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The Fold
Joyce never used to care that much about how she looked, but that was before she met JFK—John Ford Kang, the most gorgeous guy in school. And it doesn’t help that she’s constantly being compared to her beautiful older sister, Helen. Then her rich plastic-surgery-addict aunt offers Joyce a gift to “fix” a part of herself she’d never realized needed fixing—her eyes. Joyce has heard of the fold surgery—a common procedure meant to make Asian women’s eyes seem “prettier” and more “American”—but she’s not sure she wants to go through with it. Her friend Gina can’t believe she isn’t thrilled. After all, the plastic surgeon has shown Joyce that her new eyes will make her look just like Helen—but is that necessarily a good thing?
Printz Award–winning author An Na has created a surprisingly funny and thought-provoking look at notions of beauty, who sets the standards and how they affect us all. Joyce’s decision is sure to spark heated discussions about the beauty myths readers confront in their own lives.
Printz Award–winning author An Na has created a surprisingly funny and thought-provoking look at notions of beauty, who sets the standards and how they affect us all. Joyce’s decision is sure to spark heated discussions about the beauty myths readers confront in their own lives.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2008
23 people are currently reading
1198 people want to read
About the author
An Na
49 books151 followersAn Na was born in Korea and grew up in San Diego, California. A former middle school English and history teacher, she is currently at work on her third novel. She lives in Vermont.
(from Web site)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 17, 2018
3.5 Although The Fold was published in 2008, it is still so relevant for today’s teens. Joyce is dealing with some interesting and difficult situations – but thankfully, she has a good support system. While reading I did find myself wishing for a little more maturity in the characters which isn't unusual for me.
Side note: It is SO strange that there are no cell phones in the entire book!!
Side note: It is SO strange that there are no cell phones in the entire book!!
August 11, 2016
I didn't even have a chance to put up this book as currently-reading I was that sucked in. That never happens to me. I always put up what I'm reading, but I zipped right through this because I just had to find out what happened to Joyce and her whole decision on the fold.
Not being Korean I didn't know the whole extent of "the fold". The fold is the crease that people have on their eyelids and apparently have the effect of making your eyes look bigger. More importantly though it navigates and challenges everybody's image of beauty. Should you really go under the knife? Where do you draw the line on what's too much? Should it matter what people think? Can you really judge someone for doing something drastic if it helped to boost their self-esteem? All these questions are presented and give you something to ponder on.
The book starts off with Joyce picking a pimple. Yeah you read right that's how it starts. She just can't face John Ford Kang (aka JFK and her crush) with that on her face. As gross as it sounds it actually pulls you in because this is something that people can identify with. Joyce's Korean family felt so real. The food, mannerisms and gestures felt genuine. Helen her older sister, the "perfect Korean girl", or so it seems is having her own problems as well. Though what is revealed about her is no surprise you can see why it is for Joyce. We are presented with the dilemma of the story when her aunt Gomo wins some lottery money and offers a gift to each of her family members. Joyce gets to get the fold surgery. There is lots of back and forth with this issue. Some people think she should, others that she shouldn't. If the fold will change her life for the better she can endure the pain right? But what if she regrets it and feels like a fake?
The only reason I didn't give the book a whole five star rating is because Joyce could get kind of annoying. She sounded more like a 13 year old girl than a person who was going to enter their senior year. She constantly complained about her older sister and basically obsessed over her looks. I get that it was part of her journey but I don't think she had to be so quite out of touch. I thought the ending was fitting and liked the roles the minor characters played. Definitely worth your time.
Not being Korean I didn't know the whole extent of "the fold". The fold is the crease that people have on their eyelids and apparently have the effect of making your eyes look bigger. More importantly though it navigates and challenges everybody's image of beauty. Should you really go under the knife? Where do you draw the line on what's too much? Should it matter what people think? Can you really judge someone for doing something drastic if it helped to boost their self-esteem? All these questions are presented and give you something to ponder on.
The book starts off with Joyce picking a pimple. Yeah you read right that's how it starts. She just can't face John Ford Kang (aka JFK and her crush) with that on her face. As gross as it sounds it actually pulls you in because this is something that people can identify with. Joyce's Korean family felt so real. The food, mannerisms and gestures felt genuine. Helen her older sister, the "perfect Korean girl", or so it seems is having her own problems as well. Though what is revealed about her is no surprise you can see why it is for Joyce. We are presented with the dilemma of the story when her aunt Gomo wins some lottery money and offers a gift to each of her family members. Joyce gets to get the fold surgery. There is lots of back and forth with this issue. Some people think she should, others that she shouldn't. If the fold will change her life for the better she can endure the pain right? But what if she regrets it and feels like a fake?
The only reason I didn't give the book a whole five star rating is because Joyce could get kind of annoying. She sounded more like a 13 year old girl than a person who was going to enter their senior year. She constantly complained about her older sister and basically obsessed over her looks. I get that it was part of her journey but I don't think she had to be so quite out of touch. I thought the ending was fitting and liked the roles the minor characters played. Definitely worth your time.
October 10, 2009
Having had a Korean friend when I was younger I already knew about the fold surgery and I also saw it on Oprah. Go ahead and laugh but that is an informational show! The book was interesting and even funny, but it felt slow at times. Joyce also seemed self-centered for most of the beginning.
Joyce wishes she was beautiful. Maybe if she looked more like her sister then the gorgeous John Ford Kang might actually notice her. Her sister Helen is the poster child for the perfect Korean daughter; smart, beautiful, respectful, and responsible, but that's just not who Joyce is. When she finally builds the courage to ask John to sign her yearbook on the last day of school she finds that he doesn't even know who she is. Now Joyce feels worse than ever. But when her aunt Gomo wins the lottery, and she offers all of the family a gift to help improve them, Joyce finally has the chance to be beautiful.
Although I did enjoy reading the book (at least when I had the chance), Joyce just sounded selfish at the beginning. She was always mentioning how Helen was self-centered, and didn't Helen realize that not everything was about her? Maybe I'm just better at reading people, but wasn't it pretty obvious that Helen had bigger problems than whether or not Joyce was going to get to use the car? The beginning dragged on for a while with Joyce debating whether or not she wants the surgery without getting much closer to a decision. Things finally start to pick in the middle.
I did like the honesty of the book though. The relationship that Joyce has with her family and the Korean church community doesn't feel forced. Her best friend Gina sounds shallow from the start, but by the end of the book you see that she's actually a very loyal and trustworthy friend. Her aunt Gomo is easily unlikable the way she blatantly favors Helen over Joyce, but while all her gifts turn out to be a catastrophe you see that her heart is in the right place. For the most part the other characters are given depth but I still think that they could've been drawn out more. The author did a very good job of showing how easily you can be drawn into wanting beauty so much that you're willing to change yourself. By the end I was seriously thinking that it wouldn't be all that bad if Joyce got the surgery, as long as she did it for herself. I also always appreciate when an author can tie in culture without sounding like a social studies book.
The subject of the book really interested me, but I also liked that its message was more about everyones general appearance issues, rather than only on the fold surgery. The book managed to be funny, even though the beginning was slow. I really liked how the ending tied in how the people that love you, like friends and family are always there for you. I was also mostly satisfied with how the crush issues were dealt with. No shattered lives or broken hearts. Always a plus. The ending was believable, and although it was left a bit open it still managed to satisfy me. An interesting and worthwhile read.
Joyce wishes she was beautiful. Maybe if she looked more like her sister then the gorgeous John Ford Kang might actually notice her. Her sister Helen is the poster child for the perfect Korean daughter; smart, beautiful, respectful, and responsible, but that's just not who Joyce is. When she finally builds the courage to ask John to sign her yearbook on the last day of school she finds that he doesn't even know who she is. Now Joyce feels worse than ever. But when her aunt Gomo wins the lottery, and she offers all of the family a gift to help improve them, Joyce finally has the chance to be beautiful.
Although I did enjoy reading the book (at least when I had the chance), Joyce just sounded selfish at the beginning. She was always mentioning how Helen was self-centered, and didn't Helen realize that not everything was about her? Maybe I'm just better at reading people, but wasn't it pretty obvious that Helen had bigger problems than whether or not Joyce was going to get to use the car? The beginning dragged on for a while with Joyce debating whether or not she wants the surgery without getting much closer to a decision. Things finally start to pick in the middle.
I did like the honesty of the book though. The relationship that Joyce has with her family and the Korean church community doesn't feel forced. Her best friend Gina sounds shallow from the start, but by the end of the book you see that she's actually a very loyal and trustworthy friend. Her aunt Gomo is easily unlikable the way she blatantly favors Helen over Joyce, but while all her gifts turn out to be a catastrophe you see that her heart is in the right place. For the most part the other characters are given depth but I still think that they could've been drawn out more. The author did a very good job of showing how easily you can be drawn into wanting beauty so much that you're willing to change yourself. By the end I was seriously thinking that it wouldn't be all that bad if Joyce got the surgery, as long as she did it for herself. I also always appreciate when an author can tie in culture without sounding like a social studies book.
The subject of the book really interested me, but I also liked that its message was more about everyones general appearance issues, rather than only on the fold surgery. The book managed to be funny, even though the beginning was slow. I really liked how the ending tied in how the people that love you, like friends and family are always there for you. I was also mostly satisfied with how the crush issues were dealt with. No shattered lives or broken hearts. Always a plus. The ending was believable, and although it was left a bit open it still managed to satisfy me. An interesting and worthwhile read.
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August 22, 2013just to let you know, this is not a review. just some thoughts about this novel.
i think every east asian girl (and perhaps boy?) with monolids would be able to understand the feelings of joyce concerning her eyelids. i think alot of monolidded east asian girls (and boys?) also have experienced family members telling them that'd they'd be more attractive with double eyelids.
i think some of the reviewers on here, being non-east asian or not even people of color, don't really recognize the significance of double eyelid surgery and the double eyelid vs. monolid conflict within east asian communities... i just want to let people know that the double eyelid vs monolid issue is not a trivial matter. double eyelid surgery and the desire for double eyelids over monolids is connected to colonialism, imperialism, globalization, and white supremacy...
i found it kind of interesting that joyce's crush, jfk, was half korean, half white. more like, i was interested by the fact that jfk was considered the most gorgeous guy in joyce's school. would he have been generally considered the most gorgeous guy in school if he wasn't part white? ..
i also found it interesting that the author made ---- to be lesbian. it brought up a whole slew of conflicting emotions and thoughts for me. ... i don't feel like elaborating on them right now, though.
i think every east asian girl (and perhaps boy?) with monolids would be able to understand the feelings of joyce concerning her eyelids. i think alot of monolidded east asian girls (and boys?) also have experienced family members telling them that'd they'd be more attractive with double eyelids.
i think some of the reviewers on here, being non-east asian or not even people of color, don't really recognize the significance of double eyelid surgery and the double eyelid vs. monolid conflict within east asian communities... i just want to let people know that the double eyelid vs monolid issue is not a trivial matter. double eyelid surgery and the desire for double eyelids over monolids is connected to colonialism, imperialism, globalization, and white supremacy...
i found it kind of interesting that joyce's crush, jfk, was half korean, half white. more like, i was interested by the fact that jfk was considered the most gorgeous guy in joyce's school. would he have been generally considered the most gorgeous guy in school if he wasn't part white? ..
i also found it interesting that the author made ---- to be lesbian. it brought up a whole slew of conflicting emotions and thoughts for me. ... i don't feel like elaborating on them right now, though.
January 28, 2009
This book's premise is amazing, and it is the reason I picked it up from the masses. I'm always up for a good YA cultural tale. I'd never even heard of the fold surgery. Part of me has always been curious as to what Asians thought of their different looks (their eyes, in particular) in contrast with Americans. I imagined it would be something that either didn't bother them too much, or if it did, it was only a small bother. I never thought this Asian eyes issue was of this magnitude, with ample surgeries going left and right trying to "correct it". For raising awareness to this topic, this book deserves an A+.
Now...
I didn't love this novel. Why? Joyce wasn't that compelling a character. I'll be the first to say this was an important story to be told (read my paragraph above), but the overall execution didn't do a lot for me. More often than not, I was bored with Joyce's voice. The central issue in her life is this prospective plastic surgery, and while she's off obsessing about it, we've got so many more interesting characters making appearances but never interesting Joyce enough to explore their stories more. Examples:
Joyce's older, more beautiful sister, Helen, is the "perfect daughter". She's got a lot built up inside of her, which is blatantly obvious, but almost none of it is ever explored. Helen, despite always being pressured to do better every time, has an amazing, complex, and mature outlook. I would've read an entire book about her if given the chance.
Gina, the best friend. Here's a girl so sure of what she wants, but who has to work extra hard for it because of her family's financial problems. She works and has to keep her grades in tip-top shape at all times in order to get into college. Aside from all this, she's no more than a secondary character in the entire novel whose only purpose is to aide Joyce in the life-or-death situation that the surgery seems to be.
Gomo, the aunt who offered to pay for the plastic surgery. Far from perfect, but she's always got the best intentions at heart. During the brief point in the book where we're allowed to look into her past, we can see she's got so much compelling history, it's a wonder it didn't pop up more.
And those are only off the top of my head. It would've been easy to implement those characters' stories in with this novel's third-person narrative, but for some reason, all we get is Joyce. I wish she'd realized some time or another that the reason she's so insecure is because she spends interminable amounts of time overanalyzing her every facet. No plastic surgery is going to fix that. What she really needs is a hobby.
The ending was a little forced, but I liked it. I think she chose what she did for the right reasons and maybe it's a step in the right direction for her.
I am giving this three stars because I judged it as an important book, and for that purpose, it fell short. It's a highly readable novel, but it didn't stir me nearly enough as it should've or make as big a point as I was expecting. Maybe it's good for entertainment. I'm afraid I'll never know, because I started it expecting something groundbreaking. But maybe.
Now...
I didn't love this novel. Why? Joyce wasn't that compelling a character. I'll be the first to say this was an important story to be told (read my paragraph above), but the overall execution didn't do a lot for me. More often than not, I was bored with Joyce's voice. The central issue in her life is this prospective plastic surgery, and while she's off obsessing about it, we've got so many more interesting characters making appearances but never interesting Joyce enough to explore their stories more. Examples:
Joyce's older, more beautiful sister, Helen, is the "perfect daughter". She's got a lot built up inside of her, which is blatantly obvious, but almost none of it is ever explored. Helen, despite always being pressured to do better every time, has an amazing, complex, and mature outlook. I would've read an entire book about her if given the chance.
Gina, the best friend. Here's a girl so sure of what she wants, but who has to work extra hard for it because of her family's financial problems. She works and has to keep her grades in tip-top shape at all times in order to get into college. Aside from all this, she's no more than a secondary character in the entire novel whose only purpose is to aide Joyce in the life-or-death situation that the surgery seems to be.
Gomo, the aunt who offered to pay for the plastic surgery. Far from perfect, but she's always got the best intentions at heart. During the brief point in the book where we're allowed to look into her past, we can see she's got so much compelling history, it's a wonder it didn't pop up more.
And those are only off the top of my head. It would've been easy to implement those characters' stories in with this novel's third-person narrative, but for some reason, all we get is Joyce. I wish she'd realized some time or another that the reason she's so insecure is because she spends interminable amounts of time overanalyzing her every facet. No plastic surgery is going to fix that. What she really needs is a hobby.
The ending was a little forced, but I liked it. I think she chose what she did for the right reasons and maybe it's a step in the right direction for her.
I am giving this three stars because I judged it as an important book, and for that purpose, it fell short. It's a highly readable novel, but it didn't stir me nearly enough as it should've or make as big a point as I was expecting. Maybe it's good for entertainment. I'm afraid I'll never know, because I started it expecting something groundbreaking. But maybe.
August 9, 2016
Alright, I started reading this book with mixed feelings. I'm not Asian so I'm not always conscious of "The Fold" but I have heard of the surgery that thousands of Asians go through each year.
Quick overview: Joyce's aunt wins the lottery and gives all these presents to her family. The aunt decides to give Joyce the surgery to create the fold. The rest of the story goes on with Joyce debating whether to get it or not. Of course other stuff happens too but that is the jist of it.
I was all for Joyce not getting the surgery in the beginning but near the end I think I would be okay with it. Okay meaning I wouldn't necessarily like it but I could live with it. I would be able to understand to a certain extent if she did. Whether or not she got the fold was not the deciding fact of my rating. I didn't like Joyce as much as I wanted to. She was annoying to me for almost the whole book. The first half she just seemed hung up on John, hating her sister, and all the woos of her life. I understand that she has problems but I didn't get why she had to bust out the waterworks every chapter. The second half she seems to be a jerk -alright it was only one scene but it counts. She redeems herself enough in the end that I thought she wasn't too bad. Joyce sees how quick she was to judge those around her and also how blind she was to everyone else’s problems -mainly her sister's.
It was insightful and had a few kind of funny parts. The characters feel real and I can honestly say that I've never read a book that presents the question so much of How far would you go to look good? It had a very different feel than I was expecting.
Quick overview: Joyce's aunt wins the lottery and gives all these presents to her family. The aunt decides to give Joyce the surgery to create the fold. The rest of the story goes on with Joyce debating whether to get it or not. Of course other stuff happens too but that is the jist of it.
I was all for Joyce not getting the surgery in the beginning but near the end I think I would be okay with it. Okay meaning I wouldn't necessarily like it but I could live with it. I would be able to understand to a certain extent if she did. Whether or not she got the fold was not the deciding fact of my rating. I didn't like Joyce as much as I wanted to. She was annoying to me for almost the whole book. The first half she just seemed hung up on John, hating her sister, and all the woos of her life. I understand that she has problems but I didn't get why she had to bust out the waterworks every chapter. The second half she seems to be a jerk -alright it was only one scene but it counts. She redeems herself enough in the end that I thought she wasn't too bad. Joyce sees how quick she was to judge those around her and also how blind she was to everyone else’s problems -mainly her sister's.
It was insightful and had a few kind of funny parts. The characters feel real and I can honestly say that I've never read a book that presents the question so much of How far would you go to look good? It had a very different feel than I was expecting.
November 21, 2010
Published by 2008 by Putnam Juvenile
Interest Level: 8th-10th Grade
This book follows an Korean-American girl and her family after they are graciously given "gifts" from the girl's aunt that suddenly wins the lottery. The surprise is not the lottery winnings but the effect of those "gifts" that are given and how each family member accepts or rejects them.
I thought that the depiction of this family was detailed, thoughtful, heartfelt, and honest. Each family member had different difficulties that they struggled with alone, but each needed their family to help them get through their hardships. I think that the characterization and the decision making process of each character is genuine and interesting in regards to how they perceive and deal with their gifts.
Although I liked the plot and characterization, I could have done with more complex depictions of the family members. The main character's mother and father seemed to be almost flat except for a few key events and the sister was mysterious until she let out everything, which was shocking and surprising. It is possible that these effects were to show the selfishness of the main character, but I think that there could have been slightly deeper character use.
Interest Level: 8th-10th Grade
This book follows an Korean-American girl and her family after they are graciously given "gifts" from the girl's aunt that suddenly wins the lottery. The surprise is not the lottery winnings but the effect of those "gifts" that are given and how each family member accepts or rejects them.
I thought that the depiction of this family was detailed, thoughtful, heartfelt, and honest. Each family member had different difficulties that they struggled with alone, but each needed their family to help them get through their hardships. I think that the characterization and the decision making process of each character is genuine and interesting in regards to how they perceive and deal with their gifts.
Although I liked the plot and characterization, I could have done with more complex depictions of the family members. The main character's mother and father seemed to be almost flat except for a few key events and the sister was mysterious until she let out everything, which was shocking and surprising. It is possible that these effects were to show the selfishness of the main character, but I think that there could have been slightly deeper character use.
January 17, 2009
Joyce and Gina are best friends ending their junior year of high school. They are determined to make this summer one of transformation. They want to look better, prettier, to stand out and be noticed. When they go back to school in the fall, they want people to say Wow. Who wouldn’t want that?
What steps are you willing to take to be “pretty”? Joyce’s Aunt Gomo offers her the chance of a lifetime. She will pay for Joyce to get her eyes done. Get her eyes done? Will that work? Is that all she needs to be beautiful? Joyce has a decision to make. Will the surgery get her what she wants?
The Fold follows Joyce on her quest for popularity. She has to decide how far she wants to go to get what she wants.
Although this story has a great premise, it is predictable and slow-moving. Joyce’s obsession with John Ford Kang is unrealistic based on what he writes in her yearbook. Her loathing of her sister Helen is selfish and has no basis and knowing what we do about Gomo – leads us to the conclusion long before we get there.
What steps are you willing to take to be “pretty”? Joyce’s Aunt Gomo offers her the chance of a lifetime. She will pay for Joyce to get her eyes done. Get her eyes done? Will that work? Is that all she needs to be beautiful? Joyce has a decision to make. Will the surgery get her what she wants?
The Fold follows Joyce on her quest for popularity. She has to decide how far she wants to go to get what she wants.
Although this story has a great premise, it is predictable and slow-moving. Joyce’s obsession with John Ford Kang is unrealistic based on what he writes in her yearbook. Her loathing of her sister Helen is selfish and has no basis and knowing what we do about Gomo – leads us to the conclusion long before we get there.
January 30, 2009
* The Printz Award-winning author here offers a lightweight title about a serious subject: the cosmetic surgery Asian women undergo to achieve a more Western look to their eyes, know as the "double lid fold." Many non-Asians are unaware of this phenomenon, but for Asians and Asian Americans, it's a controversial issue. 16 year old Korean-American Joyce is a believable teen, obsessing over the gorgeous hapa (half Korean, half white) boy who doesn't know she exists, jealous of her beautiful, socially and academically successful older sister, and oblivious to the neighbor boy who is sweet, sensitive and a real friend. When Joyce's manipulative aunt wins the lottery, she decides she will gift her family members with what she feels they need. To Joyce, she offers the fold surgery-and Joyce is sorely tempted. While it lacks the lyrical prose and intensity of situation of Na's previous titles, this slight read will intrigue readers, Asian or non. I've already had several (non-Asian) readers ask me for it.
April 16, 2015
I didn't like how they mention Michael (obviously Michael Jackson) & how he had alterd his face and what not.
Okay.
Guys.
For all you people that don't know:
HE DID NOT BLEACH HIS SKIN. He had vitiligo, & he got lighter & lighter. He used a lot of pancake makeup to even out his skin tone, and all the lights made him seem even lighter. plus, the tabloids edited his picture to make him look like an alien.
Second, he only had 2-3 surgeries. In the 70s, he was working on a spin and fell flat on his face. He had to have surgery. Plus, his dad was always making fun of his "big" nose so he was very insecure. But he couldn't breath properly, so he got another surgery. He also had one to help his lupus. I wouldn't even count it as a surgery. Lupus makes your cheeks red cuz of rashes, AND alters your head shape. In a way.
That's it. No bleaching.
Oh--and about the drugs. In a Pepsi commercial, there were sparks, & his head caught on fire. He was in so much pain, and painkillers helped. I can't remember what it's called--starts with a D. Den something, I think. Anyways, he had to use it a lot b/c he was in pain a lot!
He died because he had insomnia, and he needed pills to help him get to sleep. His doctor overdosed him and he had a heart attack and died.
The End.
A hard life, but her pulled through.
All that "Wacko Jacko" ish is BS. All that "bleaching" ish is MAJOR BS.
"Fifty shades of skin color" can stop.
The molesting charges can stop also. Why TF would he molest a child?! The reason he was around children a lot was because when he was younger, he was working. Working working working. And he never got a chance to have a childhood. So he created Neverland. Children were angels in his eyes. He loved children with all his heart. That's why he was child-like. Now that he's the greatest singer ever, he can create the world he never got to live in as a child.
And him being gay--come on. He loved women. He only talked high-pitched was because he thought people would like him more. He actually had a very deep voice.
And there you go.
The more you know, the more you know.
Stop with all the lies. I wish every MJ doubter in the whole world could see this.
And if you're still reading--thank you. Thank you so so so so so so so so so so so so sooooo much.
Okay.
Guys.
For all you people that don't know:
HE DID NOT BLEACH HIS SKIN. He had vitiligo, & he got lighter & lighter. He used a lot of pancake makeup to even out his skin tone, and all the lights made him seem even lighter. plus, the tabloids edited his picture to make him look like an alien.
Second, he only had 2-3 surgeries. In the 70s, he was working on a spin and fell flat on his face. He had to have surgery. Plus, his dad was always making fun of his "big" nose so he was very insecure. But he couldn't breath properly, so he got another surgery. He also had one to help his lupus. I wouldn't even count it as a surgery. Lupus makes your cheeks red cuz of rashes, AND alters your head shape. In a way.
That's it. No bleaching.
Oh--and about the drugs. In a Pepsi commercial, there were sparks, & his head caught on fire. He was in so much pain, and painkillers helped. I can't remember what it's called--starts with a D. Den something, I think. Anyways, he had to use it a lot b/c he was in pain a lot!
He died because he had insomnia, and he needed pills to help him get to sleep. His doctor overdosed him and he had a heart attack and died.
The End.
A hard life, but her pulled through.
All that "Wacko Jacko" ish is BS. All that "bleaching" ish is MAJOR BS.
"Fifty shades of skin color" can stop.
The molesting charges can stop also. Why TF would he molest a child?! The reason he was around children a lot was because when he was younger, he was working. Working working working. And he never got a chance to have a childhood. So he created Neverland. Children were angels in his eyes. He loved children with all his heart. That's why he was child-like. Now that he's the greatest singer ever, he can create the world he never got to live in as a child.
And him being gay--come on. He loved women. He only talked high-pitched was because he thought people would like him more. He actually had a very deep voice.
And there you go.
The more you know, the more you know.
Stop with all the lies. I wish every MJ doubter in the whole world could see this.
And if you're still reading--thank you. Thank you so so so so so so so so so so so so sooooo much.
June 10, 2008
Joyce Park has always been overshadowed by her beautiful, smart older sister Helen, but this is the summer that's going to change. Joyce has a plan. First, she's going to get her crush John Ford Kang to sign her yearbook. She'll be effortlessly gorgeous and witty and sign something intriguing in his. Then she'll spend the whole summer improving herself. She'll wash her face every day and figure out some way to slim down her fat knees. When they come back for their senior year, John will remember her and fall instantly in love.
But things don't go the way Joyce plans. In fact, her plan fails miserably. And then something extraordinary happens. Joyce's aunt wins the lottery and buys gifts for all her family members. Joyce's gift is that her aunt will pay for her to get plastic surgery on her eyes to create the double folded eyelids, the "good eyes". Joyce had never considered the surgery before, but she finds herself drawn to it. Could it make her beautiful? Could it help her get John Ford Kang's attention? Could she finally feel confident about herself?
I liked this story, although I think I liked some of the secondary characters more than the main character Joyce. Joyce really seemed to only care about how she looked and whether she could get John to notice her. She didn't really seem to have much else going on. I found Joyce's sister Helen, so distant and depressed since her best friend moved away, and Joyce's friend Gina, determined to get into an ivy league school even though her family has no way to pay for it, much more intriguing. That said, it was still an interesting book and kept me turning the pages. And it made me keep looking in the mirror at my own eyelids.
But things don't go the way Joyce plans. In fact, her plan fails miserably. And then something extraordinary happens. Joyce's aunt wins the lottery and buys gifts for all her family members. Joyce's gift is that her aunt will pay for her to get plastic surgery on her eyes to create the double folded eyelids, the "good eyes". Joyce had never considered the surgery before, but she finds herself drawn to it. Could it make her beautiful? Could it help her get John Ford Kang's attention? Could she finally feel confident about herself?
I liked this story, although I think I liked some of the secondary characters more than the main character Joyce. Joyce really seemed to only care about how she looked and whether she could get John to notice her. She didn't really seem to have much else going on. I found Joyce's sister Helen, so distant and depressed since her best friend moved away, and Joyce's friend Gina, determined to get into an ivy league school even though her family has no way to pay for it, much more intriguing. That said, it was still an interesting book and kept me turning the pages. And it made me keep looking in the mirror at my own eyelids.
August 5, 2010
I really love the concept of this novel but I'm afraid I was a little let down by the writing. Joyce seemed mostly reactive, which makes it a bit hard to care about her as much as you want to. I was also not thrilled by the ending because it seemed somewhat predictable and forced like it was tacked on quickly. Other than that, though, I think the author did a good job of making the teenagers sound realistic and I really liked the Korean word dropping. She did it really well and it didn't end up sounding campy or anything, which is hard to do!
February 4, 2016
I really liked this book because it is about this girl who thinks she is too fat and she needs to change everything about herself.
September 29, 2017
Short, good read with a great message for middle school girls! " Be yourself and be comfortable with it!"
November 29, 2011
As a reader, this book mirrored some of the same experiences that I've experienced or some of my closest Korean-American friends have encountered. It at times engendered a sense of pride, while at other times, it made me totally ashamed of my culture.
However, I believe that An Na did a great job of capturing the Korean-American society. She used a multitude of Korean words, spelling them phonetically, and not translating them into English. It provided a sense of authenticity as I was reading. I also could relate to the aspect of church and how most Koreans attend church for more social occasions than religious ones. An Na also did a great job of the struggle and pull of second generation children, who see their parents working hard to provide for their families, but want to experience the American culture/society of belonging. The author also showed an aspect of Korean culture that I am sometimes ashamed of: the sense of entitlement from elders.
As a multicultural book, I think this author did a tremendous job of offering insight into a society that is so often stereotyped. But maybe because I am someone who is an insider to this type of society/culture, it was hard for me to thoroughly enjoy it as a reader.
As a contemporary realistic fiction book, the author chose to resemble real people and a real place, but most importantly, presented a dilemma that is of real interest to children. The theme or issue of plastic surgery poses a real threat to children nowadays, as more and more celebrities and even real people undergo it to have qualities that are far better than what they were born with. This book fits in the category of book about self-discovery and growing up, as Joyce truly faces an issue that plunges her into a discovery of who she is and who she can be, with or without the surgery. This book was also written in a point of view that causes readers to see it in a "slanted" way - the perspective of Joyce [third person limited].
However, I believe that An Na did a great job of capturing the Korean-American society. She used a multitude of Korean words, spelling them phonetically, and not translating them into English. It provided a sense of authenticity as I was reading. I also could relate to the aspect of church and how most Koreans attend church for more social occasions than religious ones. An Na also did a great job of the struggle and pull of second generation children, who see their parents working hard to provide for their families, but want to experience the American culture/society of belonging. The author also showed an aspect of Korean culture that I am sometimes ashamed of: the sense of entitlement from elders.
As a multicultural book, I think this author did a tremendous job of offering insight into a society that is so often stereotyped. But maybe because I am someone who is an insider to this type of society/culture, it was hard for me to thoroughly enjoy it as a reader.
As a contemporary realistic fiction book, the author chose to resemble real people and a real place, but most importantly, presented a dilemma that is of real interest to children. The theme or issue of plastic surgery poses a real threat to children nowadays, as more and more celebrities and even real people undergo it to have qualities that are far better than what they were born with. This book fits in the category of book about self-discovery and growing up, as Joyce truly faces an issue that plunges her into a discovery of who she is and who she can be, with or without the surgery. This book was also written in a point of view that causes readers to see it in a "slanted" way - the perspective of Joyce [third person limited].
February 9, 2017
Wow.
I can't believe I just read that.
1st issue: Let me tell you this, this book, despite being written by Korean-American woman is the farthest thing ever from the real beauty world of Korean society.
I have 3 female Korean friends who live in Korea all their lives, and let me tell some facts about Korean.
Do Koreans very aware of self-beauty? Yes.
Are they what you could call vain? Yes.
Does Korea has the biggest ass cosmetic surgery (or plastic surgery as this book called it) industry in the world? Yes, and it is called the best and the safest. Even Americans go to Korea to have cosmetic surgery these days.
Do mothers and aunts encourage their children to do cosmetic surgery? More often yes, but not always.
Do every girl in Korea have done cosmetic surgery? Only 36% of female population in Korea do cosmetic surgery.
Do they do cosmetic surgery because they want to look more "white" or "American"? Nope. They have their own standard of beauty, people. Please notice the difference of American beauty standards and Korean ones, because there are a lot of differences that I can't even write one by one.
2nd issue I have with this book is how judgmental it is to the whole changing yourself concept. I mean, everyone has their right to do what the fork they want. People change every day, from personality to gender but why oh why this book only focusing on the supposedly horrible thoughts of changing your physique.
3rd issue: This book isn't even informative. There's no real statistics on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Like who did this, why, how many of Asian people did this. This book only state: Korean do cosmetic surgery. This makes it sound like everyone on Asia do cosmetic surgery.
Yep, I'm done.
Edit: I got even more mad that they're mentioning Michael Jackson. Omg.
I can't believe I just read that.
1st issue: Let me tell you this, this book, despite being written by Korean-American woman is the farthest thing ever from the real beauty world of Korean society.
I have 3 female Korean friends who live in Korea all their lives, and let me tell some facts about Korean.
Do Koreans very aware of self-beauty? Yes.
Are they what you could call vain? Yes.
Does Korea has the biggest ass cosmetic surgery (or plastic surgery as this book called it) industry in the world? Yes, and it is called the best and the safest. Even Americans go to Korea to have cosmetic surgery these days.
Do mothers and aunts encourage their children to do cosmetic surgery? More often yes, but not always.
Do every girl in Korea have done cosmetic surgery? Only 36% of female population in Korea do cosmetic surgery.
Do they do cosmetic surgery because they want to look more "white" or "American"? Nope. They have their own standard of beauty, people. Please notice the difference of American beauty standards and Korean ones, because there are a lot of differences that I can't even write one by one.
2nd issue I have with this book is how judgmental it is to the whole changing yourself concept. I mean, everyone has their right to do what the fork they want. People change every day, from personality to gender but why oh why this book only focusing on the supposedly horrible thoughts of changing your physique.
3rd issue: This book isn't even informative. There's no real statistics on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Like who did this, why, how many of Asian people did this. This book only state: Korean do cosmetic surgery. This makes it sound like everyone on Asia do cosmetic surgery.
Yep, I'm done.
Edit: I got even more mad that they're mentioning Michael Jackson. Omg.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2014
I really enjoyed A Step from Heaven, which is why I wanted to read another book by An Na. I was underwhelmed though. Perhaps the cultural significance of the fold just didn't resonate with me, but I don't think that was it. I totally got Na's point about the cultural pressure to look more Western and the affect that can have on Asian girls' self esteem. What I think didn't work for me was the unlikely premise of how Joyce was able to even contemplate such a surgery. I also thought it was pretty artificial how Gomo's gifts affected the rest of her family. I think there is probably an audience out there for this book, I just didn't love it myself.
February 3, 2009
Na hits you over the head with her message in this book. It was so overt it felt condescending to me. The premise was unique, though, so I give her kudos for that.
October 28, 2022
Review
"What is Asian Double Eyelid surgery? Double eyelid surgery or 'Asian blepharoplasty' creates an eyelid crease resulting in a larger and more symmetric, almond-shaped eye. The height from your upper lash line to the new eyelid crease is customized to your preference and existing anatomy." From Stanford Medicine https://med.stanford.edu
Never having heard of an Asian blepharoplasty, I was interested in learning more. Afterall, I have learned there are other [people/cultures] who do nose, ear, or breast augmentation as teenagers. I think it would be a hard choice as a parent or teen to make a life/body altering decision, but it's up to the person to decide. I appreciated the talk Dr. Reiner had with Joyce about the surgery. In Joyce's situation, getting something done because her aunt wants her to do it and is paying for it would be hard to turn down, especially because she holds a lot over the family [primarily bringing them to the US from Korea].
I thought the audiobook narrator did a nice job with the voices.
Note: for whatever reason someone cataloged this book in the juvenile fiction. It's about a girl finishing her junior year of high school. The objectionable part for me was when a guy says "Jesus you oriental bitches move as slow as you drive" and "it's 'Asian bitch', dumbass." Otherwise it's pretty tame. I moved it to YA though.
Plot
Joyce has just finished her junior year of school. On the last day, she spent way too much money to have her crush sign her yearbook. Only to find that he wrote the inscription to the other Asian girl in their class. Joyce already had low self-esteem about her looks, but getting confused for the unattractive classmate was pretty harsh.
Their wealthy aunt Michael Jackson, err, Gomo, has bequeathed "gifts" to each member in Joyce's family. Unfortunately they seem to be curses, because they've all come with negative consequences: her father's lifted shoes cause him to sprain his ankle, her mother's permanent makeup cause a horrible allergic reaction, her brother's "magic growth" capsules wreaked havoc on his stomach, and her sister's gift of dating Korean men chosen by Gomo was unwelcome for a variety of reason. What could go wrong with eyelid surgery?? Well, a lot, actually. But chasing beauty to achieve happiness might not be what Joyce needs.
"What is Asian Double Eyelid surgery? Double eyelid surgery or 'Asian blepharoplasty' creates an eyelid crease resulting in a larger and more symmetric, almond-shaped eye. The height from your upper lash line to the new eyelid crease is customized to your preference and existing anatomy." From Stanford Medicine https://med.stanford.edu
Never having heard of an Asian blepharoplasty, I was interested in learning more. Afterall, I have learned there are other [people/cultures] who do nose, ear, or breast augmentation as teenagers. I think it would be a hard choice as a parent or teen to make a life/body altering decision, but it's up to the person to decide. I appreciated the talk Dr. Reiner had with Joyce about the surgery. In Joyce's situation, getting something done because her aunt wants her to do it and is paying for it would be hard to turn down, especially because she holds a lot over the family [primarily bringing them to the US from Korea].
I thought the audiobook narrator did a nice job with the voices.
Note: for whatever reason someone cataloged this book in the juvenile fiction. It's about a girl finishing her junior year of high school. The objectionable part for me was when a guy says "Jesus you oriental bitches move as slow as you drive" and "it's 'Asian bitch', dumbass." Otherwise it's pretty tame. I moved it to YA though.
Plot
Joyce has just finished her junior year of school. On the last day, she spent way too much money to have her crush sign her yearbook. Only to find that he wrote the inscription to the other Asian girl in their class. Joyce already had low self-esteem about her looks, but getting confused for the unattractive classmate was pretty harsh.
Their wealthy aunt Michael Jackson, err, Gomo, has bequeathed "gifts" to each member in Joyce's family. Unfortunately they seem to be curses, because they've all come with negative consequences: her father's lifted shoes cause him to sprain his ankle, her mother's permanent makeup cause a horrible allergic reaction, her brother's "magic growth" capsules wreaked havoc on his stomach, and her sister's gift of dating Korean men chosen by Gomo was unwelcome for a variety of reason. What could go wrong with eyelid surgery?? Well, a lot, actually. But chasing beauty to achieve happiness might not be what Joyce needs.
February 13, 2012
The Fold by An Na was published in 2008 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. The book tells the story of Joyce Park and her family during the summer after Joyce’s junior year in high school. After her crush, a boy named John Ford Kang, reveals that he doesn’t know Joyce’s name despite being in the same class, Joyce is discouraged, yet determined to catch his eye. Joyce feels intense competition with her older sister, Helen, who seems to outshine her in every way, and Joyce feels frustrated by her seeming inability to measure up to Helen in any area. When Joyce’s aunt proposes the gift of plastic surgery so that Joyce can have eyelids with a Western-style crease, Joyce is very tempted to accept the offer and gain a new look and new confidence for her senior year. In the process of making her decision, however, Joyce must carefully examine her role in her family and among her friends and decide whether surface-level perfection is always what it seems to be.
In this novel, An Na confronts the beauty myths and standards that permeate society in many cultures. Joyce’s aunt (Gomo) is portrayed as a plastic surgery fanatic, who has been nicknamed “Michael” (referring to Michael Jackson) by her niece and nephew. Gomo’s need to “perfect” her image is not limited to her own body once lottery winnings enable her to “gift” a perfect image to the rest of her family. Of course, none of these gifts work out as intended, opening the question for readers of whether the pursuit of a perfect exterior is worth the risks. On the other side of the argument, cool girl Lisa Yim embodies the potential benefits of cosmetic adjustments – she exudes extra confidence and has the social following to prove to Joyce that surgery can offer many benefits. Of course, Na eventually reveals that Lisa Yim’s personality is not always as beautiful as her exterior. Other characters, Joyce’s friends, have physical imperfections that are repeatedly described, but have solid internal traits that make them quality friends for her during a tumultuous summer. The book teaches its lesson, though it borders on being didactic in its many examples of how the quest for external perfection only leads to unhappiness. The only character who isn’t really fleshed out in this way is Joyce’s love interest, who is idolized solely for his physical appearance. Readers never get a clear picture of whether John’s insides match his outsides.
The other main theme of the book, competition with a seemingly perfect sibling, will resonate with many readers. Na captures the perspective and frustration of a teenage younger sibling perfectly, and the reader is not allowed to see the “whole picture” in this relationship until the last part of the novel. I was not completely comfortable with how the “perfect” older sister was revealed to be “imperfect,” however. While being gay is considered an imperfection in many families and cultures, I don’t love that this was the way a “perfect” character was taken off her pedestal in a novel centered on a theme of valuing people for who and how they are. Ultimately, Joyce’s family does stand together in valuing Helen for who she is (despite her rejection by their church community), but even this understanding and acceptance of Helen’s sexuality feels unnatural and quickly resolved. Adjusting to the knowledge that a family member is gay could fill its own novel. This component of The Fold felt forced and inauthentic to me.
Na includes many cultural details in her novel. Of course, the main cultural issue is the question of “the fold,” which seems to be dealt with authentically and thoroughly. Since the family owns a Korean restaurant, many food details are included that are part of the everyday lives of Korean families. The role of the church community in the family’s lives mirrored the Korean church communities my friends have joined. The family’s relationship with Gomo touches on the Korean value of honoring members of the family, and the conflicts that sometimes arise surrounding this value feel truthfully presented. John Ford Kang, the love interest, also serves as an interesting cultural presence, since he is half Korean and half Caucasian. He seems to prefer dating Caucasian girls, but is being encouraged to be more in touch with his Korean heritage. He ends up seeming a bit “untouchable” and “exotic” to both groups, indicating that he is not an exact fit in either world – an experience often described by biracial children.
In all, I am not sure I would recommend The Fold for its target audience of high school readers. The question of external perfection at any cost should absolutely be discussed with students in this age group, and the book could be used to begin conversations around that issue. However, students should also be guided to consider whether other issues in the book (such as the family’s reaction to the news that Helen is gay) are given the weight that they deserve. At times, the story feels too light and fluffy for the heavy issues it tries to tackle.
In this novel, An Na confronts the beauty myths and standards that permeate society in many cultures. Joyce’s aunt (Gomo) is portrayed as a plastic surgery fanatic, who has been nicknamed “Michael” (referring to Michael Jackson) by her niece and nephew. Gomo’s need to “perfect” her image is not limited to her own body once lottery winnings enable her to “gift” a perfect image to the rest of her family. Of course, none of these gifts work out as intended, opening the question for readers of whether the pursuit of a perfect exterior is worth the risks. On the other side of the argument, cool girl Lisa Yim embodies the potential benefits of cosmetic adjustments – she exudes extra confidence and has the social following to prove to Joyce that surgery can offer many benefits. Of course, Na eventually reveals that Lisa Yim’s personality is not always as beautiful as her exterior. Other characters, Joyce’s friends, have physical imperfections that are repeatedly described, but have solid internal traits that make them quality friends for her during a tumultuous summer. The book teaches its lesson, though it borders on being didactic in its many examples of how the quest for external perfection only leads to unhappiness. The only character who isn’t really fleshed out in this way is Joyce’s love interest, who is idolized solely for his physical appearance. Readers never get a clear picture of whether John’s insides match his outsides.
The other main theme of the book, competition with a seemingly perfect sibling, will resonate with many readers. Na captures the perspective and frustration of a teenage younger sibling perfectly, and the reader is not allowed to see the “whole picture” in this relationship until the last part of the novel. I was not completely comfortable with how the “perfect” older sister was revealed to be “imperfect,” however. While being gay is considered an imperfection in many families and cultures, I don’t love that this was the way a “perfect” character was taken off her pedestal in a novel centered on a theme of valuing people for who and how they are. Ultimately, Joyce’s family does stand together in valuing Helen for who she is (despite her rejection by their church community), but even this understanding and acceptance of Helen’s sexuality feels unnatural and quickly resolved. Adjusting to the knowledge that a family member is gay could fill its own novel. This component of The Fold felt forced and inauthentic to me.
Na includes many cultural details in her novel. Of course, the main cultural issue is the question of “the fold,” which seems to be dealt with authentically and thoroughly. Since the family owns a Korean restaurant, many food details are included that are part of the everyday lives of Korean families. The role of the church community in the family’s lives mirrored the Korean church communities my friends have joined. The family’s relationship with Gomo touches on the Korean value of honoring members of the family, and the conflicts that sometimes arise surrounding this value feel truthfully presented. John Ford Kang, the love interest, also serves as an interesting cultural presence, since he is half Korean and half Caucasian. He seems to prefer dating Caucasian girls, but is being encouraged to be more in touch with his Korean heritage. He ends up seeming a bit “untouchable” and “exotic” to both groups, indicating that he is not an exact fit in either world – an experience often described by biracial children.
In all, I am not sure I would recommend The Fold for its target audience of high school readers. The question of external perfection at any cost should absolutely be discussed with students in this age group, and the book could be used to begin conversations around that issue. However, students should also be guided to consider whether other issues in the book (such as the family’s reaction to the news that Helen is gay) are given the weight that they deserve. At times, the story feels too light and fluffy for the heavy issues it tries to tackle.
February 9, 2018
Na, An The Fold, 280 pgs. G. P. Putnam's Sons. Language-PG; Sexual Content-PG; Violence-G;
Korean American, Joyce, gets the chance of a lifetime, to get the fold in her eye surgically removed. However, will the new look be worth the pain and attention?
The issue addressed in this book was very good, and it needs to be addressed. Because our society is focused on looks for the most part, it was good to see Joyce's reasoning behind her final decision. I was hoping for a little more depth in the characters but it was still a good read.
MS/HS - ESSENTIAL Student Reviewer-KD
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Korean American, Joyce, gets the chance of a lifetime, to get the fold in her eye surgically removed. However, will the new look be worth the pain and attention?
The issue addressed in this book was very good, and it needs to be addressed. Because our society is focused on looks for the most part, it was good to see Joyce's reasoning behind her final decision. I was hoping for a little more depth in the characters but it was still a good read.
MS/HS - ESSENTIAL Student Reviewer-KD
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
January 26, 2018
Joyce Park is a young Korean teen who has a crush on John Ford Kang, a half Korean boy in her class. Joyce constantly compares herself, as do some adults in her life, to her beautiful and accomplished older sister Helen. When Joyce finally gets the courage to ask John to sign her yearbook, he inscribes it to another Asian girl in the class. Joyce’s plastic surgery obsessed aunt wins the lottery and offers to give Joyce the surgery that will give her eyes a double lid – “the fold.” Joyce’s best friend Gina thinks Joyce should go for it, but Joyce is unsure until she sees the effect that another girl has on John. Is the chance to have the fold worth the risk? Will the surgery boost Joyce’s self-confidence or change her into someone she is not? Joyce soon finds that her obsession with John and beauty make her oblivious to her friends and family. This is a perfect book for teens dealing with ideal beauty standards.
June 11, 2010
The fold by – An Na, is a really complicated and stressing book because the main character goes through a lot of beauty treatment, because she wants to stand out, be the best, and look beautiful every day, but if Joyce was a real person in life, I bet she would look better without the fold, surgery and doing whatever you are doing to make yourself a more beautiful person only makes you uglier. This also shows that you don't like the way your parents created you, which means you are calling your parents ugly as well. I thought that this book was really good, I can feel what Joyce is going through, especially having a crush on someone who doesn't know anything about you liking him at all, because I've been there and it hurts sometimes to know that you're not getting the attention that you're trying to show or give, but I have someone that I've been loving for almost 4 years now so I am happy. There were points in my life where I was jealous about someone else, who was prettier than me, or had that body that attracted more men, and I look at myself in the mirror, and I always seem to pull out a chunk of fat, lol I am just kidding but, every time when i see beautiful women in magazines, or any where on the internet, I always say to myself, the only reason why she looks beautiful, is because of massive makeup, angles of the pose, and basically technology, and I bet without all of that to help her, she would not look that amazing , and in the story it says: "Joyce pulled out the drawer and reached for her heavy-duty concealer makeup stick."(Pg.3) If I can be in Joyce's world for a day or two, i would tell her that image will always be the first thing everyone will look at instead of getting to know you first, but if you are a good person, with a good personality, that's the most beautifulest thing a girl can have and show even with flaws. Yes the outside matters, but not for long because the hours tick so fast, by the time you know it, you're already ready to go to heaven. I understand that girls like us always worries about our appearance, but sometimes I want to live like a guy sometimes, don't care about my looks, because ladies now and days are the ones that tries to look good for the men anyways. I guess Joyce and I kind of have the same situation going on for example: "Joyce stared at herself int he mirror. She wanted to feel different. She wanted guys to gather around her." (pg.170) but I am not Korean and I don't fold my own eyelids, I grow my own natural lids from my parents and I love it, and i am respecting my body and I don't need any attention from guys to tell me that I am hot or sexy. I also thought this book reflected about women getting breast implant, and lip suction, and it's crazy how women now and days will do whatever it takes to gain those attention. "Ow, ow, ow, owwwww!" Joyce's voice grew louder in proportion to the pain. (pg.254) That reminds me of when i we getting my eyebrows done by my older brother's ex-girlfriend, and it hurt a lot for the first time, but i managed to chill with the pain. We ladies should accept the fact that we are born beautifully natural and changing ourselves with massive equipment will only make us look more fake. Never throw away Natural Beauty.
May 26, 2010
oyce is Korean teenager living in California who hasn't ever particularly cared how she looked
"While Gina [Joyce's best friend:] and Joyce were similarly dressed in jeans and T-shirts, Gina knew how to go that extra step, with a nice belt here and a silver necklace there, so that Gina looked put together whereas Joyce felt like she barely hung together.
But then her aunt gives her what could be the opportunity of a lifetime: the fold surgery--a surgery to make her Asian eyes appear more Western. After living in the shadow of her perfect, beautiful older sister Helen for so long and having a crush on John Ford Kang the half Asian boy who seems to only date blondes, nothing could be better. Right?
Well, that's what Gina says Joyce isn't so sure.
My take; Between reading the summary on the front flap of the book and the Amazon summary, I'm not really sure what else is actually in the book. Between the two of them it's a bit of a 'Joyce thinks A so she does B and C happens and then D and then there's E but what about F and oh, yeah G'. Of course, there are some other things but I feel like the summaries give you the basic plot points and only the secondary characters stories are left out, if that makes sense.
But that might also be because I don't have a very high opinion of this book. I wasn't overjoyed about reading it in the first place but I did like the first 15 or so pages. After that, however, I felt like information was left out, just little things that would have made the entire story less confusing. I would be reading and have assumed one thing based on how something was or was not said or presented and then something would be said to the contrary. Some of it was based on my assumptions, but some of it just didn't seem to make sense.
I'm not talking about the Korean phrases used, either. Those were fine, it was little things in the story that didn't add up to me. I also don't really feel like there was any character development. I know what this story was supposed to be accomplishing (Joyce growing up, learning to accept herself, deciding whether or not that was with cosmetic enhancement) but I felt like the story just sort of happened with some things thrown in for effect or to just be there and then the ending was stuck in and that was that. When there were changes in the characters they didn't seem to be precipitated by anything, it just happened (noticing a theme here?).
It's quite possible that An Na's writing is just not for me and I'm just finding every possible thing to pick at with this book, but I wouldn't suggest it, sorry. 3/10
(So maybe you shouldn't have stuck with me?...I didn't realise I was going to be so negative)
"While Gina [Joyce's best friend:] and Joyce were similarly dressed in jeans and T-shirts, Gina knew how to go that extra step, with a nice belt here and a silver necklace there, so that Gina looked put together whereas Joyce felt like she barely hung together.
But then her aunt gives her what could be the opportunity of a lifetime: the fold surgery--a surgery to make her Asian eyes appear more Western. After living in the shadow of her perfect, beautiful older sister Helen for so long and having a crush on John Ford Kang the half Asian boy who seems to only date blondes, nothing could be better. Right?
Well, that's what Gina says Joyce isn't so sure.
My take; Between reading the summary on the front flap of the book and the Amazon summary, I'm not really sure what else is actually in the book. Between the two of them it's a bit of a 'Joyce thinks A so she does B and C happens and then D and then there's E but what about F and oh, yeah G'. Of course, there are some other things but I feel like the summaries give you the basic plot points and only the secondary characters stories are left out, if that makes sense.
But that might also be because I don't have a very high opinion of this book. I wasn't overjoyed about reading it in the first place but I did like the first 15 or so pages. After that, however, I felt like information was left out, just little things that would have made the entire story less confusing. I would be reading and have assumed one thing based on how something was or was not said or presented and then something would be said to the contrary. Some of it was based on my assumptions, but some of it just didn't seem to make sense.
I'm not talking about the Korean phrases used, either. Those were fine, it was little things in the story that didn't add up to me. I also don't really feel like there was any character development. I know what this story was supposed to be accomplishing (Joyce growing up, learning to accept herself, deciding whether or not that was with cosmetic enhancement) but I felt like the story just sort of happened with some things thrown in for effect or to just be there and then the ending was stuck in and that was that. When there were changes in the characters they didn't seem to be precipitated by anything, it just happened (noticing a theme here?).
It's quite possible that An Na's writing is just not for me and I'm just finding every possible thing to pick at with this book, but I wouldn't suggest it, sorry. 3/10
(So maybe you shouldn't have stuck with me?...I didn't realise I was going to be so negative)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2022
This is by FAR the best book i've read for school so far. It was filled with very interesting plot twists. I only picked it up maybe 4 times and finished it just in that!! I definetly recommend this book to all my friends on here, while it may not be well known its very worth the read. 5 STARS!! <3 Praise to An Na for writing this amazing novel that peaks at such important issues.
August 26, 2010
A Korean American teen, Joyce, is offered plastic surgery on her eyes by an Aunt who has come into some lottery money. Joyce has always been the plain sister and is tempted by the surgery which would give her eyes 'the fold'. Joyce debates the idea of getting the surgery with her best friend, Sam (a boy who lives in her apartment building who struggles with severe acne), and her older sister who has always been the pretty and smart one.
Joyce's aunt railroads her a bit and makes appointments with a plastic surgeon before Joyce has made up her mind. Her sister thinks she's insane to even consider it, her best friend thinks that she is insane NOT to do it, and Sam won't weigh in - but it's clear he's been crushing on Joyce. At the surgeon's office, Joyce gets some much needed impartial information and gets to see what a difference the surgery will make. The doctor glues her eyelids into place as they would look after the surgery.
The normal teen dramas happen: Joyce's new eyes are a hit and she's rocketed to the in crowd for an afternoon at the beach and her best friend feels left out, she disses Sam, realizes that the 'in' group isn't all it's cracked up to be, learns there is more to her sister than pretty, and eventually makes up with her friend and Sam and her sister.
Thoughts:
Even now after at least a week of thinking about this book I am still unsure of it. There are times in this book that the stereotypes drove me nuts. But as soon as I was about to be truly fed up, Na would lift the curtain and give a peek behind the curtain. Whether it was the pretty and perfect sister who was studying to be a doctor (though it sounded from the text more like a therapist than a doctor), who was hiding the fact that she was 'in love' with her best friend and that she was afraid to come out of the close because she would embarrass the family, or the bossy aunt who everyone thinks is addicted to plastic surgery because she's vain and has had many American husbands, who reveals to Joyce what happened when her first husband brought her to America and how she was treated. The biggest twist was at the end....
SPOILER - for any who care
Joyce decides at the very last second not to do the surgery, but she keeps the glue the doctor gives her because sometimes she might want an adventure. She asks her aunt to give the money to her friend to help her get clear braces instead of regular metal ones. So does substance win over beauty? A very intriguing book which will definitely get readers talking about issues of beauty, family, stereotypes, and lots more.
Joyce's aunt railroads her a bit and makes appointments with a plastic surgeon before Joyce has made up her mind. Her sister thinks she's insane to even consider it, her best friend thinks that she is insane NOT to do it, and Sam won't weigh in - but it's clear he's been crushing on Joyce. At the surgeon's office, Joyce gets some much needed impartial information and gets to see what a difference the surgery will make. The doctor glues her eyelids into place as they would look after the surgery.
The normal teen dramas happen: Joyce's new eyes are a hit and she's rocketed to the in crowd for an afternoon at the beach and her best friend feels left out, she disses Sam, realizes that the 'in' group isn't all it's cracked up to be, learns there is more to her sister than pretty, and eventually makes up with her friend and Sam and her sister.
Thoughts:
Even now after at least a week of thinking about this book I am still unsure of it. There are times in this book that the stereotypes drove me nuts. But as soon as I was about to be truly fed up, Na would lift the curtain and give a peek behind the curtain. Whether it was the pretty and perfect sister who was studying to be a doctor (though it sounded from the text more like a therapist than a doctor), who was hiding the fact that she was 'in love' with her best friend and that she was afraid to come out of the close because she would embarrass the family, or the bossy aunt who everyone thinks is addicted to plastic surgery because she's vain and has had many American husbands, who reveals to Joyce what happened when her first husband brought her to America and how she was treated. The biggest twist was at the end....
SPOILER - for any who care
Joyce decides at the very last second not to do the surgery, but she keeps the glue the doctor gives her because sometimes she might want an adventure. She asks her aunt to give the money to her friend to help her get clear braces instead of regular metal ones. So does substance win over beauty? A very intriguing book which will definitely get readers talking about issues of beauty, family, stereotypes, and lots more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2009
Summary: The Fold by An Na is the story of Joyce Park and her struggle with self image, love, and family. The last day of her junior year Joyce finds the courage to ask her mega-crush, John Ford Kang, to sign her yearbook. He does sign, but he signs it too the wrong girl, causing Joyce to question herself and if she will ever be beautiful enough to be noticed by John Ford Kang. Already being the middle child with the sister, Helen, which she is always being compared too and never lives up to that expectation, and the boy, Joyce has trouble trying to keep her head above water at home. Just when her questioning begins, her plastic-surgery-crazed aunt hits the lottery and decides to help each member of the family better themselves. Offering Joyce the chance to get The Fold, a surgery to alter her Asian eyes, Joyce is then sent into a tailspin trying to decide if she wants the surgery or not. Helen can’t believe she would even consider it, her best friend Gina can’t believe she wouldn’t jump at the chance for free surgery, and Joyce hates pain. But the only thing she knows is that she wants John Ford Kang to notice her, to be her boyfriend, no matter what it takes to do so. The question becomes, would she consider surgery without knowing for sure that he will notice her? Or will she make him notice her for who she is?
Review: It was a little hard to get into at first, but after the first couple of chapters it was a pretty good story. It’s something I wish I had read in high school, because almost every high school-er goes through the “would he notice me if I was prettier?” kind of situation. The stories all coincide with one another and eventually all make sense; there is the semi-shocking, but kind of obvious twist with her sister Helen, Gina’s part in everything, the boy next door (literally), the boy of her dreams (there was always that one guy), and the mean girl (we all knew those). And yes, every time they talked about John Ford Kang, they either said the entire name or called him JFK, neither of which I particularly cared for. The ending seemed a bit unsatisfying, at least to me, but overall the story was a good one to tell. Although I did never figure out exactly with “The Fold” was, or how it changed someone’s face, but that’s just me (and yes, I did check Wikipedia, but I still have no idea the difference)!
Review: It was a little hard to get into at first, but after the first couple of chapters it was a pretty good story. It’s something I wish I had read in high school, because almost every high school-er goes through the “would he notice me if I was prettier?” kind of situation. The stories all coincide with one another and eventually all make sense; there is the semi-shocking, but kind of obvious twist with her sister Helen, Gina’s part in everything, the boy next door (literally), the boy of her dreams (there was always that one guy), and the mean girl (we all knew those). And yes, every time they talked about John Ford Kang, they either said the entire name or called him JFK, neither of which I particularly cared for. The ending seemed a bit unsatisfying, at least to me, but overall the story was a good one to tell. Although I did never figure out exactly with “The Fold” was, or how it changed someone’s face, but that’s just me (and yes, I did check Wikipedia, but I still have no idea the difference)!
May 27, 2014
I would recommend this book because it sends a good message to young readers about outer beauty. The Fold is a heart-warming novel that follows the story of Joyce, a high school teen struggling with societies image of beauty. Throughout the book, Joyce constantly feels pushed to change how she looks to make herself look more-American. I believe many young people today can relate to this book because they are bombarded by the media and their peers opinions of how people should look.
Throughout the book, Joyce is constantly compared to her older sister Helen. Everyone always associates the words 'perfect' and 'beautiful' with Helen but never with Joyce. The main focus of Joyce's struggle are her eyes. Her family is from Korea and when they came here, along with her plastic surgery-obsessed aunt,their eyes were opened to a different type of beauty. Here, everyone thinks big eyes are beautiful and smaller eyes, like Joyce's, are not. Her aunt, Gomo, being the generous woman she is, decides to gift Joyce with the opportunity to get a surgery that Joyce starts to call 'the fold'. The fold is also called "double eye" which basically means cutting part of an eyelid and lifting the crease so it makes the eyes appear larger. This is appealing especially to Asian women because their eyelids do not crease the way American eyelids do. When Joyce gets a temporary crease with glue, her aunt compares her to Joyce's older sister and "had no idea it would make [her] look so much like Helen"(194). Joyce doesn't want to be like her sister but instead beautiful in her own way. She discovers this beauty inside of her at the end of the novel.
I would recommend this book especially to people who might be insecure about how they look. Overall, this book clearly shows how 'beauty' isn't a concept you can define by describing someone's features. It changes from person to person and is present in every person, no matter how big or small their eyes are. Joyce tells her aunt that she "might not be the prettiest...but [she] does know what's important to [her] right now"(279). At the end of the book she realized her face isn't something she wants to change permanently. Sure, it might be a nice to alter her face so she can fit in, but she knows what's truly important to her; friends and family.
Throughout the book, Joyce is constantly compared to her older sister Helen. Everyone always associates the words 'perfect' and 'beautiful' with Helen but never with Joyce. The main focus of Joyce's struggle are her eyes. Her family is from Korea and when they came here, along with her plastic surgery-obsessed aunt,their eyes were opened to a different type of beauty. Here, everyone thinks big eyes are beautiful and smaller eyes, like Joyce's, are not. Her aunt, Gomo, being the generous woman she is, decides to gift Joyce with the opportunity to get a surgery that Joyce starts to call 'the fold'. The fold is also called "double eye" which basically means cutting part of an eyelid and lifting the crease so it makes the eyes appear larger. This is appealing especially to Asian women because their eyelids do not crease the way American eyelids do. When Joyce gets a temporary crease with glue, her aunt compares her to Joyce's older sister and "had no idea it would make [her] look so much like Helen"(194). Joyce doesn't want to be like her sister but instead beautiful in her own way. She discovers this beauty inside of her at the end of the novel.
I would recommend this book especially to people who might be insecure about how they look. Overall, this book clearly shows how 'beauty' isn't a concept you can define by describing someone's features. It changes from person to person and is present in every person, no matter how big or small their eyes are. Joyce tells her aunt that she "might not be the prettiest...but [she] does know what's important to [her] right now"(279). At the end of the book she realized her face isn't something she wants to change permanently. Sure, it might be a nice to alter her face so she can fit in, but she knows what's truly important to her; friends and family.
June 16, 2011
Joyce Park is a Korean-American teenager and she’s totally crushing on this guy in her class – John Ford Kang. After an embarrassing mishap where he signs her yearbook thinking the whole time that she’s some other girl, Joyce feels ugly and unattractive. Around the same time, Joyce’s already wealthy aunt, Gomo, wins the lottery. She announces to the family that she’s going to give everyone a gift – Joyce’s gift is to be plastic surgery to make her eyes look bigger. Up until this point Joyce has never considered plastic surgery as an option, and she’s never been dissatisfied with the way her eyes look (now, if you were to ask her about her chubby knees, she’d have a lot to say about the subject). But, after she talks to Lisa, who’s had the surgery, and had her eyelids glued into position as a way to try it out, she starts to think that it could be the answer to all of her problems.
For some reason, the premise of this book seemed rather unbelievable to me. I thought it was going to be Joyce who instigated the request for surgery, and it was a little strange to have Gomo sweeping in like some kind of evil fairy godmother, and making all of the decisions. I rather hoped, too, that there would be more information about how many Asian women choose to get the surgery, and why they do it, and what the outcomes are. I’ve also heard about surgeries Asian women undergo to change the shapes of their legs – making them leaner. I thought An Na might go into some of that as well. Joyce’s insecurities are pretty normal for any teenager, and the shape of her eyes doesn’t seem to play into this story as much as it might have – given the title/subject matter. If she’d felt persecuted because she was Asian, maybe it would have been more realistic, but it never seems that way. She’s comfortable with who she is until her aunt makes the determination. I’d really like to read some nonfiction on this topic.
For some reason, the premise of this book seemed rather unbelievable to me. I thought it was going to be Joyce who instigated the request for surgery, and it was a little strange to have Gomo sweeping in like some kind of evil fairy godmother, and making all of the decisions. I rather hoped, too, that there would be more information about how many Asian women choose to get the surgery, and why they do it, and what the outcomes are. I’ve also heard about surgeries Asian women undergo to change the shapes of their legs – making them leaner. I thought An Na might go into some of that as well. Joyce’s insecurities are pretty normal for any teenager, and the shape of her eyes doesn’t seem to play into this story as much as it might have – given the title/subject matter. If she’d felt persecuted because she was Asian, maybe it would have been more realistic, but it never seems that way. She’s comfortable with who she is until her aunt makes the determination. I’d really like to read some nonfiction on this topic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2013
Recently, my sister recommended me to read A Step from Heaven by An Na. After finished reading the book, I totally felt in love with it. So I started reading another book written by the same author which is called The Fold. The genre of this book is fiction. This book is about a Korean-American teenager, Joyce Park. She has a very low self-esteem about her appearance because she is always being compared to her pretty, smart, talented older sister, Helen. At school, Joyce has a crush on this guy named John Ford Kang but the sad thing is that he doesn’t even know her existent. At the end of her high school junior year, she finally brought up all her courage to ask him to sign her yearbook. But instead, he told her how ugly she is and made fun of her mono-eyelids. In the beginning of her summer vacation, her rich aunt offers to pay for her double eyelids cosmetics surgery. This opportunity might help her to getting more attention that she always wanted. Joyce struggles between the two choices. The first choice is getting surgery, this will improve her appearance in others people and might give her more confident. The second choice is not getting surgery, this way she can keep her true identity and eventually find a new confident in her life. So she decides to spend sometimes in her summer vacation to consider whether or not she should do the surgery. In the novel, Joyce is basically having a conflict within herself because she has to decide whether her appearance is more important than her true identity. The symbol in the novel is the eye because it helps us looking for what we truly want for ourselves. And the theme is that people often judge book just by its cover. The novel was written in narrative writing style and it contains a lot of humor tone. Even though this novel is not as good as the first book I read from this author, I would still recommend to many teenagers because many of them are probably having or maybe facing the same situation as Joyce Park has.
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