A Small Change: Finding the Joy in Everyday Things

by Rae-Hyeon Kim

"When I tie up my hair, it feels like I'm wearing a new pair of shoes."

A young woman is out in the world for the first time, living on her own. When she decides to tie up her hair one day, she embarks on a journey of small, almost imperceptible but important changes. Relationships develop, problems emerge and decisions are made.

As the year progresses and she navigates the ins and outs of daily life, she also discovers new ways of styling her hair. Because nothing stays the same--and sometimes, changing your hairstyle can have a deep impact on your life.

In twelve sensitive episodes, this charming coming-of-age novel includes step-by-step instructions for each hairstyle our heroine wears. For young people influenced by K-pop, K-beauty and K-drama, it introduces the Korean concept of so-hak-hang --the belief that small pleasures like a movie night with friends, painting your nails or trying a new hairstyle are a simple but reliable means of finding true joy.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Manga, Comics, Manhwa, Slice Of Life, Contemporary, Young Adult

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5*

It wasn't bad, but it did little to grip me. Might be because I took a long break in reading it, though I suspect that's more of a consequence of being scarcely invested than a cause.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful, coming-of-age story told in twelve parts, using different hair styles as a guide for readers.

Each chapter revolves around how to do a different hair styling technique and how our main character goes through her day. We get to follow her as she grows out her hair and does some growing in other areas of her life, from developing friendships to moving up in her professional career to renegotiating her relationship with her family. It’s quite skillfully done.

Often, I find that coming-of-age stories get unfairly maligned as “being about nothing”. I mean, most of real life feels like it’s about nothing and it’s only upon reflection that we see growth or progress. So, I find that criticism to be uninspired.

This graphic novel is very much about that transitional period between being a young person and becoming an adult, and all of the growth that happens in spurts during this time.

I thought this was a very apt story and would definitely be one of interest to other young people trying to make sense of their lives~

[Larakaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a coming of age story rather slice of life with hair tutorials.

[Courtney Fong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! I liked the way this book emphasized small changes by trying new things. It inspires me to try new things with my hair!

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to live in South Korea, and was feeling a wee bit nostalgic, so I picked this book up from my library. It's twelve illustrated short stories, sometimes bitter but mostly sweet, and all very slice-of-life-y. In each story, the main character ties up her hair in different ways, and I thought that was a cute way to connect all the various moments together.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is very pretty. A gentle slice-of-life comic about a young woman living alone and dealing with life and friendship in Korea. The use of hair styles - and hair growing longer - as a motif to denote the passage of time was surprisingly interesting, although it was sometimes hard to follow how to do those hairstyles.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at a thrift store that sells music, games and comics. Many years ago, when I was about the main character’s age—early twenties—I worked for a large mass market paperback book publisher as an editorial assistant. All of us EAs were assigned a few smaller publishers to cover. We’d read their catalogs of upcoming books and request review copies of any we thought we might want to acquire the paperback rights to. One of mine was Tuttle, and I remember they did beautiful, high quality books—the kind that would not work at all in mass market. They specialize in Asian books, and as a small press I don’t come across their books often (except when I’d go to Kinokuniya across from Bryant Park when visiting NYC). So just the publisher of this book brought back a lot of memories and I had to pick it up.

The story is about a young woman living on her own in a city in Korea. We see her on random ordinary days, and the focus is on how she’ll do her hair. She starts out with short hair, and grows it out over the course of the novel. Each chapter ends with a basic tutorial on how to do the style.

There were elements I identified with from when I was younger, but there were also cultural insights that were different and interesting.

I’m not sure who this is for. I was focused on learning hairstyles in my teens—middle school snd high school, and I imagine most people watch video tutorials for hair. The explanations here don’t have a lot of detail, though honestly, so much of hairstyle depends on your own hair texture and cut, as well as experience. So it functions more as tips and inspiration for ways you might experiment than a detailed tutorial.

Anyway, it’s a unique concept that was well executed.

[Sean Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more of a 2.5/5 book to be honest. There were a few parts that were cute, and I suppose anyone interested in hairstyling can find something to like about it, but I felt that it meandered too much. It starts out strong with that first page: “This year’s summer, it’s especially hot,” but it never retains that kind of grip throughout the rest of the story. I don’t feel like I knew who the characters really were (probably because they’re not really named), and I think the translation job may have been a bit awkward, in addition to a sometimes confusing speech bubble layout. Also, it’s definitely not a coming-of-age story. I’m giving it 3 out of 5 here because I don’t want to be too hard on it. It’s not outright bad, but pretty middling, all things considered.

[Jaxine Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and the art, and I even like the how to guide format on tying hair. There was one section with the mother and it was a guide how to tie hair mom's way and it basically showed the step by step but the directions was just the mom talking to the daughter, asking how she was and such. It really showed how the author doesn't know how it's done, but feels the motion of it. It really reminded me how my mom tied my hair as well when I couldn't tie mine and I cut my hair short.

I liked how the protagonist's point of view and I enjoyed myself with this read. There were lots of topics I could relate to, and I enjoyed the how to guide format for tying one's hair, from long to short.

[Darcy Roar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & exceedingly chill A Small Change follows a young working woman through one set of seasons as she grows her hair out and lives her life. While I wouldn't have tucked the coming-of-age onto the cover, I can see in a sense why they did. For many people these days coming-of-ages isn't a dramatic adventure the minute you turn 18 (or whatever age you consider 'of age'), it's slowly learning how to take care of yourself on your own. I liked this quite a lot & also appreciated the simple hair instructions with detailed illustrations.

[Z. Rise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and sweet graphic novel about a Korean girl embracing the little changes and joys in her life—starting with a new style for her hair.

This was a nice light and quick read, with handy little guides for anyone with straight hair looking to try out some new hair styles. And throughout the book, we also get a lighthearted slice-of-life story.

I rate this book 4/5 stars - it was good, but nothing extraordinary (little joys!) - for readers 15+.

Content warnings: mention of suicide, alcohol

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not bad, it’s just a quiet book where nothing much happens, so it’s hard for me to like it overmuch. The instructions didn’t work for me to visualize the hair tying process, but I’m not sure if that’s my own difficulties or the book’s deficiencies.

[Natalia HW · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a cute graphic novel in which we follow one year in the main character's life, where a particular event will correspond to one specific hairstyle as a metaphor or image for a small change, or small realization/understanding of one's life.

[Karah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone in the mood for something gentle and easy? This is NOT a diss. Anyone overwhelmed by disturbing news and still yearns to read? Choose this book.

Targeted audience: anyone with a fervent feminine sensibility

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a nice slice-of-life. Does make me want to try out some hairstyles.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute slice of life graphic novel. The illustrations were really cozy and I enjoyed reading.

[jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and wholesome read that inspired me to do my hair more! The art is very nice and comforting, giving to the coming-of-age vibe. Overall, I enjoyed it!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of growing out hair and styling it differently through the main characters year was a good device for growth and change. Nicely drawn.

[Tianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wholesome and cute

[Kelly Teen Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of taking care of oneself in the midst off big, big life happenings. Really beautiful art.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple but thoughtfully covered snap-shot of coming-of-age changes.

[annabelle !! ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

if everything stays the same, life’s no fun 🥹 AND SHE’S RIGHT

[Lily ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and comforting <3

[Manus Oboyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

the hair styles would have been better on me if i had a fringe

[Дёклинн · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant and sweet. I really look forward to trying the hairstyles lol.

[Goldie Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the different hairstyling tips in this book - and it felt like a cozy, easy read.

[Elly Sloman · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, felt more slice of life but wrapped up nicely in the end. A very chill read with some (surface level) themes around transitional periods in life and choosing the person you want to be.

[✯Priya •ᴗ• · Rating 3 out of 5]

super cutey art and a wholesome story :D

[Miriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up on a whim and it was just so short and cute and easy to read. I haven't done a lot of reading lately so it was nice to just have something easy and wholesome and relatable

[AquaMoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was basically a How To Style Short Hair (as you grow it out) guide in story format. It was cute. Not terribly memorable, but cute.

Know This: If you use elastic hair ties as you are attempting to grow your hair, you will absolutely and 100% get split ends and destroy the very hair you are trying to grow. Hair gets caught in the elastic and pulls/breaks. If you wish to tie your hair back as you grow it, I recommend fabric ties, a.k.a. Scrunchies, (which are gentler on the hair), wide-tooth clips, or fabric (toothless) headbands. Take this from someone who has grown out many a pixie - likely over more years that the author has been alive.