I came across this book on Twitter, where it was recommended by a friend who is a public librarian and an authority on middle grade books. Since a review copy was available on NetGalley, I logged my request and got the free eARC on my Kindle. Needless to say (but am still saying it!) this does not impact my review of the book.

Krista Kim-Bap is a slice of the life of twelve-year old Krista Kim who is a Korean-Canadian living in Vancouver. She has never been to Korea, cannot speak or read Korean and has little information about Korean history or culture. The one Korean thing she truly loves is Korean food. Sharing her love for bulgogi and kimchi is her best friend since preschool, Jason. Jason is Scottish Canadian, but adores the bold, punchy flavours of Korean Food. Krista and Jason are inseparable and have perfect understanding between them, without any sort of romantic feelings.

On the other hand, Krista has zero understanding with her elder sister Tori. Tori is in high school, tries to underplay her Korean-ness as much as possible, has a keen sense of fashion and always looks beautifully put-together with perfect hair, trendy clothes and the poise to match. Krista lives in jeans, tshirts and sneakers, her hair is always twisted up in a ponytail and she thinks that she and Tori just don't have anything in common to connect over.

The story begins with their class teacher Mrs. June announcing a new project for Heritage Month- they each have to make a presentation and submit a report about their heritage. Krista is lost, and has no idea how to talk to her classmates about what it feels to be Korean when she knows next to nothing about Korea and does not feel as Korean as much as she feels Canadian. But Jason comes to the rescue and suggests that she base her project on Korean food, since it is something she feels strongly about.

Thus begins the most tumultuous period of Krista's hitherto uneventful life. She approaches her stern grandmother for help with her project. Grandma Kim had emigrated to Canada from Korea years ago, and still holds the views and opinions she had had as a young woman in Korea. She believes in girls dressing up, wearing make up and looking pretty- everything that Krista hates. Her compliments to Krista are all backhanded and she is mistrustful of her friendship with Jason. But she is very helpful (in her brusque way) and starts teaching Krista to make Korean food. She takes her and Tori to a Korean salon to get their hair and makeup done. Tori, coming to know of Krista's project, makes her a modern version of the traditional Korean dress hanbok that she can wear for her presentation. As Krista explores becoming more 'girly', all the popular girls in her class 'discover' her and invite her to join their clique. Suddenly it is as if there are too many changes happening in Krista's life and as she drifts apart from Jason, she feels like she is lost as she tries to find herself. The rest of the book is about how she finds her way to her real self, with help from her grandmother and mother.

I liked the book because it gave me a window into Korean food and culture. I had no idea that kim-bap was the Korean version of sushi (though never say that to a Korean!) or that ssangapul tape or ssangapul surgery (to make the eyes look bigger) was a part of Korean beauty culture and almost a rite of passage there. I found myself looking up things online while reading the book which I think is the best thing a book can do- make the reader more curious and hence more informed.

I also liked the message in the book- be true to yourself. The talking-to Krista's mom gives to her and Tori about being comfortable in their own skins is one of the best advice I have seen being given to tweens and teens who are exploring their own identities- it is balanced and sensible, without any talking down. The advice Grandmother Kim gives Jason (and Krista) about being vocal about your feelings rather than expecting your loved ones to simply understand you is also important.

What I didn't like is the style of narration- it reads in a montone, like a boring, ceaseless ticking of words like the seconds hand of a clock. Writing should be a mix of long sentences and short, of vivid exclamations and patient explanations, of evocative descriptions and interesting conversation. It should not be a rhythmic endless barrage of words with little texture and emotion to bring it alive. The books suffers from this. Another the thing that irked me is that some of the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. In several places, people address each other by name even while its just the two of them talking, which never happens in real life. For example:

1)
“Tori, you did this?” my mom was amazed. She looked pleased. “Yes, I did. Not bad, huh?”
“Tori, it looks amazing! I was wondering what you were doing last night. What’s it for?”
2)
”I’m going to tell you something else, Krista, because, I know I shouldn’t be, but I am totally shocked at how naïve you are."
3)
When I finally calmed down, I asked, half afraid, “Jason, are we good?”
"Krista, we’re good,” he said.

But according to me, these flaws in writing are more the editor's responsibility than the author's.

In conclusion, the book has a nice message and a great intro to Korean culture. A better, more thorough edit would have made all the difference.

Suitable for kids aged 10-12.

Krista has to do a presentation about her family's origins in class. Aaargh! She'll have to be the Korea's ambassador again. The project helps her connect to her grandmother, who she is sure doesn't like her. Meanwhile she's discovering that it's okay to make new friends, but not okay to hurt her old friends in the process. This fun book will make you want to look up kimbap and give it a try. Plus, tell the people you care about how you really feel.

Krista Kim-Bap was a great #ownvoices book that is necessary to have on library and classroom shelves as a window/mirror book for our learners. This book brought the Korean heritage to the forefront in a real, relatable way.

Contemporary Fiction
9-13
Librarians and writers often share the same circles, but it might surprise you to learn how many writers ARE librarians. Lewis Carroll, Sarah Ellis, Kit Pearson, Bill Richardson, Beverly Cleary, to name just a few. And now Angela Ahn joins this fine group. As she and I went to library school together at UBC, I was both delighted and secretly a bit apprehensive when her publisher, Second Story Press, agreed to provide me with a digital copy for review. What if I don’t like it? But I’m happy to report this is a truly enjoyable story that celebrates culture, friendship, and family. Krista Kim is almost 12 years old and lives with her Korean-Canadian mum, dad, and sister Tori in Vancouver. Her very best friend is a boy named Jason; they’ve been thick as thieves since the first day of preschool together. They eat lunch together, choose each other as partners in class, and have a standing date every Wednesday after school at Krista’s house where Jason dives into the fridge, hoping for leftover kimchi, to the annoyance of Krista’s traditional Grandma. When their teacher assigns the class a project on their heritage, it’s Jason, in fact, who suggests Korean food as a theme for Krista. Krista isn’t sure how she feels about her Korean-ness. Then she attends a classmate’s fancy party wearing a hanbok that Tori has altered for her, and it’s the envy of every girl there. Suddenly Krista is invited to spend lunch and recess with the girls, she starts experimenting with clothes and even makeup, and she doesn’t have as much time for Jason. But surely he understands, right? Ahn has written a lively and engaging story of a tween girl struggling to figure who she is and who her friends are, while dealing with shifting boundaries as relationships develop and change. She gives Krista a solid family foundation from which to understand and navigate the push and pull between her heritage and her Canadianness, an authentic reality that will resonate with young readers from all cultures who sometimes find themselves as “others.” The book pulls you right into Krista’s world – I could easily visualize her as a scrawny and energetic kid clad in worn sneakers and faded jeans, struggling to do what’s right even as she tries to figure out just what right is. Fun, funny, and occasionally touching. I look forward to more from my friend who is a teacher, mother, librarian, and now author. My thanks to Second Story Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35801649