Korean-American+Literature

**Kindergarten - Third Grade**
A baby sister must wait to grow up before doing big sister things, such as ballet dancing and eating spicy Korean food. [NoveList Best: 3 stars Popularity; Younger Kids; Fiction] J. Griffo
 * Babies Can't Eat Kimchee!** by Nancy Patz. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2007.

Disliking her name as written in English, Korean-born Yoon, or "shining wisdoom," refers to herself as "cat," "bird," and "cupcake," as a way to feel more comfortable in her new school and new country. [NoveList Best: 4 Star Popularity; Older Kids; Fiction] J.Griffo
 * My Name is Yoon** by Helen Recorvits. Frances Foster Books, 2003.

**Fourth - Sixth Grade**
Julie Song and Patrick have been best friends and project partners forever but when they are assigned a science project, they can't seem to agree on what to study. Julie's mother suggests that they raise silk worms, but Julie's apprehensive about it being too Korean. Patrick is all for the idea. The two friends squabble. Julie even squabbles with the author. Everyone must find a way to work things out. (Fiction) B. Kahn
 * Project Mulberry** by LInda Sue Park. Random House Children's Books, 2005.

**Seventh & Eighth Grades**
Tree-ear is an orphan boy in Middle Ages Korea. After breaking a master potter's pot, he must work to pay for the pot and becomes an apprentice. His life is changed forever. C. Novak**
 * A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

**Ninth - Twelfth Grades**
Patty Yoon is working very hard to be a PKD, Perfect Korean Daughter, but her score of 2300 on her SATs is just not good enough and losing first chair in the regional orchestra isn't either. Often laugh-out-loud funny, this debut novel explores the dynamics and pressures teens face when building a college resumé. (Fiction) BKahn
 * Good Enough** by Paula Yoo. HarperCollins, 2008.

Mina's immigrant mother has Mina's life planned for her. She will graduate at the top of her class and leaves California for Harvard. Even though her help will be missed in the family's dry cleaning store, Mina's life will be better than her parents, who sacrificed for their daughter. Unfortunately, Mina is no where near the top of her class. She has been doctoring her report cards with the help of Jonathan Kim, who really is brilliant and also romantically interested in Mina. She knows this web of lies can't be sustained much longer and she has a plan. She's going to run away and has been systematically stealing money from the cash register to fund this plan. She feels slightly guilty about doing this, more guilty about leaving her little sister, who is hearing-impaired and ill-treated by their mother. She also didn't count on falling for Ysrael, the Mexican employee her parents hired, but don't quite trust. When he is blamed and fired for the theft of the money Mina has stolen, Mina must face up to the truths in her life and make some difficult decisions. (Fiction) BKahn
 * Wait for Me** by An Na. Penguin Group, 2006.

Joyce Park is one of just a few Asian students at her high school. She's also overshadowed by her overachieving and beautiful sister, Helen. She's also crushing on hunky John Ford Kang, who doesn't know she exists. When her wealthy aunt, who is also a plastic-surgery addict, bestows on Joyce the gift of surgery to create a fold in her eyelids, thereby giving her a more Western look, Joyce is tempted but she's terrified of pain. Lighter in tone than **Wait for Me**, Na explores standards of beauty and self-acceptance in this thought-provoking story. (Fiction) BKahn
 * The Fold** by An Na. Penguin Group, 2008.

After enduring years of humiliation due to his tendency say and do the wrong thing at the wrong time, Albert Kim has developed an "intentional loser" persona and discovers that he is largely ignored by the high school hierarchy. This is fine with him. It all changes when he opts to get a job during the summer between his junior and senior years. He's on the cleaning crew at a local inn and is a bit chagrined to learn that his work partner is the beautiful, unattainable Mia Stone. The humor in this is often painful and the reader might well feel guilty over laughing at Albert. If one likes Curb Your Enthusiasm or Seinfeld reruns, this thoughtfully entertaining book will entertain. (Fiction) BKahn
 * Stop Me if You've Heard This One Before** by David Yoo. Hyperion Books for Children, 2008

Adoptod and raised by Scandinavian -American parents in Minnesota, a Korean teenager returns to her native country to find her mother. [NoveList Best: 4 Star; Popularity Adults; Fiction] J.Griffo.
 * Somebody's Daughter** by Marie Myung-Ok Lee. Beacon Press, 2005.

The adoptive mother of three Korean children digs deep into their past and shares the story of their South Korean birth mother, Mi Sook, an independent spirit who grew up amidst poverty and war without family relationships. [NoveList Best: 4 Star Popularity; Adults; Fiction] J.Grififo.
 * The Lucky Gourd Shop** by Joanna C. Scott. MacMurray & Beck, 2000.

Working as an interpreter for the New York City court system, Korean-American Suzy Park makes a startling discovery that casts doubt on the facts surrounding her greengrocer parents' murders five years earlier. [NoveList: 4 StarPopularity; Adults; Fiction] J.Griffo.
 * The Interpreter** by Suki Kim. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2003.

Jin-Han describes his life growing up with his mother and father, immigrants from Korea, and his little sister as they move to different cities with his parents' business. [NoveList: 3 Star Popularity; Teens; Fiction] J.Griffo.
 * Finding My Hat** by John Son. Orchard Books, 2003.

Sisteen-year-old Korean American Chan moves from Los Angeles with his twin sister Young to a small town in Minnesota where he must cope not only with racism on the football team, but also with the tensions in his relationship with his strict father. [NoveList Best: 4 Star Popularity; Teens; Fiction] J.Griffo.
 * Necessary Roughness** by Mr=arie G. Lee. Harper/Collins, 1996.