Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars

This is a really cute graphic novel, exploring themes of culture and biracial struggles with it. On top of that, it has martial arts, which is always a win in my books! I definitely recommend it for young readers!

Thank you so much for letting me read this comic. This is a short and sweet comic book series for all children who feel they are not realy fitting in and them discovering they very much belong.

Rayven has earned her yellow belt in Hapkido and has been chosen to do a stick solo at the next event. She's already nervous , but when a girl at school insists that, as an African American, Rayven can never be a true part of the Korean culture, Rayven feels uncertain. This soon affects her practice. Her family and friends insist that the girl is only jealous, but Rayven isn't so sure there isn't some truth to her words.

This is the second book in the series, but it's no problem to dive right into this one. Rayven is trying to find her place in Korean, now that she's moved from the the US. Especially the food is throwing her for a loop, and readers will feel for her as there isn't even pizza available. She has a lovely friend group, which offers support, too. When the bullying comes in, this is only for a few frames twice. It hits with the needed potency but pulls back before overwhelming. Still, it's just enough to leave the needed impression. There's a clever twist to bring everything together, and Rayven grows as a person and character in inspiring ways. She's easy to connect with and root for.

The illustrations offer enough details to make each situation clear and even bring across the Korean culture. They are colorful and work well with the speech bubbles. The text carries the story in the speech bubbles, which are fitting to the age group.

While the main message comes across clearly, and Rayven is obviously a character, who will experience many more small adventures, there is also quite a bit about the Korean culture. Readers learn various aspects about the people, habits, and country, which will have them seeing Korea differently. It will be fun to see what Rayven will deal with next.

This is a cute story about a young girl who lives in Korea and is learning Tae Kwon Do and gets bullied by the mean girl because she isent Koran. Though at a festable she learns that her culture is also apart of Koran culture as it was shared through the military that was stationed there and the Koreans enjoy it and even gave it a name to bring it into their own culture.

I love the illustrations and story line of Grandmaster Choi II. We follow 6 year old Rayvn who is African-American and living in Korea after her parents sadly pass away. In this volume Rayvn gets her yellow belt in Hapkido, but shortly after is told by a bully that she’ll never be part of the Korean culture. Living in Korea is an adjustment, but being told this makes her question whether being more will get her accepted. Throughout the story we learn about Korean culture and also explore how a part of African-American culture was once introduced, accepted and loved by Koreans and that two cultures can come together to enjoy and form bonds. Rayvn also expresses that she is just fine and happy to be who she is, which was nice to see!
I have not read the first volume, but it was still easy to follow along and I plan to read more of Smith’s work.

Thank you Netgally and Shero Comics for the ARC! This is an honest review.

Young Grandmaster Choi II graphic novel that follows Rayven, a young girl who, after earning her yellow belt in Hapkido, is thrilled to showcase her skills at a Cultural Festival in Seoul. However, her excitement quickly dims as a jealous classmate begins to bully her for not being Korean, leading Rayven to question her own identity. I particularly enjoyed reading it because it reminded me that unique backgrounds can beautifully intersect in unexpected ways.

🎉 Wowza! If you’re looking for an adventure that packs a punch, Young Grandmaster Choi II is the graphic novel you didn’t know you needed! Rayven's journey from excitement to insecurity is so relatable, especially when a mean classmate tries to bring her down. But the best part? She discovers a piece of her own history that ties in beautifully with Korean culture! This book is a delightful reminder that we all have a story to tell, no matter where we come from. Trust me, you’ll cheer for Rayven as she kicks her doubts to the curb! 🌟

So excited to see the second in this fantastic series! Young Grandmaster Choi II picks up where the first book left off, continuing the story of young Rayven Choi, the Black female lead the comic industry desperately needs. Readers of all ages will enjoy this engaging and beautifully illustrated story of perseverance and personal strength. And I'm excited that young readers in particular have a series like this, which portrays females of color as the (s)heroes we need!

This was a super cute read that touches on both Korean culture and African-American culture. The fact that Smith was able to address a topic such as racism in such a small amount of space AND do it well is amazing. This is something I hope will become a full novel eventually so that I can add it to my library. My students would love it! Thank you NetGalley and Shero Comics for the ARC so I could read and review!