I enjoyed this book so much! The vibes it gave off were Halloweentown (coming-of-age magic) meets Camp Rock (the summer camp aspect), but without the singing and dancing.

This book explores the life of Veronica "Ronnie" Miller dealing with the complexities of still coping with the loss of her mother, barely becoming a teen, the feeling of not being "Korean" enough, and juggling new social experiences out of her comfort zone.

After being begrudgingly convinced by her father to attend Camp Foster summer camp, Ronnie realizes there's a lot more to the place than it initially seems. From being told the summer camp is "haunted" by the Rhee family line to certain Korean supernatural beings possibly existing in the same area (gwishin and dokkaebi), she ends up discovering a lot about herself, the camp, and others along the way. Ronnie's initial views are also challenged a few times throughout the book with old and new friendships allowing her to grow as a person socially and broaden her experiences.

There were so many things I truly liked about this book: the diversity of characters, the somewhat mystery aspect, and the relatable experiences of some of the characters. Sure, there's bound to be diversity in a summer camp full of counselors/staff, attendees, and characters in general, but it was nice to see some bits of representation here and there. Also, the ongoing mystery about what had supposedly happened at the Rhees' Family manor (and their lineage) before it became Camp Foster really gave it a spooky atmosphere along with the Korean supernatural (gwishin and dokkaebi). Even though Ronnie is the main character, her experiences are very relatable to me. Just like Ronnie, we may be used to our "comfort zone," but in times of need, we are challenged to step outside it and learn to gauge ourselves where we stand from the new experiences.

Overall, this book was a heartfelt, relatable kind of read especially for middle grade. I'm not sure if it would become series, but it would be great to explore more of Ronnie's life and adventures while she gradually gets more in touch with her Korean culture. Definitely would recommend this for middle grade if they wanted a book dealing with all these things.

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Last Rhee Witch" by Jenna Lee-Yun in exchange for an honest review.

Ronnie Miller has been struggling lately. Although of Korean heritage, she doesn't feel fully, truly Korean, and she deeply feels the passing of her mother, even though it's already been five years. Her overprotective father and her own overly cautious nature keep her world tightly contained. Her friendship with bestie Jack has been shaken up and to make matters worse, since she turned 12, she can't stop rhyming everything she says.

Even though she's nervous and resistant to change, she sees going away to summer camp as a chance to reestablish her friendship with Jack, and maybe get over the rhyming thing. But camp hasn't turned out the way she expected: Jack immediately bonds with another boy who seems to loathe Ronnie and the camp is haunted by a terrifying Korean ghost, rumored to be the last member of the family who once owned the camp groups. Ronnie seems unable to decide which is worse.

Except, it does get worse. Much worse. The ghost seems fixated on her and very soon, she's fending off attacks from an unknown foe. She's so rigid and distrustful that she's pushing away friends and potential friends, all the while finding clues that suggest she is more deeply connected to the ghost and the camp than she ever expected.

The Last Rhee Witch looks unflinchingly at Big Issues. Ronnie is dealing with a loss that continues to profoundly affect her and leads her to make some really bad choices. She's also wrestling with feelings of jealousy as she watches her best friend drift away. Readers will feel every bit of her struggle as she tries to make sense of everything. All this heavy emotion is well-balanced with action and excitement, so it never feels too bogged down. Ronnie's emotional journey is genuine; she's a kid dealing with some heavy stuff and while it can be frustrating to observe, it's rewarding when she finally comes to a place of peace. The story's skillful use of Korean folklore adds another layer of details and interest.

All in all, it's a terrific book. At different times, it's creepy, emotional, and exciting. Recommended for curious readers, but ones who can handle a plot firmly centered around the loss of a parent.

The Last Rhee Witch is a gorgeously written middle grade story steeped in mystery, Korean folklore, friendship, and familial relationships. I had a lot of fun reading this and I highly recommend it if you enjoy spooky stories.

This was a cute read.
You are the love of my life and death.
I think the magic was a bit complicated to understand and felt there was info dumping several points throughout the book.
Boo as a cat? Adorable!
I can’t tell if this was aimed at a younger audience, because the writing felt like it was , but if it wasn’t then the writing was a bit cheesy.

Middle Grade summer reading lists are in for a treat with THE LAST RHEE WITCH…

Ronnie is headed to sleepover camp with her best friend Jack… her mom passed away when she was younger and for as long as she can remember it’s just been her Dad and her… plus Jack! When they show up you have a perfect backdrop for something more sinister… an old manor in the woods… witches, gwishin (Korean ghosts) and Dokkaebi (Korean goblins) plus rope challenges, kayaking and new friendships!

I absolutely loved this story Jenna has shared… Korean Mythology + a mystery to be solved. This is an action packed adventure perfect for summer reading!!! The icing on the cake… it takes place in Washington! Loved these characters and I’m hoping we may get to revisit them. Whether it’s in the concrete jungle of Seattle or back at Camp Foster for Winter Camp!

Thank you to one of my fav bookseller…Ann…at my Independent Bookstore Beach Books for putting this on my radar

https://beachbooks37.com

Thank you Disney-Hyperion 📖
Releases 5/14

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Ronnie Miller, 12, lives with her father in Seattle. Since she turned 12, she has found it hard not to speak in rhyme and is questioning her Korean heritage as she struggles to learn the language and learn the culture. Her widowed father sends her to a summer camp with her bast friend, Jack Park, where things become even stranger for Ronnie. The forest is forbidden, probably because there is a gwishin (Korean ghost) Ronnie saw in the tree line, a black cat brings her curious items and tries to lure her into the forest, and is not long before Ronnie learns she is witch and being hunted by a dokkaebi (Korean goblin). This book is a supernatural mystery steeped in Korean mythology that unfolds as the thrills and chills keep coming. The cast surrounding Ronnie is diverse, such as her new camp friend Olivia - a black ballerina - that lead Ronnie to learn more about embracing who she is, who her friends are, and who her found family is. A page-turner with wonderful character arcs, lots of mysteries with red herrings, and a conclusion that satisfies.

This is a lovely middle grade book that is spooky in all the right ways. Ronnie is a lovely character who finds herself rhyming with no reason. So, when she is sent to camp, she thinks it is because her father is tired of her tick and wants her gone for the summer. Upon arriving at camp she finds herself wrapped up in the mysterious ghost who haunts the woods. This book does a lovely job talking about a culture many kids may not have been exposed to, while exposing a young lady’s grief and discovery of who she is and her culture. I think that readers will enjoy being exposed to a part of the paranormal they may not have known before reading this book.
Thank you to Disney Publishing World Wide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A new middle grade that is coming out at such a perfect time because what a great summer read! It’s a story set in Washington state that blends magic and Korean folklore. Our main character can’t stop rhyming when she speaks so she is sent to this camp for the summer but finds out quickly she is being chased by a witch. It was a little bit on the spooky side but has that fun summer camp setting kind of like percy jackson, add in some Korean myths and friendship, and you got a wonderful read!

I thoroughly enjoyed following Ronnie on her journey through summer camp and the mysteries that came with it. The plot and characters kept me involved until the very end. The camp, with the old manor and forbidden woods, is the perfect setting for a ghost mystery. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Veronica Miller doesn’t feel Korean and longs to embrace her heritage. Her mom died when she was a toddler, and her overprotective gastroenterologist father talk about it. Veronica’s friend, Jack, is obsessed with Korean folklore. After she turns 12, Veronica can’t stop speaking in rhymes. As a result, she accidentally drives off her father’s girlfriend. Deciding she needs a change; her father sends her to Camp Foster. Feeling abandoned by her father, Veronica worries that she’ll lose her friend Jack to his new friends. When she gets to camp, a gwishin, a Korean ghost, appears in the forest, beckoning her over. She soon learns that the ghost is the last Rhee witch and Veronica is also one. In return for Veronica’s help she helps train her to use her powers and to control her rhyming. As she investigates the mysteries of the camp and learns to use her powers, a dokkaebi witch hunter returns to silence her. With the witches, the gwishin and Jack’s help, can Veronica understand her heritage and come into her powers?

The plot is well written, engaging, and draws the reader into the story. The world building is fun and relatable. The characters are likable, well developed, and authentic. Readers who like magical realism, mystery, and friendship fiction will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. Gr 4 to 7, 5 stars

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

This charming story set in Washington State is a blend of magic, fantasy, Korean folk lore and heartwarming friendship. Easily set up as a summer read or AAPI pick. My middle grade readers are going to love this heartfelt story.

For some reason, twelve-year-old Ronnie Miller cannot stop rhyming when she speaks, and it gets worse when she is feeling stressed. Because the rhyming is taking a toll on both Ronnie and her dad, they decide to send her to Camp Foster for two weeks to help shake the rhyming problem. While Ronnie is at camp, however, her rhyming is not the only complication she faces; both a witch and a dokkaebi seem to be after her, and she does not know whom to trust. Each day brings a new discovery, and as Ronnie realizes more about herself, she finds that perhaps what she once saw as a problem may not be so bad, after all.

This novel fits squarely into the middle grade genre as far as characters, setting, and storytelling techniques. Tween readers—especially those who feel they have shortcomings—will empathize with Ronnie as she works to fit in with both old and new friends. Blended into a familiar United States-based sleep-away camp setting are several instances of Korean folklore and language, which add a unique angle to the plot. Though there are occasions where readers will have a good idea where the story will lead, there are a sufficient number of surprises within the narrative, as well.

Middle grade readers will quickly settle into the rhythm of the storytelling found in this book, since the writing is well-suited to its target age group. While there are no illustrations and the narrative is long, the action sequences and dialogue are balanced in a way that keeps the narrative moving forward. Ronnie’s rhyming comes and goes throughout the novel based on her anxiety levels, but this can be something of a distraction for readers due to its inconsistency. However, much like any other trait a typical middle grader would feel self-conscious about, the rhyming is not as alienating as Ronnie considers it to be. Overall, this is a good coming-of-age story that will add some fodder to spooky campfire tales, and it is a decent addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

Ronnie has started speaking in rhymes and cannot understand why, her father's way of coping with any loss is to get rid of anything that would remind him of it, and her best friend, Jack, has just signed up for summer camp instead of hanging out with her for the summer. To fix all of this, Ronnie decides to go to the same camp as Jack. While there Ronnie makes discoveries about her Korean heritage, her mother, and about herself. Learning about the Korean supernatural world was interesting and will appeal to those who like mythologies of other countries.

This middle grade novel will appeal to anyone who likes a supernatural tale with a bit of a mystery thrown in. I found the story quite interesting and enjoyed reading it.

This was such. a spooky, heartfelt, original new fantasy—the band of friends, the summer camp setting, the themes of loss and family and identity, and the pitch-perfect MG voice made this a devourable, delightful read! I can't wait for more!

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Ronnie and her dad have been on their own since her mother died when Ronnie was 5. The family is Korean American but since Dad was adopted and raised by a white family, neither has really felt Korean. Shortly after her twelfth birthday, Ronnie has started speaking in rhyme. Her father decided it would be good for her to get out of the city. Ronnie is kind of reluctant (she’s not outdoorsy) and yet excited to attend Korean sleepaway camp with her best friend, Jack. There, Ronnie is befriended by Olivia, a ballerina who doesn’t have many friends; meanwhile, Jack bonds with Sam over their fondness of Korean supernatural comics. When Ronnie notices a gwishin (ghost) on the campgrounds, she thinks her imagination is getting the better of her. Other strange things are happening at camp (a black cat that seems to understand everything that Ronnie says) and Ronnie soon finds out that Jack’s comic books are not entirely made up.
A fantastic, fast-paced middle grade book from a debut author. You will look at summer camp in a whole new way! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend for grades 4 and up.
#NetGalley #TheLastRheeWitch

I had a lot of fun with this one! A spooky camp story is bound to be amazing, then add in some witches, Korean myths, and the struggles of finding, and keeping, friendships, and it just gets better.

Jenna is a master at weaving fun, creepy atmospheric stories. Honest to goodness, I haven’t had this much fun reading MG since Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. The Korean lore, the lovable characters, the camp story vibes building with an unfolding suspense/horror/mystery is so gripping, I felt - more than once - like I was engrossed in a movie, rather than reading a book. Def a wonderful read, and the perfect book to recommend to reluctant - and voracious - readers!!

I cannot say enough good things about this book! For a debut novelist, I was BLOWN AWAY by Jenna’s skill as a storyteller. Ronnie’s story held me captive all the way through to the end. First and foremost, it was a camp story and camp stories will always have a special place in my heart. Second of all, there were ghosts and goblins and witches and familiars and it was such a FUN cast of characters. Third of all, the Korean lore was so cool. I loved learning about it. And last, the bonds of family and friendship were woven seamlessly throughout the story and were so lovely. I can’t wait to see where Ronnie’s story takes us next!

I am not joking when I say THE LAST RHEE WITCH is one of my favorite books ever written. It’s not just the eerie mystery threading its ghostly fingers through the pages; or the deeply immersive atmosphere, which brings to mind crackling campfires and the wind-whispers of trees; or the campground-haunting gwishin and shadow-lurking dokkaebi drawn from Korean lore; or the prickly cat who seems to always turn up when things get really scary; or the team of witch-aunties who hold secrets from years past close to their chests; or the combination of new and old friendships weaving together as if by magic as danger creeps ever closer… It is all of these things and more. There are spine-tingling elements, yes, but the most wonderful part of THE LAST RHEE WITCH is the story nestled at its heart: the story of Ronnie, who is ninety-nine percent certain that ghosts don’t exist, and even more certain she doesn’t need anyone but her best friend, Jack. Both certainties are proved wrong. When she arrives at summer camp, things start getting weird. A figure dressed in white floats above the old Rhee manor, and tales of the ghostly woman who haunts the campground spread, bearing rumors that tragedy will befall those who anger her; tragedy which seems to be following Ronnie at every turn. Soon, Ronnie’s beliefs about family, friends, and the supernatural begin to crumble. What follows is a heart-wrenching mystery that stretches back to Ronnie’s childhood, bringing up memories of her deceased mother and revealing other memories both lost and stolen. This is a ghostly mystery steeped in Korean lore, but it is also the story of a young girl reconnecting with someone she loved and lost as she pieces together the mystery surrounding her mother’s death—and discovers the threat now hunting her. It is a beautiful and deeply moving story, one I will return to again and again. I am one-hundred percent a fan of this book, and I hope readers of all ages will fall in love with it, too.

I really enjoyed reading a Korean-American take on ghost stories when so much of what’s out there is Anglo-American. This story is filled with good stuff: friendship, camp adventures, protective aunties, and creepy other-worldly beings.

For me, the pacing lagged significantly in the front half of the book and shifted into a satisfying cadence in the back half. The twists and turns (and discoveries) felt the most well-developed and believable near the end of the story. And it was a delightful ending.

This is a book I’d recommend to middle grade readers who love ghost stories. I also love it for its representation of a Korean-American experience.