also called Solmi, which is her Korean name) is 16 years old, so there are believable teenager vibes, but readers also watch Melody’s journey of self-discovery and her up-and-down emotions, like in the doldrums of uprooting all you’ve known and the ups of young love. This story basks in the glow of Seoul’s neon lights and dazzles every bit as much as the hottest artists and actors in K-pop and K-dramas. While Melody’s umbrage is understandable, it doesn’t mean that I always liked her character, but with a steady plot, family drama, the discomfort of moving forward in a new place and the adventure of misadventures, it kept my interest overall. It’s entertaining and the Seoul backdrop is well-done. The transcultural themes are important, and I now want to go eat too much Korean food!

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 11

Why do I find picture books so fascinating? Well, they’re quick to read, have pictures and are especially easy to check out, as I regularly help cover the Children’s Library. These five are all library checkouts.

Just Because (Sept. 12, 2023) by Matthew McConaughey.

    Renée Kurilla, illustrator. 

Life’s contradictions can be confusing enough when you’re an adult, so imagine how perplexing it can be from a child’s viewpoint! “Just because I forgive you, doesn’t mean that I still trust./There’s what you do, there’s what I do,/and yours is not my must.” From moments of kindness to hurt, achievement to catastrophe, from calmness to dramatics, things crystal clear to things clear as mud, this is a story of rhyming assertions for every age. Why? Just because.

            Academy Award-winning actor McConaughey’s picture book debut is expressive, youthfully bold and charming throughout. The rhyming text is complemented by Kurilla’s uncomplicated but graceful illustrations. If there’s any question, the illustrations make the text easy to interpret. Reading all of the contradictory messages is thought-provoking. The rhythm of the rhyme didn’t always seem to sync, and the messages don’t always land right, but McConaughey’s influence and celebrity will give this book a big reach.

            Author’s dedication highlight: “To my kids, your kids, and the kid in all of us. We’re all as young as we’re ever gonna be, so let’s just keep learning.” –McConaughey

Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day (Oct. 4, 2022) by Erica Kim.

“I eat KIMCHI every day. / I like KIMCHI every way!” The young girl (perhaps an illustrated iteration of the author/illustrator) featured in this story eats kimchi every day but also enjoys eating it. Readers get a literary taste of multiple ways kimchi can be enjoyed, from straight up kimchi to kimchi pancakes, kimchi fried rice to mixing it with ramyun. Kimchi is NEVER BLAND!

            I am a sucker for rhymes, but that isn’t the only reason I love this story. What shines through is the author/illustrator’s pride in her Korean roots and Korean food culture, focusing on this traditional Korean staple. Kim’s illustrations are vibrant and dimensional but not cluttered, the page spreads following a day-of-the-week format. I like how she features kimchi in different ways, showcasing that it truly is “never bland.” The pacing of the rhyming is excellent, the text is uncomplicated, and the young girl’s culinary buddy, a gray bunny, is adorable. The back matter includes a Kimchi Glossary, Kimchi Facts and ideas for adding kimchi to American staples such as hamburgers or hot dogs. Kimchi burger, anyone? Someone pass me a plate of kimchi fried rice, please!

Star Fishing (Feb. 22, 2022) by Sang-Keun Kim.

   Ginger Ly, translator.

A white-bunny-suited, un-gendered child is having one of those nights where sleep won’t come. The sleepless night turns marvelous when the child is reeled upward by Little Rabbit on a crescent moon. They’re joined by Crab, Fox, Big Bear and Little Bear. They continue to want to play and wonder if the rest of the world is sleeping … but it turns out that the “stars aren’t sleepy, either!” Fun is had and constellations are made until Little Rabbit sends each character home, finally slumbering peacefully.

            Kim is both the author and illustrator of this story. The book states that the illustrations consist of colored pencil, pastel, pen and digital art mediums. Having read Kim’s “Little Mole’s Wish” last year, I was pleased that my local library ordered this story, in which Kim’s illustrations are like a lullaby, the text (with spare dialogue) youthful and dreamlike. I love the muted illustrations, highlighted by the bright moon and stars. The pictures are luminous and the tale includes a bit of folklore, for those who’ve heard of the Korean moon rabbit. A gently sweeping picture book fit for every family with young children.

Whatever Comes Tomorrow (Mar. 7, 2023) by Rebecca Gardyn Levington.

   Mariona Cabassa, illustrator.

“Tomorrow may bring laughter, love, confusion, fear or fun / an angry, rainy hurricane or peaceful seaside sun.” Readers don’t always know what tomorrow will bring or what the future will hold, but this story in rhyming text acknowledges and reassures. It recognizes that it’s natural to have concerns and anxiety and uses positive prose to assure readers that they’ll make it through, because “…you’ve confronted fear before and reached the other side.”

            This picture book is amazing. It reminds kids that anxiety isn’t bad, even when it feels like it is, and empowers kids to manage it through a playful yet poignant story that features vibrant yet uncomplicated illustrations. The wisdom is gentle yet captivating. It’s a delight to read, and while I checked it out from the library, I wish I owned it. I’m no mental health expert (though I did study psychology as an undergrad), but this reads like a book that should be in all school counselor and therapist offices. It’s a beautiful story that tenderly showcases the importance of focusing on mental health (not only for kids, but adults, too). The back matter may be helpful for those wanting activity ideas to help manage worries by a licensed Child Development Specialist.

Yetis Are the Worst! (Nov. 22, 2022) by Alex Willan.

<This is part of a series.>

What is Gilbert the Goblin up to now? He’s going up and up the mountain (“still more mountain”), determined to find the legendary yeti. He is envious that others may view yetis as cooler and more mysterious than goblins like himself. His ascending journey takes him past snow formations he mistakes for yetis and even a snowboarding unicorn in a puffy coat. But strangely, Gilbert doesn’t see any yetis (readers, on the other hand ...). That will take an avalanche-fueled descent down the mountain!

            My first story in Willan’s The Worst! Series is an absolute delight. From the soft, snowy palette of Gilbert’s winter wonderland to the humorous prose and the engaging illustrations (also by Willan), it’s no wonder that these stories are entertaining for kids and adults alike. I like that the author/illustrator presents yetis as big, but not so imposing and intimidating as lore tends to represent them. Far from being THE WORST, these cryptids are friendly, fascinating and very un-mysterious. A giggle-worthy picture book that I’d be happy to own.

"The Name Drop" by Susan Lee

The Name Drop (Sept. 12, 2023) by Susan Lee.

<This is a standalone novel.>

I’m Lee Yoo-Jin. I’m Lee Yoo-Jin. Is there an echo in here? No. Jessica Lee and Elijah Ri (he’s going by Ri to be more difficult) are two teenagers who happen to have the same Korean name. They’re both set to work at tech giant Haneul Corporation’s NYC office, Elijah as the Executive Training Program intern in the fancy clothes residing in a spacious brownstone in the Upper East Side and Jessica as a summer intern at the bottom of the corporate cesspool ladder in her cheap clothes residing in a shoebox apartment with nine other interns in the Lower East Side. What happens is that Jessica finds herself in the gorgeous brownstone with an all-new upscale wardrobe and an office on the executive level, while Elijah is the one in a shoebox wearing a t-shirt lent to him by his bunkmate, Jason, working at the bottom of the totem pole for $15/hour.

            The two catch on quickly that there’s been a mix-up, but they decide to leave things as is. Operation Name Drop is a go. Elijah likes the anonymity and the chance to discover what he wants, and Jessica thrives in her role, leading the other interns in their summer project, a hackathon. The risk of discovery is omnipresent. If not amongst their fellow interns, then by their fathers. There’s Lee Jung-Woo, who’s always concerned about money and wants Jessica to keep a low profile in her internship, not wanting anyone to know they’re related. Then there’s Lee Jung-Hyun. He’s the controlling chairman and CEO of Haneul that’s outdated in terms of misogynistic attitudes and behaviors, which Hee-Jin, Elijah’s brilliant 24-year-old sister, deals with daily despite being Chief Operations Officer and second-in-command. If this charade blows up in their faces, they don’t only risk humiliation; it would be disastrous to both their futures, but especially Jessica’s, because she doesn’t come from a chaebol family. Will the spark between them ignite a flame of success or disaster?

            While this YA novel is grounded in serious themes of discovering your own life so you can live it, social class and combating misogyny in the workplace, it also has in its foundation an energizing framework of humor, big-heartedness and budding romance with a healthy K-drama vibe. When a male exec says to Jessica, “Please use feminine cursive handwriting to make it lovely and pleasing for us to read later,” I wanted to spit. And when I read the line where Elijah thinks of himself as “emotionally constipated,” I laughed out loud. Lee’s writing is current and whip-smart, though I will forever say that expletives do not move a story forward. However, don’t let language deter you from this story (thanks to The Good Place, I use “fork” and “shirt” as replacers) that is swoony, comedic and well-turned-out.

            Favorite line: “If anyone looks at you weird, look at them back even weirder.” --Elijah to the intern cohort (p. 110)

            Also by Susan Lee: Seoulmates

"Seoulmates" by Susan Lee

Seoulmates (Sept. 20, 2022) by Susan Lee.

*This is a standalone novel.*

What’s a girl to do when life imitates a K-drama? Hannah Cho’s plans involved hanging out with her boyfriend and enjoying her senior year with their friend group, but Nate Anderson dumped her at the top of summer. He’s into all the Korean things she has shunned (K-dramas, K-pop, K-everything) to try to fit into her American identity. She plots to win him back, but her former best friend, Jacob Kim, is back in town (town being San Diego). When Jacob left, she cut him out of her life due to her hurt and always feeling like everyone in her life leaves her (Jacob, her sister Helen, their dad in Singapore). But Jacob returns as Kim Jin-Suk, his Korean name and the name all of his fans know him by. Yes. In the interim years since leaving San Diego, Jacob has come to know K-dramas so well that he’s starring in one with the beautiful but awful Shin Min-Kyung (a.k.a. Minky). When time away from set is encouraged, Jacob’s mom takes the two of them, plus his 12-year-old sister Jin-Hee, to stay with the Cho family, the moms being best friends. Jacob has a list of things he wants to do in San Diego that he’d never be allowed and/or have time to do in Korea (like taste-test his way to find the best burrito or go to LEGOLAND), but since he can’t drive, he needs Hannah. He’d like to reconnect with her and figure out what went wrong with their friendship, painful as it will be, and then, perhaps, they can navigate their teenager feelings for each other. Is it love? Is Jacob the rebound guy and Hannah the summer fling before Jacob has to return to Korea? Are they Seoulmates?

            I’m going to get this out there right away, but why is this not the first Asian American-centric YA story I’ve read in recent months where the lead female character has perceived abandonment issues? Is this a new, recurrent them? Or has it always existed, and I simply haven’t read those stories until now?

            For anyone looking for a K-drama in literary form, Lee’s YA debut is perfect for K-drama fans. A swoon-worthy romance? Check. A super good-looking K-drama star? Check. Drama? Check. Korean food? Check. This novel is told in alternating perspectives and is one that celebrates friendship and Korean culture through expressive, fast-paced, thoughtful writing. It meaningfully examines the harder aspects around Korean American identity, but in an honest, believable-teenager way. The way everything K has become so popular surprises me, pleasantly so, like being a book dragon (previously, book nerd) is cool these days, at least compared to when I was one of the rare avid readers in my class growing up. Amongst themes of friendship and the predictable budding romance, the novel explores finding one’s inner strength and the role family dynamics can play, especially when love may not be expressed when someone is looking for that support and validation and picturing oneself as unlovable. This story is daebak, and it won’t be for everyone (I struggled at times, because, well, teenagers) but I expect it will attract a wide range of readers who are already K-drama and K-pop fans.

            P.S. I’m not a big watcher of K-dramas, but I did watch “Crash Landing on You” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” last year and was immersed in both of them.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 22

This was meant to be a compilation post, but I never got around to reading enough chapter books to compile a second compilation post. The year has almost gotten away from me, so I’m posting this solo chapter book.

Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding (Apr. 5, 2022) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

*This is the seventh book in a series.*

Talk about the event of the year! Mindy Kim (Korean name: Min-jung) is about to attend her first wedding, and not only is she in it as the flower girl, it’s her dad and Julie that are getting married. Her dad’s relatives have flown into Florida from South Korea, including her school-age cousins, Sung-jin and Sora, while Julie’s family has flown in from New York and China. Mindy wants the day to be perfect, but a perfect day might not be in the picture. There’s rain in the forecast, and the wedding is planned to be outdoors with the ocean as the backdrop. Meanwhile, Theodore the Mutt, whom Mindy is determined will be the ring-bearer, completely misbehaves at the rehearsal. This fairy tale looks like it might be a fairy-FAIL.

            As long as this series continues, I will be one of its readers, because I love that this series features a Korean American character. I don’t care that this is a chapter book; what I care about is that there is representation of a young girl who looks like me, and I know I would’ve loved seeing a series like this when I was young. This is another sweet and fast-reading addition to the Mindy Kim series. It resonates with youthful vibrancy and blends cultures, as Mindy and her dad’s Korean American side joins Julie's Chinese American side. The wedding includes a Chinese tea ceremony, a western ceremony (in which Julie wears a white gown), and a Korean ceremony or paebaek (where they don their hanboks).

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

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

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 17

This compilation of K-authors exists because the books were one order. I didn’t go into it planning on only ordering books by authors of Korean descent, but sometimes life is coincidental that way. Only the middle-grade author is familiar to me. One of the books was actually free, which is the sole reason I ordered three books instead of two.

The Last Fallen Moon (June 14, 2022) by Graci Kim.

*This is the second book in a trilogy.*

*Spoilers from the dust jacket included.*

Hero. Riley Oh doesn’t care for that word. She’s saved the Mortalrealm, but now the Gom clan (Healers) are powerless, many of them hate her to the point of cursing her, and her closest family and friends have no past memories of her after her deal with a dokkaebi (demon). Fortunately, her sister, Hattie, remembers her, but she falls into comas, and each of those sleeps are becoming concernedly longer than the last. When Riley reads of Saint Heo Jun, she is encouraged, thinking he’ll become the Gom’s new patron god (he has honorary god status), and all will be well. She must journey to the Spiritrealm (where Cheondang is heaven and Jiok is hell; there are seven hell prisons), which is having restructuring issues of its own, and Riley’s course is made more challenging since she’s undocumented. She meets Danny Zuko-loving Dahl (“with hair the color of pearls”), who’s got a big secret of his own, but he’s such a confident, helpful, unofficial tour guide that she accepts his help. Dahl grew up in the Spiritrealm at the Home for Heavenborns (like an orphanage), so he dreams of seeing the Mortalrealm and experiencing everything from the food to the toilets. Dahl is like the eum to Riley’s yang, but she struggles to let friendship in. Riley is carrying around much guilt after what happened a couple months back. She is adamant that she needs to fix everything on her own, but she’ll find that there is strength in accepting help from others.

            Like being 13 years old isn’t hard enough, Riley delves deeper into Korean mythology in this second of the Gifted Clans novels. Kim creates wonderful word pictures, making the story very current from the king/mayor of the underworld (or Spiritrealm) looking like actor Lee Minho to naming seven of the imugis after the members of BTS (“Watch out for Jungkook, though, won’t you? He may be the youngest, but he’s got the biggest bite.”). Her world-building is detailed and rich, filled with magic, creatures of myth and [sometimes corrupt] divine beings all being tackled by a Korean-American girl just trying to figure things out. There is a nice balance of frustration and fun, seriousness and sass, trying hard and tangled feelings. This Korean mythology fantasy story is a nonstop rollercoaster of adventure with multiple Korean terms and cultural references. It’s enthralling and is the type of magical world within a contemporary society that I’d want to be included in!

            P.S. I want access to an edible food forest!

            P.P.S. Imugis are creatures that are part snake, part yong (dragon). They have “creepy, scaly skin,” “teeth like sharks” and “forked tails as sharp as blades coated with acid. Makes skin melt like butter.” Now imagine if you had one as a pet!

            Book One: The Last Fallen Star

The Noh Family (May 3, 2022) by Grace K. Shim.

*Standalone or first in a series??*

When 18-year-old Korean-American Chloe Chang’s best friends, Hazel and Seb (Sebastian), gift her a 23andMe test as a gag, Chloe has no expectations, though she desperately wants to know more about the father she never knew. It’s always been Chloe and her overworked mom, who often takes extra nursing shifts at the hospital to make ends meet, and even then, finances are tight. Chloe loves fashion, but fashion is something her mom sees as a hobby. Chloe gives new life to used clothing, selling the items on Etsy. In an unexpected turn of events, Chloe has a message through the 23andMe app, alerting her of a possible first cousin, someone named “Noh, Jin Young.” He states he and his family are excited to meet her, so suddenly, within a week after her high school graduation and against her mom’s wishes, she’s trading in “same old” Tulsa, Oklahoma, for bustling Seoul, Korea. And not only that, but the Seoul associated with the ultra rich. From flying first class to staying in a spacious guesthouse, to expensive dinners and even more expensive clothing, from healthy-food-conscious Mrs. Na (personal cook) to always-carries-an-umbrella Mr. Kim (private secretary). It turns out that Chloe’s dad’s family is chaebol, and they own Sam Won Department Store, which houses the top tier of high-end brands. Her halmoni (grandmother) is the intimidating matriarch (Chairwoman) who runs (rules) Sam Won with an iron fist. Her father’s family also includes two glamorous cousins, Jin Young and Soo Young, their mom, two uncles - one deceased and one who’s very ill and in need of a liver transplant - and Lady Cha, Chairwoman’s fortune teller (and she pays a fortune for her services). Chloe has finally found what she’s been wanting, possibly even more than her acceptance into FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology): a bigger family. But Chloe should be asking herself why the Nohs want her in Seoul in the first place. And in her haste to be accepted as a Noh, will she obliterate her relationship with her own mother?

            For viewers who love K-dramas, “The Noh Family” is a K-drama in literary form for those viewers who are also readers. There’s the expected drama and elitism, complete with willful jabs and downright rudeness. The novel explores classism, taking advantage of someone (albeit a naïve someone), finding acceptance with the family one has and what is, to the main character, primarily an unfamiliar culture, down to the knowledge that Korea remains a vastly patriarchal society (oh boy, that Bum Soo disgusts me). The novel does contain solid friendships, a kindred spirit (Miso) and a lot of heart. There’s glitz and glam, and the mentions of Korean food and their descriptions are absolutely *chef’s kiss*. It’s compelling and dazzling, worthy of a K-drama comparison, but I didn’t care for Chloe. I admit that I can’t empathize. I don’t know anyone from my birth family, but I have always been a part of a two-parent family with siblings I get along with, grandparents I am/was close to and aunts, uncles and cousins that I saw regularly growing up. I know I’m well-loved, and despite being the only non-Caucasian, I’ve not gone through an identity crisis. It also drives me batty how she doesn’t question the Nohs’ motive for wanting her in Korea so quickly. Hello?! No matter that there’s shared DNA, they are still complete strangers! But perhaps I’m too cynical.

Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022) by Kat Cho.

*This is a standalone novel.*

When they were 10, Elena Soo and Robbie Choi promised to go to prom together. They’re 17 now, and it’s been seven years since Elena has seen Robbie. Elena isn’t anti-prom; she’s “alterna-prom,” wanting students to donate to the West Pinebrook Community Center instead of spending exorbitant sums for prom tickets, dresses, etc., but the fact remains that she has no intention of attending prom. One day, Robbie shows up on her doorstep asking her to prom, which she declines. When Robbie shows up at her school the next day and drops an extravagant “promposal” on her, she’s mortified and flees. You see, in the years since Robbie’s family moved from Chicago to Korea, he’s become one-fifth of WDB, the biggest K-pop group on the planet. And Elena is just Elena. She’s the teenager always feeling like the invisible girl that people are always leaving behind. She’s always in someone else’s shadow, too. She never feels like she’s Elena Soo, but always “Ethan’s twin” or “Sarah’s/Esther’s/Allie’s sister.” With her own parents, her mother especially, she’s the castoff kid, the one relegated to the rickety stool at family gatherings. Robbie truly wants to reconnect with his childhood best friend, the person he could trust with all of his secrets, and his first crush, but the two don’t really know how to talk to each other anymore. Can the reserved, spotlight-avoiding Elena find a way to reconnect with pink-tinge haired, stylishly dressed, K-pop megastar Robbie despite the constant presence/threat of WDB managers, passionate fans (Constellations), online haters and relentless paparazzi?

            To lead, one does not need to have prior K-pop knowledge to read this story, but one should arrive ready to journey into a story with a varied cast of diverse characters, a blend of flirty banter and serious conversations balanced with a semi-frothy storyline that contains a crushing secret if it gets out, likeable lead characters, a K-pop group that’s easy to adore (like BTS, yep, I said that) and a backstage pass to the thrilling-but-tightly-regulated world of K-pop. The teenage world of finding your own voice and mean girls lends the story credible realism, though the K-pop connection can seem indulgent, but in a plausible and pleasing way. What bothers me the most is Elena’s frequent comparison of herself to others and always feeling like the forgotten, left out individual. In a real-life situation, I’d be questioning Elena’s relationships with family and friends to know why she has such strong emotions related to that mindset. Unfortunately, in the story, she can come across as a selfish brat (especially when Tia shares news that is awesome for Tia and her son). However, don’t let that put you at odds with this story. It remains a swoony, charming, clean romance that may make you want to go to prom again!

            P.S. I would like to see someone create a LEGO boutonniere worthy of a K-pop-centric prom. *finger hearts*