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Hurt You
With echoes of Marijke Nijkamp and Jason Reynolds, acclaimed author Marie Myung-ok Lee’s stunning YA homage to Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men tells the tragic story of a Korean-American teen who fights to protect herself and her neurodivergent older brother from a hostile community.
Inspired by the unabashed social realism of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Hurt You moves beyond the quasi-fraternal bond of the unforgettable George and Lenny to explore an actual sibling bond of Georgia, sister to Leonardo da Vinci Daewoo Kim, who has an unnamed neurological disability that resembles autism. The race, disability, and class themes spin themselves out not on a ranch but in a suburban high school where the Kim family has moved from the city for better services for Leonardo.
Suddenly unmoored from the familiar, including the support of her Aunt Clara, Georgia struggles to find her place in an Asian-majority school where whites still dominate culturally, and she finds herself also feeling not Korean “enough.” Her one pole star is her commitment to her brother, a loyalty that finds itself at odds with her immigrant parents’ dreams for her, and an ableist, racist society that may bring violence to Leonardo despite her efforts to keep him safe.
Steinbeck was fearless about bringing his stories to realistic, not tidy, conclusions that reflected actual society in the 1930s. Of Mice and Men’s Lenny was to some eyes a monster and a killer; in the 2020s, Hurt You reflects statistics that a person with intellectual disability is much more likely to be a victim, not a perpetrator, of violent crimes, despite enduring stereotypes that they are the ones who should be feared.
Inspired by the unabashed social realism of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Hurt You moves beyond the quasi-fraternal bond of the unforgettable George and Lenny to explore an actual sibling bond of Georgia, sister to Leonardo da Vinci Daewoo Kim, who has an unnamed neurological disability that resembles autism. The race, disability, and class themes spin themselves out not on a ranch but in a suburban high school where the Kim family has moved from the city for better services for Leonardo.
Suddenly unmoored from the familiar, including the support of her Aunt Clara, Georgia struggles to find her place in an Asian-majority school where whites still dominate culturally, and she finds herself also feeling not Korean “enough.” Her one pole star is her commitment to her brother, a loyalty that finds itself at odds with her immigrant parents’ dreams for her, and an ableist, racist society that may bring violence to Leonardo despite her efforts to keep him safe.
Steinbeck was fearless about bringing his stories to realistic, not tidy, conclusions that reflected actual society in the 1930s. Of Mice and Men’s Lenny was to some eyes a monster and a killer; in the 2020s, Hurt You reflects statistics that a person with intellectual disability is much more likely to be a victim, not a perpetrator, of violent crimes, despite enduring stereotypes that they are the ones who should be feared.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2023
11 people are currently reading
3514 people want to read
About the author
Marie Myung-Ok Lee
8 books251 followersMarie Myung-Ok Lee is an acclaimed Korean American writer and author of the young adult novel Finding my Voice, thought to be the first contemporary-set Asian American YA novel. She is one of a handful of American journalists who have been granted a visa to North Korea since the Korean War. She was the first Fulbright Scholar to Korea in creative writing and has received many honors for her work, including an O. Henry honorable mention, the Best Book Award from the Friends of American Writers, and a New York Foundation for the Arts fiction fellowship. Her stories and essays have been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Slate, Salon, Guernica, The Paris Review, The Nation, and The Guardian, among others. Marie is a founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and teaches creative writing at Columbia. She lives in New York City with her family.
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August 9, 2022"YA contemporary retelling of Of Mice and Men" is not a combination I expected to hear, but one that deeply intrigues me
May 31, 2023
In this retelling of "Of Mice and Men", Georgia Kim, see George in Steinbeck's original, is tasked with taking care of her brother Leo, see Lenny, who has a severe disability. After an incident involving Leo in their previous city, their family is forced to move to the suburbs. In this new neighborhood, however, it seems that Leo and his family will still have to struggle with discrimination and misunderstanding on several levels.
I found the adaptation a little too "on the nose" and thought the author could have adventured beyond Steinbeck, particularly in terms of Curley's girlfriend and the ending. I also thought the author tackled too many social issues to make a nuanced statement about any of them. I did appreciate the messaging about treating people with disabilities as people -- that message is incredibly important and something I think the author successfully conveyed. I also appreciated that she wasn't shy about illustrating the emotion and conflict experienced by caretakers. But this text also attempted to tackle fat phobia, gender stereotypes, immigration, gun violence, and white supremacy. I'm all for social criticism, and I appreciate a sick burn on America, but tackling all of these big topics in under 300 pages means we don't spend a meaningful amount of time touching on each one.
I found the adaptation a little too "on the nose" and thought the author could have adventured beyond Steinbeck, particularly in terms of Curley's girlfriend and the ending. I also thought the author tackled too many social issues to make a nuanced statement about any of them. I did appreciate the messaging about treating people with disabilities as people -- that message is incredibly important and something I think the author successfully conveyed. I also appreciated that she wasn't shy about illustrating the emotion and conflict experienced by caretakers. But this text also attempted to tackle fat phobia, gender stereotypes, immigration, gun violence, and white supremacy. I'm all for social criticism, and I appreciate a sick burn on America, but tackling all of these big topics in under 300 pages means we don't spend a meaningful amount of time touching on each one.
September 21, 2023
3.8
*Review to come*
*Review to come*
June 15, 2023
In HURT YOU, a YA retelling of Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, we meet Georgia Kim, a Korean-American high school teen with a neurologically disabled brother named Leo. They leave the City (San Francisco) and move to the suburbs of Sunnyvale to find better services for Leo. In Sunnyvale, Georgia finds her community of other Korean-Americans but quickly learn that being white and rich is what rules.
I really enjoyed reading from Georgia’s perspective. As a sister myself to a younger brother, I related to Georgia’s fierce protectiveness of Leo (she is the younger sibling in the book). Even now, when I think back, I can remember the love I felt for my brother—steadfast and tenacious. And this is seen with Georgia, not only in the way she looks out for him as her brother but the way she advocates for him as a person. It made my heart ache. And seeing the love and support Georgia and Leo get from their community is beautiful.
I also loved all the nuances of Korean-American culture in here from the “kye” (credit/banking club amongst Korean-American immigrants that pool money every month) to hangul hakkyo (Korean Language School). Small but significant insights into what being Korean-American was all about, only evident through lived experience.
I alternated this between the audio and print, and I have to say the print worked much better for me. Unfortunately, I found the narration to be odd and distracting. I know the MC, Georgia Kim, is not fluent in Korean so it makes sense that when she speaks Korean, the words are mispronounced. However, when other characters who are clearly fluent speak in Korean, the mispronunciation of the Korean words was incredibly jarring. I also thought the narrator had odd pauses in the middle of a sentences. So when my friend told me she listened to it at 1.8x speed, I decided to up my regular 1x speed to 1.5x. And, I’m glad I did because the pauses were not noticeable. But, unfortunately, the mispronunciations still were.
That said, I ended up mostly listening to this on audio because of life circumstances and at the end of the day, I can say this book was beautiful. It touches on a lot of topics, but Georgia and Leo’s bond and what it represented was the centerpiece. And I’ll be thinking about this book for awhile. It broke my heart and I am better for it.
I know this book was inspired by the author’s son who is on the autism spectrum and knowing that made my reading experience that much more special. I thank her so much for sending this to me.
I really enjoyed reading from Georgia’s perspective. As a sister myself to a younger brother, I related to Georgia’s fierce protectiveness of Leo (she is the younger sibling in the book). Even now, when I think back, I can remember the love I felt for my brother—steadfast and tenacious. And this is seen with Georgia, not only in the way she looks out for him as her brother but the way she advocates for him as a person. It made my heart ache. And seeing the love and support Georgia and Leo get from their community is beautiful.
I also loved all the nuances of Korean-American culture in here from the “kye” (credit/banking club amongst Korean-American immigrants that pool money every month) to hangul hakkyo (Korean Language School). Small but significant insights into what being Korean-American was all about, only evident through lived experience.
I alternated this between the audio and print, and I have to say the print worked much better for me. Unfortunately, I found the narration to be odd and distracting. I know the MC, Georgia Kim, is not fluent in Korean so it makes sense that when she speaks Korean, the words are mispronounced. However, when other characters who are clearly fluent speak in Korean, the mispronunciation of the Korean words was incredibly jarring. I also thought the narrator had odd pauses in the middle of a sentences. So when my friend told me she listened to it at 1.8x speed, I decided to up my regular 1x speed to 1.5x. And, I’m glad I did because the pauses were not noticeable. But, unfortunately, the mispronunciations still were.
That said, I ended up mostly listening to this on audio because of life circumstances and at the end of the day, I can say this book was beautiful. It touches on a lot of topics, but Georgia and Leo’s bond and what it represented was the centerpiece. And I’ll be thinking about this book for awhile. It broke my heart and I am better for it.
I know this book was inspired by the author’s son who is on the autism spectrum and knowing that made my reading experience that much more special. I thank her so much for sending this to me.
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June 17, 2023Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC!
Alright I gave it some thought and my thoughts are that I am going to remain unsure. First and foremost, I really enjoyed some of the representation here and with that came a lot to tackle: ableism, racism, sexism fatphobia, classism, bullying, gun violence, etc. etc. I also really loved the characters, but telling the story of a neurodivergent character through the voice of someone who is neurotypical is always a risk. A risk, but not impossible! Georgia is always supportive of her brother, and for the most part, instead of painting Georgia as victim who has no choice but to throw away her life to take care of her disabled brother, Marie Myung-Ok Lee uses Georgia as a way to highlight the lack of resources, support, and general understanding of and empathy for neurodivergent people and their families.
I did think I was going to give this 5 stars but the ending was...a choice. I do understand what the author was trying to do (truly! I do!) and I also understand this was a retelling of a classic, but I am still very unsure that the ending was the right choice. And by that, I mean that I think it was the wrong choice, but I can see how it could be argued that the point of it was to upset the reader and shed some light on some very real problems. I just think there could have been a more effective way for the author to get her point across, and I fear that the ending actually diminished some of the impact that the book had established throughout.
So, my thoughts are inconclusive. I loved almost the entire book, but the last few chapters unfortunately will prevent me from recommending it to others unless I really know their reading tastes.
***
omg i do not know what to think i’m gonna have to spend some time with this one….VERY good but i thought it was gonna take a different route. i have read of mice and men so i should have known what was going to happen, but hmm………not sure if that ending was eye opening, or if it erased the impact the book had already made.
Alright I gave it some thought and my thoughts are that I am going to remain unsure. First and foremost, I really enjoyed some of the representation here and with that came a lot to tackle: ableism, racism, sexism fatphobia, classism, bullying, gun violence, etc. etc. I also really loved the characters, but telling the story of a neurodivergent character through the voice of someone who is neurotypical is always a risk. A risk, but not impossible! Georgia is always supportive of her brother, and for the most part, instead of painting Georgia as victim who has no choice but to throw away her life to take care of her disabled brother, Marie Myung-Ok Lee uses Georgia as a way to highlight the lack of resources, support, and general understanding of and empathy for neurodivergent people and their families.
I did think I was going to give this 5 stars but the ending was...a choice. I do understand what the author was trying to do (truly! I do!) and I also understand this was a retelling of a classic, but I am still very unsure that the ending was the right choice. And by that, I mean that I think it was the wrong choice, but I can see how it could be argued that the point of it was to upset the reader and shed some light on some very real problems. I just think there could have been a more effective way for the author to get her point across, and I fear that the ending actually diminished some of the impact that the book had established throughout.
So, my thoughts are inconclusive. I loved almost the entire book, but the last few chapters unfortunately will prevent me from recommending it to others unless I really know their reading tastes.
***
omg i do not know what to think i’m gonna have to spend some time with this one….VERY good but i thought it was gonna take a different route. i have read of mice and men so i should have known what was going to happen, but hmm………not sure if that ending was eye opening, or if it erased the impact the book had already made.
October 31, 2023
I specifically read Of Mice and Men before reading this so I’d have context for the retelling, which granted me insight into how differently these stories are told.
Steinbeck relied heavily on symbolism, which is my preference when reading. I prefer to think while reading, instead of being told what to think. That’s not to say that this doesn’t address critical topics. It’s just too overt in its communication, leaving nothing up to the imagination.
Furthermore, as a narrative that takes on such emotional content, I found it lacking, as the writing was extremely stilted. Steinbeck told his tragic tale so beautifully while Hurt You felt extremely flat.
I also want to note that this felt like a meandering narrative, walking around in places it did not need to be. The scenery was often dull as I followed its winding path. Steinbeck’s novella was concise, and this novel did not know how to be.
I found not giving a name to Curley’s significant other a failed literary device here, although it was effective in Of Mice and Men. Since this was written in first person, it sounded silly to keep referring to her as Curley’s girlfriend or, even odder, the girlfriend of Curley. In the original story, this demonstrated the devaluing of the character. While it seemed like Lee wanted to mimic this, the rest of her novel is so weighty in its telling, instead of showing. Why aim for symbolism with this one aspect? I find it especially baffling since the author did not emulate the meaningful misunderstanding of the character that we finally come to recognize at the end of Steinbeck’s story, although I will give her credit for aptly conveying Curley’s possessiveness. In that respect, there is meaning to this device, but the nuance of the original was lost here.
I also felt the ending was extremely rushed and, while I comprehend what the author was trying to convey, I think it came across in an unrealistic, almost cartoonish, way. It felt cheap and underdeveloped, but I wasn’t particularly pleased with anything in this story, so the conclusion didn’t ruin it for me.
I appreciate the social issues addressed and, with its primary focus on Leo, I can definitely understand the pain of seeing the struggles surrounding a child whose behavior is misunderstood by society. In fact, I liked that this wasn’t focused solely on a familial struggle with someone with special needs. Instead, it looked closely at the public’s disapproval and judgment. I know all too well how much this hurts, and that helped me remain engaged with the story.
Unfortunately, I cannot rate a poorly written book well just because it addressed meaningful topics, especially since I don’t think they were always communicated in interesting, hard hitting, or thought provoking ways. This seemed more like a story written based on a checklist of hot button issues without any true understanding of how to illustrate them with emotion and eloquence.
I am immensely grateful to Libro.fm, Blackstone Publishing, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee for my copy. All opinions are my own.
Steinbeck relied heavily on symbolism, which is my preference when reading. I prefer to think while reading, instead of being told what to think. That’s not to say that this doesn’t address critical topics. It’s just too overt in its communication, leaving nothing up to the imagination.
Furthermore, as a narrative that takes on such emotional content, I found it lacking, as the writing was extremely stilted. Steinbeck told his tragic tale so beautifully while Hurt You felt extremely flat.
I also want to note that this felt like a meandering narrative, walking around in places it did not need to be. The scenery was often dull as I followed its winding path. Steinbeck’s novella was concise, and this novel did not know how to be.
I found not giving a name to Curley’s significant other a failed literary device here, although it was effective in Of Mice and Men. Since this was written in first person, it sounded silly to keep referring to her as Curley’s girlfriend or, even odder, the girlfriend of Curley. In the original story, this demonstrated the devaluing of the character. While it seemed like Lee wanted to mimic this, the rest of her novel is so weighty in its telling, instead of showing. Why aim for symbolism with this one aspect? I find it especially baffling since the author did not emulate the meaningful misunderstanding of the character that we finally come to recognize at the end of Steinbeck’s story, although I will give her credit for aptly conveying Curley’s possessiveness. In that respect, there is meaning to this device, but the nuance of the original was lost here.
I also felt the ending was extremely rushed and, while I comprehend what the author was trying to convey, I think it came across in an unrealistic, almost cartoonish, way. It felt cheap and underdeveloped, but I wasn’t particularly pleased with anything in this story, so the conclusion didn’t ruin it for me.
I appreciate the social issues addressed and, with its primary focus on Leo, I can definitely understand the pain of seeing the struggles surrounding a child whose behavior is misunderstood by society. In fact, I liked that this wasn’t focused solely on a familial struggle with someone with special needs. Instead, it looked closely at the public’s disapproval and judgment. I know all too well how much this hurts, and that helped me remain engaged with the story.
Unfortunately, I cannot rate a poorly written book well just because it addressed meaningful topics, especially since I don’t think they were always communicated in interesting, hard hitting, or thought provoking ways. This seemed more like a story written based on a checklist of hot button issues without any true understanding of how to illustrate them with emotion and eloquence.
I am immensely grateful to Libro.fm, Blackstone Publishing, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee for my copy. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2023
I think the author's writing when it comes to having and dealing with or supporting a sibling with any form of special needs was well written and very moving. I was moved by all of our protagonist/narrator Georgie's concerns and fears while on the verge of following her dreams. Especially the bond she has with her brother.
Other than the abrupt tragic incident at the end, which made it impossible to process all of the feelings involved, I think the author tried to tackle a lot (social justice, racism, ableism, racism, gun regulation, violence, bullying, immigration, classism, the disabled community as well its caregivers)...as much these were written so well, with that sudden end, I felt it kinda dwindled everything else it was trying to say in conclusion. It needed more after that. We all saw it coming from the onset, but the emotional process thereafter was lacking.
Other than the abrupt tragic incident at the end, which made it impossible to process all of the feelings involved, I think the author tried to tackle a lot (social justice, racism, ableism, racism, gun regulation, violence, bullying, immigration, classism, the disabled community as well its caregivers)...as much these were written so well, with that sudden end, I felt it kinda dwindled everything else it was trying to say in conclusion. It needed more after that. We all saw it coming from the onset, but the emotional process thereafter was lacking.
May 24, 2023
This book has become one of my all-time favorite reads! I loved teaching Of Mice and Men to my 9th graders before I retired and was immediately drawn to this. And wow, I am so blown away that I can barely stop crying it's so lovely! Georgia and Leo are siblings in a Korean family and Georgia becomes Leo's "caretaker" in school when they move to a new area as Leo has severe developmental disabilities and, like Steinbeck's Lennie, is huge and doesn't know his own strength. Enough said. It's simply a beautifully told story of a family in crisis that no review could do justice to it! So read it and know you will be a better person for knowing these characters!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 8, 2023
This is a book I shouldn't have read, as it is a YA coming of age tale. But I got fooled by the linkage to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. I thought I was reading something a little more weighty, no pun intended. Instead, it's pretty darn preachy and covers a broad range of social ills: guns, ableism, racism, body shaming, etc. I think a comparison to The City Mouse and The Country Mouse might have been more honest in marketing. I was reading an Advanced Reading Copy, so perhaps they honed the marketing message and caught some of the more obvious typos. Not my thing, so my opinion is irrelevant on this one.
March 18, 2024
As it happens I love Steinbeck and I own 6 of his novels and his 2 short stories collections.
I feel that this whole retelling Of Mice and Men narrative is nothing but a marketing trick for a ya book to sell better.
In my mind there can be no comparison. Absolutely noone can write something that can come close to this man's work.
I feel that this whole retelling Of Mice and Men narrative is nothing but a marketing trick for a ya book to sell better.
In my mind there can be no comparison. Absolutely noone can write something that can come close to this man's work.
May 17, 2023
A contemporary, obvious retelling of "Of Mice and Men." Georgia is a Korean-American high school junior who just moved to a new town outside San Francisco so that her brother Leo, who has significant developmental disabilities, can get better services. Her parents' relationship is tense from raising Leo and Georgia has a far from typical life, taking on lots of responsibility for her brother. At her new school she becomes friends with a group of mostly Korean-American students. Through these friends, she begins to see a path forward in her life, until tragedy strikes. Although parts of the book were strong, there were some plot points that I really questioned. Also, Lee could have been more subtle with her retelling and it probably would have made it a stronger book. ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
December 21, 2024
This is an Of mice and men retelling but told in a YA high school perspective and from a Korean families POV! I loved the details and language inclusion as well as how in depth we went with Leo and his developmental disabilities. It was really nice seeing him being treated normally by Georgia, his sister and the MC.
We knew how the book ends because we get an "article" in the beginning telling us. So we read the whole book waiting for the conflict only for it to happen in the last 20 pages and almost feel rushed and glossed over. I would've loved to see an inkling of justice or even something more about their futures and the parents reactions.
We knew how the book ends because we get an "article" in the beginning telling us. So we read the whole book waiting for the conflict only for it to happen in the last 20 pages and almost feel rushed and glossed over. I would've loved to see an inkling of justice or even something more about their futures and the parents reactions.
May 12, 2024
irregardless of the intentions to remake Of Mice and Men, this book was not good. the structure of the story made little sense and took away any trace is suspense. instead, it leaves the reader dragging through, waiting for the pivotal moment that is for some reason given away in the opening pages, and then only brought back up in the final 10-15. the only reason this wasn’t a DNF is because i’m stubborn.
November 24, 2023
i don’t know how to feel like wtf was that abrupt ending
May 28, 2023
Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I have vague memories of high school, and Of Mice and Men being one of the more tolerable assigned readings. So when I came across a book described as a contemporary retelling of this classic, I couldn't resist snatching it up.
To start with, there were some things that I loved about this book, making it stand out immediately. It centers around Georgia, a Korean-American teenager who helps care for her disabled older brother, Leo. Leo has some unnamed neurodiversity, similar to autism, and he's a big, strong guy who doesn't have any idea how strong he is. When it's revealed that Georgia is a "chunky" girl, I couldn't help but love her even more. She's a character that is so easy to like, and I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell in the new environment as she adjusts to the setting.
However, the story also touches on serious themes, such as racism, classism, and the changes that are involved when there's a severely disabled person in the immediate family. Georgia takes on a lot of the caretaking responsibilities for Leo, even as she's trying to find her own place in her world, yet she doesn't mind doing all of this for him, because she's his sister and she loves him. But even so, her parents are aware of the way that this takes a toll on her own life.
I really enjoyed this book, way more than I had expected to, although the twist at the end completely shocked me and I wasn't expecting it to go down the way it did. Sadly, I wasn't really surprised at how everything played out. While the ending felt like it came too soon, and the story wasn't quite finished, I liked the open-ended nature of this story.
I have vague memories of high school, and Of Mice and Men being one of the more tolerable assigned readings. So when I came across a book described as a contemporary retelling of this classic, I couldn't resist snatching it up.
To start with, there were some things that I loved about this book, making it stand out immediately. It centers around Georgia, a Korean-American teenager who helps care for her disabled older brother, Leo. Leo has some unnamed neurodiversity, similar to autism, and he's a big, strong guy who doesn't have any idea how strong he is. When it's revealed that Georgia is a "chunky" girl, I couldn't help but love her even more. She's a character that is so easy to like, and I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell in the new environment as she adjusts to the setting.
However, the story also touches on serious themes, such as racism, classism, and the changes that are involved when there's a severely disabled person in the immediate family. Georgia takes on a lot of the caretaking responsibilities for Leo, even as she's trying to find her own place in her world, yet she doesn't mind doing all of this for him, because she's his sister and she loves him. But even so, her parents are aware of the way that this takes a toll on her own life.
I really enjoyed this book, way more than I had expected to, although the twist at the end completely shocked me and I wasn't expecting it to go down the way it did. Sadly, I wasn't really surprised at how everything played out. While the ending felt like it came too soon, and the story wasn't quite finished, I liked the open-ended nature of this story.
March 17, 2024
This book was very well-written and engaging, but I question the format. Revealing Leo’s death in the beginning, only for it to be such a brief part of the story (and at the end), felt unnatural to me.
I enjoyed Georgia’s perspective. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in the perspective of someone who has a sibling with a disability — and I haven’t lived that experience myself — but Georgia’s feelings felt nuanced and realistic, which I appreciated.
I have to say I’ve never read Of Mice and Men, so I can’t comment on this story as a retelling.
I really hated the love triangle situation — there was already so much going on, it felt like an unnecessary distraction — though I do think it might have been there to show that, despite the maturity Georgia has as something of a caretaker for her brother — as well as oftentimes his sole advocate — she’s still a teenage girl.
There were a lot of characters, so it felt hard to get to know all of them — and their motives. (Ex: Yunji makes a racist joke, which alarmed me, but because I don’t know enough about her character, I honestly can’t tell what this means for the story. Also, the other characters moved on from it almost immediately. Kind of confusing, idk.)
I read other reviews that mentioned this book tries to tackle too many complicated subjects: sexism, racism, gun control, etc. I do think that’s a fair assessment, however, I somewhat appreciated reading these teenagers’ perspectives as they try to navigate their values and beliefs.
Maybe the book should’ve been longer — I think quite a few of my issues with the story could likely be solved by this.
I enjoyed Georgia’s perspective. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in the perspective of someone who has a sibling with a disability — and I haven’t lived that experience myself — but Georgia’s feelings felt nuanced and realistic, which I appreciated.
I have to say I’ve never read Of Mice and Men, so I can’t comment on this story as a retelling.
I really hated the love triangle situation — there was already so much going on, it felt like an unnecessary distraction — though I do think it might have been there to show that, despite the maturity Georgia has as something of a caretaker for her brother — as well as oftentimes his sole advocate — she’s still a teenage girl.
There were a lot of characters, so it felt hard to get to know all of them — and their motives. (Ex: Yunji makes a racist joke, which alarmed me, but because I don’t know enough about her character, I honestly can’t tell what this means for the story. Also, the other characters moved on from it almost immediately. Kind of confusing, idk.)
I read other reviews that mentioned this book tries to tackle too many complicated subjects: sexism, racism, gun control, etc. I do think that’s a fair assessment, however, I somewhat appreciated reading these teenagers’ perspectives as they try to navigate their values and beliefs.
Maybe the book should’ve been longer — I think quite a few of my issues with the story could likely be solved by this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2023
2.5 rounded up
I appreciated the care and attention given to the depiction of Leo and his care. The story doesn’t sugar coat things like his biting or peeing his pants, but the emphasis is not on the hardship to the family but on the dangers he faces. Supposed caregivers leave him with bruises and treat him unkindly. Then, in the end, the police and the media are quick to play off violence against him. This is not Chicken Soup for the Soul.
However, this story was held back by its cartoonishly evil antagonist, who I found difficult to believe. It feels a little patronizing to the teen readership, like they couldn’t possibly understand that the antagonist is racist without it being screamed in all caps.
I did appreciate the nuanced discussion of race in Korean-American communities though. The story shows Korean characters to be both victims of racism AND sources of ignorant, racist remarks of their own (targeting Black people).
Overall, I enjoyed the characters, but found the ending abrupt and overly simplistic.
I appreciated the care and attention given to the depiction of Leo and his care. The story doesn’t sugar coat things like his biting or peeing his pants, but the emphasis is not on the hardship to the family but on the dangers he faces. Supposed caregivers leave him with bruises and treat him unkindly. Then, in the end, the police and the media are quick to play off violence against him. This is not Chicken Soup for the Soul.
However, this story was held back by its cartoonishly evil antagonist, who I found difficult to believe. It feels a little patronizing to the teen readership, like they couldn’t possibly understand that the antagonist is racist without it being screamed in all caps.
I did appreciate the nuanced discussion of race in Korean-American communities though. The story shows Korean characters to be both victims of racism AND sources of ignorant, racist remarks of their own (targeting Black people).
Overall, I enjoyed the characters, but found the ending abrupt and overly simplistic.
September 9, 2023
Ugh where do I start with this one? How do I explain that it was ok, but awful at the same time?
Let me start by saying that this book tried to tackle too many social issues in under 300 pages. The main up and front issue should have been Leo's disorder. Not sometimes pushed aside by other characters rants about a million other social issues.
I also found that there was a scene in the diner where they talk about it has basic white food? I'm sorry, that's not a huge issue! It's a diner in America that sells the same thing other diners in America sells.... French fries, hamburg, milkshakes....
Why did we need a page on that?
It just felt as if every page had a new social issue on it!
I'm sure I will get hate for these thoughts, but what I needed was a book detailing more on the struggles with Leo.
That being said.... grab a tissue for the end!
Let me start by saying that this book tried to tackle too many social issues in under 300 pages. The main up and front issue should have been Leo's disorder. Not sometimes pushed aside by other characters rants about a million other social issues.
I also found that there was a scene in the diner where they talk about it has basic white food? I'm sorry, that's not a huge issue! It's a diner in America that sells the same thing other diners in America sells.... French fries, hamburg, milkshakes....
Why did we need a page on that?
It just felt as if every page had a new social issue on it!
I'm sure I will get hate for these thoughts, but what I needed was a book detailing more on the struggles with Leo.
That being said.... grab a tissue for the end!
May 20, 2023
Hi all,
To the neurodiverse community, my son wants to say he supports/loves the book, picked the audiobook narrator, and also made me this book trailer
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXQzztvGIp/
and yes I agree this book isn't for everyone. But I did want to trust the intelligence and heart of my readers more than anything.
---
Here's Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books :)
Lee, Marie Myung-Ok Hurt You. Blackstone, 2023 [268p]
Trade ed. ISBN 9798200758098 $19.99
Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 9-12
See this month’s Big Picture, p. 317, for review.
Hurt You
By Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Published in 1937, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men has become a classroom staple, and many middle and high schoolers will be familiar with the heartbreaking story of George Milton and Lennie Small. Famous for the senseless tragedy of its ending, the book exposed profound fissures in American society: its dangerous exploitation of the working class, its callous disregard for those with disabilities, and its shameful abetment of mob justice. Hurt You is both an homage to and a modernization of this American classic, as author Marie Myung-Ok Lee lends further nuance and pathos to Steinbeck’s themes of class dynamics, power, and loyalty. Set in a Korean American community in suburban California, this fitting successor finds modern-day thematic parallels in the profiteering off of immigrant labor and the “Stand Your Ground” gun laws that allow civilians to take justice into their own hands, often with tragic consequences.
Georgia Kim’s life is fraught with tension. She feels it mounting in the room as her brother Leo works himself into another tantrum, and between her parents as they clash over how to raise a son who, like Steinbeck’s character Lennie, has an intellectual disability. She feels tension brewing within herself, as well, in her competing desires to claim agency in her future and to protect her gentle brother from the cruelty and ignorance that surrounds him. Georgia cannot imagine a life without Leo by her side, but her parents are eager for her to move away and attend an elite college where she can start her life sans Leo. Their ambitions precipitate a move to the pristine planned community of Sunnyvale, where Georgia and Leo encounter familiar bigotry in the form of the gun-toting bigshot Curley and his fawning girlfriend. Yet, they also find unprecedented support and kindness in their new school’s Korean American community. With the help of their new friends, Georgia begins to make plans to secure her and Leo’s future, but, like “the best laid plans o’ mice an’ men,” they go awry.
As the story begins at its tragic conclusion, readers know that there will be no future for Leo, that Georgia’s cherished hopes for their life together will come to nothing, that society will not be kind. Yet as the story unfolds, full of love and tenderness, one cannot help but cling to hope that these incredible characters can alter its course. This is a testament to Lee’s masterful storytelling; her visceral prose and deft use of figurative language compound to create an immersive world in which even minor characters are fleshy and flawed. The novel even uses Leo’s tendency to echo speech to call back to Steinbeck’s text, as Leo’s repeated affirmations that “Nuna [older sister] keeps me safe” haunt the novel.
The result is a searing critique of the inaccessible, hostile world people with mental disabilities are forced to navigate, and the gun lobbyist rhetoric that makes marginalized communities especially vulnerable to violence. Indeed, the most disconcerting conceit here is how little our ableist society has changed in the years between the two books. Hurt You is devastating and urgent, and it has the makings of a modern classic.
—Ally Byerly, Reviewer
To the neurodiverse community, my son wants to say he supports/loves the book, picked the audiobook narrator, and also made me this book trailer
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXQzztvGIp/
and yes I agree this book isn't for everyone. But I did want to trust the intelligence and heart of my readers more than anything.
---
Here's Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books :)
Lee, Marie Myung-Ok Hurt You. Blackstone, 2023 [268p]
Trade ed. ISBN 9798200758098 $19.99
Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 9-12
See this month’s Big Picture, p. 317, for review.
Hurt You
By Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Published in 1937, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men has become a classroom staple, and many middle and high schoolers will be familiar with the heartbreaking story of George Milton and Lennie Small. Famous for the senseless tragedy of its ending, the book exposed profound fissures in American society: its dangerous exploitation of the working class, its callous disregard for those with disabilities, and its shameful abetment of mob justice. Hurt You is both an homage to and a modernization of this American classic, as author Marie Myung-Ok Lee lends further nuance and pathos to Steinbeck’s themes of class dynamics, power, and loyalty. Set in a Korean American community in suburban California, this fitting successor finds modern-day thematic parallels in the profiteering off of immigrant labor and the “Stand Your Ground” gun laws that allow civilians to take justice into their own hands, often with tragic consequences.
Georgia Kim’s life is fraught with tension. She feels it mounting in the room as her brother Leo works himself into another tantrum, and between her parents as they clash over how to raise a son who, like Steinbeck’s character Lennie, has an intellectual disability. She feels tension brewing within herself, as well, in her competing desires to claim agency in her future and to protect her gentle brother from the cruelty and ignorance that surrounds him. Georgia cannot imagine a life without Leo by her side, but her parents are eager for her to move away and attend an elite college where she can start her life sans Leo. Their ambitions precipitate a move to the pristine planned community of Sunnyvale, where Georgia and Leo encounter familiar bigotry in the form of the gun-toting bigshot Curley and his fawning girlfriend. Yet, they also find unprecedented support and kindness in their new school’s Korean American community. With the help of their new friends, Georgia begins to make plans to secure her and Leo’s future, but, like “the best laid plans o’ mice an’ men,” they go awry.
As the story begins at its tragic conclusion, readers know that there will be no future for Leo, that Georgia’s cherished hopes for their life together will come to nothing, that society will not be kind. Yet as the story unfolds, full of love and tenderness, one cannot help but cling to hope that these incredible characters can alter its course. This is a testament to Lee’s masterful storytelling; her visceral prose and deft use of figurative language compound to create an immersive world in which even minor characters are fleshy and flawed. The novel even uses Leo’s tendency to echo speech to call back to Steinbeck’s text, as Leo’s repeated affirmations that “Nuna [older sister] keeps me safe” haunt the novel.
The result is a searing critique of the inaccessible, hostile world people with mental disabilities are forced to navigate, and the gun lobbyist rhetoric that makes marginalized communities especially vulnerable to violence. Indeed, the most disconcerting conceit here is how little our ableist society has changed in the years between the two books. Hurt You is devastating and urgent, and it has the makings of a modern classic.
—Ally Byerly, Reviewer
April 22, 2023
In a June 2022 interview with Jane Ciabattari in Lit Hub, author @MarieMyung-Ok Lee talked briefly about her upcoming YA novel, Hurt You. I met Marie when we were both Fellows at the Virginia Center of the Creative Arts. I began reading her work and following her on social media. I said I’d love to read Hurt You, and in Marie’s generous style, an ARC, Advanced Readers Copy arrived in the mail.
In that same Lit Hub interview, Marie said Hurt You was “a neurotypical Korean American-centered retelling Of Mice and Men. So many years had passed since I’d read Steinbeck’s classic I re-read it, and I came away moved, but also thinking Steinbeck had hit one note and in Hurt You, Marie Myung-Ok Lee strikes chords that reverberate.
The bond here is between Georgia and Leo Kim, sister and brother. We learn in the Prologue that Leo, who has an unnamed neurological disorder, meets the same end as Lenny in Of Mice and Men; yet, this where the story of Georgia and Leo begins, not where it ends.
Georgia is fiercely protective of Leo. She’s furious with a world “built only as if normal people exist ….” She and Leo are among a minority of Koreans in a white suburban high school, a place her parents chose in order to get better services for Leo. Themes of disability, race, class, fear and bullying spin throughout this novel. I am in awe of all that Marie Myung-Ok Lee is able to say through these wonderful, believable characters and their stories. This may be a YA book, but truly, it is for all of us.
In that same Lit Hub interview, Marie said Hurt You was “a neurotypical Korean American-centered retelling Of Mice and Men. So many years had passed since I’d read Steinbeck’s classic I re-read it, and I came away moved, but also thinking Steinbeck had hit one note and in Hurt You, Marie Myung-Ok Lee strikes chords that reverberate.
The bond here is between Georgia and Leo Kim, sister and brother. We learn in the Prologue that Leo, who has an unnamed neurological disorder, meets the same end as Lenny in Of Mice and Men; yet, this where the story of Georgia and Leo begins, not where it ends.
Georgia is fiercely protective of Leo. She’s furious with a world “built only as if normal people exist ….” She and Leo are among a minority of Koreans in a white suburban high school, a place her parents chose in order to get better services for Leo. Themes of disability, race, class, fear and bullying spin throughout this novel. I am in awe of all that Marie Myung-Ok Lee is able to say through these wonderful, believable characters and their stories. This may be a YA book, but truly, it is for all of us.
March 18, 2024
A retelling on Of Mice and Men for a teen audience featuring an Asian girl and her brother, who has a disability that shifts everything about their family's life. As they are forced to move to another area and another school because of an incident due to Leo, Georgia is making friends especially at a barber shop that gives her a cool cut that settles her unruly hair. She's entrenched in the Asian community that surrounds her while also navigating those expectations which often force Leo to try to fall in line when he cannot.
It's about Georgia and Leo's relationship to each other and to the world. And obviously a significant amount of the book is dedicating to riding the line of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men however it's not seamless. The book read disjointed, not connecting and moving scene to scene, storyline to storyline in a way that feels full and interconnected about culture, family, and disability. The core family story is what I valued the most, then it felt like the retelling was crowbarred in (similar to how I feel about Anne of West Philly).
With that said, having a family member with a disability that others do not fully understand is a lovely contribution to YA literature where not enough is done to address this element of sibling connection and family dynamics.
It's about Georgia and Leo's relationship to each other and to the world. And obviously a significant amount of the book is dedicating to riding the line of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men however it's not seamless. The book read disjointed, not connecting and moving scene to scene, storyline to storyline in a way that feels full and interconnected about culture, family, and disability. The core family story is what I valued the most, then it felt like the retelling was crowbarred in (similar to how I feel about Anne of West Philly).
With that said, having a family member with a disability that others do not fully understand is a lovely contribution to YA literature where not enough is done to address this element of sibling connection and family dynamics.
August 29, 2023
🐇This book was a tough one, at least for me. Aside from some aspects that I didn't like, this was a solid 5 star book.
🐇It says that it's inspired of the book "Of mice and men", but make it YA. With a disabled adult. Now I haven't read it yet, so I can't compare it, but Hurt You was so so good.
🐇I loved the characters. Leo Kim was an adorable young adult along with his sister Georgie. I had a friend with a disabled brother and I knew by heart all the aspects of Georgie's fears and dreams.
🐇I don't know what I would have done in her situation but I had these thoughts. Should she put her brother before her life?
🐇The Korean aspect was very reproachable. These immigrants aren't considered Americans in America, not Koreans in Korea. So what are they? What's their place? Their heritage?
🐇The facts that I didn't like, was that the murder of Leo happened in the last pages and Georgie's feelings weren't addressed. I would have liked more explanation since it felt rushed in the end.
🐇 Overall this was a great book and I highly recommend you to give it a chance.
🐇I had the unpluggedbookbox edition and it was one of the most beautiful books I own.
🐇It says that it's inspired of the book "Of mice and men", but make it YA. With a disabled adult. Now I haven't read it yet, so I can't compare it, but Hurt You was so so good.
🐇I loved the characters. Leo Kim was an adorable young adult along with his sister Georgie. I had a friend with a disabled brother and I knew by heart all the aspects of Georgie's fears and dreams.
🐇I don't know what I would have done in her situation but I had these thoughts. Should she put her brother before her life?
🐇The Korean aspect was very reproachable. These immigrants aren't considered Americans in America, not Koreans in Korea. So what are they? What's their place? Their heritage?
🐇The facts that I didn't like, was that the murder of Leo happened in the last pages and Georgie's feelings weren't addressed. I would have liked more explanation since it felt rushed in the end.
🐇 Overall this was a great book and I highly recommend you to give it a chance.
🐇I had the unpluggedbookbox edition and it was one of the most beautiful books I own.
August 19, 2023
I have never read Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' but am now motivated to read it since this book has been said to be a modern retelling of that story. This book was somewhat short but packed a lot of punch within its pages. It dealt with neurodiversity, racism, gun violence, ethnicity, and the class system that is still present today. Georgia and her brother, Leo, have moved to a new town and a new school. Leo is neurodiverse and Georgia, who is actually the younger sibling, has become Leo's caretaker/protector/advocate. They live in an area populated by a small number of Koreans and the adjustment to the town from a big city is difficult. This story gives insight into Georgia's thoughts and struggles and her immense love for her brother. So many current issues are dealt with in a beautiful, heartwrenching story. The ending evokes disbelief and so many lingering questions about humanity that I can't stop thinking about it. It is very well done!
May 22, 2023
Hurt You by Marie Myung-ok Lee
Inspired by the visceral and haunting themes in Of Mice and Men, this young adult novel is a colourful and enlightening exploration of disability and violence. Reimagining Steinbeck’s classic set in a modern high school, Lee provides a nuanced look at neurodiversity and the ableist structures of society. Told through the eyes of Georgia Kim, a Korean American teen struggling to find her footing in a new school while supporting her brother’s needs, themes of race, class, and prejudice are uncovered in this coming-of-age story. The explosive, thought-provoking conclusion breaks down conventional stereotypes and will leave readers pondering questions about who the world casts as the villain and the victim.
Inspired by the visceral and haunting themes in Of Mice and Men, this young adult novel is a colourful and enlightening exploration of disability and violence. Reimagining Steinbeck’s classic set in a modern high school, Lee provides a nuanced look at neurodiversity and the ableist structures of society. Told through the eyes of Georgia Kim, a Korean American teen struggling to find her footing in a new school while supporting her brother’s needs, themes of race, class, and prejudice are uncovered in this coming-of-age story. The explosive, thought-provoking conclusion breaks down conventional stereotypes and will leave readers pondering questions about who the world casts as the villain and the victim.
July 29, 2025
The ending of this book made me feel so mad and like a sense of despair. Because of how Leo was portrayed by the media and Curley being hailed as a hero. It definitely hit a nerve for me. Throughout the book it was very interesting reading from the perspective of a teenager whose brother is on the spectrum and has other health care needs which require a lot of care. She’s such an empathetic and strong character, who truly loves her brother no matter what. And that’s inspiring. It is also frustrating because of how she makes choices or changes what her future will be because of her brother. It brings up questions of how our schools and other systems treat people who have different levels of ability. It’s such a complex topic and answers vary based on so many different factors.
December 27, 2023
3.5
There is a lot to unpack here. A really great exploration of a Korean-American family caring for a neurodivergent member. The various blatant and subtle connections with "Of Mice and Men" tell you how the story will likely end early on. Even still, the ending is abrupt and shattering. I both appreciated that and didn't care for it. It happened almost too quickly. But, on the other hand, acts of violence happen quickly and unexpectedly. In that way, it made sense.
I appreciated the added layer of the main character's struggle of finding space for herself, family, and friends in a predominantly white suburban town.
A difficult and important read.
There is a lot to unpack here. A really great exploration of a Korean-American family caring for a neurodivergent member. The various blatant and subtle connections with "Of Mice and Men" tell you how the story will likely end early on. Even still, the ending is abrupt and shattering. I both appreciated that and didn't care for it. It happened almost too quickly. But, on the other hand, acts of violence happen quickly and unexpectedly. In that way, it made sense.
I appreciated the added layer of the main character's struggle of finding space for herself, family, and friends in a predominantly white suburban town.
A difficult and important read.
May 23, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
What sold me on this book was that is was a modern retelling of my favorite book in school, Of Mice and Men.
It is indeed that, but so much more feeling involved. The book felt real, and incredibly emotional.
I am not a fan of crying for fictional characters, so I wavered between 4 stars or 5. Then I remembered the first chapter and waiting for her parents to have their first fight in the morning like mine did. It's a relatable book and I love that
What sold me on this book was that is was a modern retelling of my favorite book in school, Of Mice and Men.
It is indeed that, but so much more feeling involved. The book felt real, and incredibly emotional.
I am not a fan of crying for fictional characters, so I wavered between 4 stars or 5. Then I remembered the first chapter and waiting for her parents to have their first fight in the morning like mine did. It's a relatable book and I love that
June 25, 2023
I thought that this book was excellent and I hope that my husband and my two kids will read it too. I loved the relationship between Georgia and Leo and the author did a really good job of describing the challenges that come up when one sibling has lifelong needs. I am usually in the majority wherever I go. This book helped me to feel some of the feelings that people in the minority feel. There aren’t easy answers, I don’t think. But trying to understand is a first step. I would recommend this book to teens and adults.
April 17, 2024
I was enthralled that this was a "Mice and Men" comparative novel. I did not have anywhere the same emotional connection. This is a young adult novel. Focus was on acceptance, peer rejection, and Korean identity. I believe the needs of the older brother with the disability were so pervasive that the connection between younger sister and brother were lost. I still gave it a 4 star rating because of the female antagonist's struggle for self identity.
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