allieboballie_8's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
myrdyr's review
4.0
3.75/5 stars. I enjoyed reading this coming of age story. I find reading about other cultures, immigrant experiences, and interpersonal relationships fascinating. As a third generation Anglo Canadian of English and Central/Eastern European descent, I have no first hand knowledge of many of the customs and cultural practices of Asian countries but find them incredibly interesting and love reading books which cast some light on them. The only flaw with the book was that I didn't feel very engaged, and I attribute this to the writing style; it was very clinical and detached, and I didn't really care abut or feel connected to any of the characters.
eliasriverb's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
brookepower's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It is rare that I find a book that makes me feel a true genuine emotion. And this book does that. And the emotion is anger. I despised every man in this book who Mary was not related too. But the fact that Ann Y. I. Choi was able to do that through her writing, make characters on the page make me feel such true hatred just shows how amazing this book was. A beautiful, at times heart wrenching story that provides an important perspective. And might I just say while the book itself wasn’t slow, the last quarter was so action packed I couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
mactammonty's review
5.0
This book filled a reading challenge prompt about being linked to my favourite tv show. My daughter and I really like watching "Kim's Convenience Store" on CBC. It it's about a Korean family in Toronto who own a convenience store and live above it.
I ask really glad that it lead me to this book. It is absorbing. Mary's coming off age story is full of adventure, secrets and of course love. There were many times that I felt like yelling at her to not do that. And others I cheered her on.
I was disappointed that Ann Y.K. Choi has only written a couple of short stories so far. She is on my list to read her next novel.
I ask really glad that it lead me to this book. It is absorbing. Mary's coming off age story is full of adventure, secrets and of course love. There were many times that I felt like yelling at her to not do that. And others I cheered her on.
I was disappointed that Ann Y.K. Choi has only written a couple of short stories so far. She is on my list to read her next novel.
asolodkin's review
4.0
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
This was a well written account of the struggles of an immigrant youth. Family demands and expectations from home are addressed well. The characters are well written except maybe Joon Ho. He felt sketched in and like he was being slotted in to make plot points work. Everyone else was great and it was an interesting read. Some difficult topics addressed so mid to late teen is probably the target audience.
This was a well written account of the struggles of an immigrant youth. Family demands and expectations from home are addressed well. The characters are well written except maybe Joon Ho. He felt sketched in and like he was being slotted in to make plot points work. Everyone else was great and it was an interesting read. Some difficult topics addressed so mid to late teen is probably the target audience.
nataliereadz's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5*
An unputdownable story of the challenges, pressures and tragedies faced by a Korean-Canadian family as they try to navigate keeping up appearances, while adapting to new ones in 1970's Toronto. Having personally grown up with a couple of close Korean friends whose families also immigrated to Toronto, I wasn't blind to the seemingly endless pressures the characters faced in the story, as they often mirrored those of my high school friends on many levels. However, having been a teen at the time I didn't register the enormity of the trauma as I do now as an adult with a widened view of the world.
This was heartfelt, raw, honest and full of so much nostalgia (as a born and bread Torontonian), I lived for all of the references of cherished places I've spent time in over the years.
I dare you to try not to bond with the protagonist. She has a piece of my heart.
A Beautiful debut!
An unputdownable story of the challenges, pressures and tragedies faced by a Korean-Canadian family as they try to navigate keeping up appearances, while adapting to new ones in 1970's Toronto. Having personally grown up with a couple of close Korean friends whose families also immigrated to Toronto, I wasn't blind to the seemingly endless pressures the characters faced in the story, as they often mirrored those of my high school friends on many levels. However, having been a teen at the time I didn't register the enormity of the trauma as I do now as an adult with a widened view of the world.
This was heartfelt, raw, honest and full of so much nostalgia (as a born and bread Torontonian), I lived for all of the references of cherished places I've spent time in over the years.
I dare you to try not to bond with the protagonist. She has a piece of my heart.
A Beautiful debut!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
racheeo's review
4.0
This moving young adult novel is about a Canadian-Korean family trying their best to make ends meet while adjusting their new life in Toronto as minority citizens. The book follows the eldest daughter of a family who run a variety/ convenience store in Toronto who desperately longs for the opportunity to live a life of her choosing instead of the one laid before her by her seemingly overbearing mother. As Mary grows older through experiences of heartbreak, disappointment, laughter, and accomplishment, she retrospectively sees that her perspective on her life may have not been as accurate as she once believed it to be, and that the people closest to you should never be taken for granted.
Choi beautifully illustrates how, even in a world of hardship, oppression, and endless cultural differences, familial bonds and sacrifices can show just how strong and meaningful an unspoken and unconventional love can truly be.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this advance copy! It was thoroughly enjoyed!
Choi beautifully illustrates how, even in a world of hardship, oppression, and endless cultural differences, familial bonds and sacrifices can show just how strong and meaningful an unspoken and unconventional love can truly be.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this advance copy! It was thoroughly enjoyed!
shano25's review
4.0
A story told by a Korean-Canadian teenager who is growing up in Toronto, working in her parents convenience store, and trying to find her way in a world where people like her are, in the words of her mother, often invisible. This book expertly shows what life is like for the children who straddle two cultures, the one they left behind and the one they currently live in.
There was one moment early on in this book that was so poignant for me (as a Canadian-born person.) The scene is when the main character Mary has travelled back to South Korea with her family and someone says to her (quote not exact here) "I guess you'll be happy to go back home." Mary then remarks on how when she was in Canada preparing to travel to Korea someone says "I bet you're happy to go back home." When you're an immigrant, the people you are with always think of your home as being the other place. So how do you determine which is your home? This is inspired a long conversation between myself and my husband (who is an immigrant to Canada) about the meaning of home and how it feels to always be viewed as being from somewhere else, no matter where you are.
The book is also strong in the way it looks as what it means for the children of immigrants to live under the expectations of their parents and the struggle to stay true to your culture while wanting to be like the rest of your peers. This is a book that not only will be relatable for readers who are immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants, but will be an education for those who were born in their country. Canada is a beautiful country that gains strength through the many the immigrants who have sought to build their lives here and this book showcases that strength.
There was one moment early on in this book that was so poignant for me (as a Canadian-born person.) The scene is when the main character Mary has travelled back to South Korea with her family and someone says to her (quote not exact here) "I guess you'll be happy to go back home." Mary then remarks on how when she was in Canada preparing to travel to Korea someone says "I bet you're happy to go back home." When you're an immigrant, the people you are with always think of your home as being the other place. So how do you determine which is your home? This is inspired a long conversation between myself and my husband (who is an immigrant to Canada) about the meaning of home and how it feels to always be viewed as being from somewhere else, no matter where you are.
The book is also strong in the way it looks as what it means for the children of immigrants to live under the expectations of their parents and the struggle to stay true to your culture while wanting to be like the rest of your peers. This is a book that not only will be relatable for readers who are immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants, but will be an education for those who were born in their country. Canada is a beautiful country that gains strength through the many the immigrants who have sought to build their lives here and this book showcases that strength.