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Unidentified Suburban Object
Comic and satirical, but also full of painful truths about being both a bright, sensitive middle schooler, and a so-called "model-minority" in a decidedly NOT-diverse town
The next person who compares Chloe Cho with famous violinist Abigail Yang is going to HEAR it. Chloe has just about had it with people not knowing the difference between someone who's Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. She's had it with people thinking that everything she does well -- getting good grades, winning first chair in the orchestra, et CETera -- are because she's ASIAN.Of course, her own parents don't want to have anything to DO with their Korean background. Any time Chloe asks them a question they change the subject. They seem perfectly happy to be the only Asian family in town. It's only when Chloe's with her best friend, Shelly, that she doesn't feel like a total alien. Then a new teacher comes to Ms. Lee. She's Korean American, and for the first time Chloe has a person to talk to who seems to understand completely. For Ms. Lee's class, Chloe finally gets to explore her family history. But what she unearths is light-years away from what she expected.
The next person who compares Chloe Cho with famous violinist Abigail Yang is going to HEAR it. Chloe has just about had it with people not knowing the difference between someone who's Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. She's had it with people thinking that everything she does well -- getting good grades, winning first chair in the orchestra, et CETera -- are because she's ASIAN.Of course, her own parents don't want to have anything to DO with their Korean background. Any time Chloe asks them a question they change the subject. They seem perfectly happy to be the only Asian family in town. It's only when Chloe's with her best friend, Shelly, that she doesn't feel like a total alien. Then a new teacher comes to Ms. Lee. She's Korean American, and for the first time Chloe has a person to talk to who seems to understand completely. For Ms. Lee's class, Chloe finally gets to explore her family history. But what she unearths is light-years away from what she expected.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
29 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Mike Jung
12 books104 followersMike Jung is the author of the middle-grade novels Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2012), Unidentified Suburban Object (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2016), and The Boys in the Back Row (Levine Querido, 2020). His essays can be found in the anthologies Dear Teen Me (Zest, 2012), Break These Rules (Chicago Review Press, 2013), 59 Reasons to Write (Stenhouse, 2015), (Don't) Call Me Crazy (Algonquin, 2018), and The Hero Next Door (Crown, 2019). He's a founding member of We Need Diverse Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
February 17, 2016
An interesting premise, but I'm afraid I couldn't get past two things:
One, the main character was just too unlikeable. I kept hoping she'd improve and she did... a tiny bit. Sometimes. But she kind of reliably kept losing her temper at people, shouting a lot, and treating others badly, and I just wasn't into it.
Two, the principle twist. I just... don't think it was necessary. This book could have just been about what it appears to be (at the start) rather than what it ends up being. It was even a great opportunity to teach kids a bit about Korean current affairs and history. But... no.
That said, kids will probably enjoy it all the same.
One, the main character was just too unlikeable. I kept hoping she'd improve and she did... a tiny bit. Sometimes. But she kind of reliably kept losing her temper at people, shouting a lot, and treating others badly, and I just wasn't into it.
Two, the principle twist. I just... don't think it was necessary. This book could have just been about what it appears to be (at the start) rather than what it ends up being. It was even a great opportunity to teach kids a bit about Korean current affairs and history. But... no.
That said, kids will probably enjoy it all the same.
March 10, 2016
Really liked this one. Delightful voice and such an authentic sensibility to Chloe's issues. Teasing out her assumptions regarding peer's and friends' responses to her --- is it about race and ethnicity or something else? --- is artfully done. And there is a delicious twist to boot. Difficult to say more without spoilage, but this is the sort of realistic fiction/sf that When You Reach Me is. That is, mostly rooted in the real but with...something else too.
August 26, 2018
Started as a story about Chloe Cho, the only Korean girl in her entire middle school who feels like her classmates only view her as an Asian stereotype. The book hooked me right away, but then took a WEIRD and unexpected turn about halfway through and... I’m not sure how I feel about it. The story was unique, I’ll give it that!
August 14, 2016
Whip-smart, hilarious, and endearing, this book will win your heart and your funny bone. Chloe Cho feels alien as the only Korean kid at her middle school. She encounters casual racism daily, which fuels her already-short temper, but her BFF Shelley is a constant source of support and acceptance. When her parents reveal her true ancestry and it impacts her relationship with Shelley, Chloe realizes that she might not have been a very observant or kind friend. (Inter)Stellar work from #weneeddiversebooks author Mike Jung.
September 29, 2016
I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but perhaps younger readers will. I admit that I don't think I read the jacket cover summary well, or didn't think the book would actually take it where it hints it would, because I was actually surprised by what Chloe learns about her family history.
Chloe's character -- her exaggerated sarcasm, her generalizations of other students and locals (as racists, etc.), her dramatic reactions -- bothered me. For example, when upset by even the smallest things, Chloe REACTS, quite often. In CAPS. She's also often rude (and unnecessarily dramatic in response to) to her parents.
Ex. page 18: "Can you answer my question?" I barked. Mom leaned the top half of her body away from me. "Hey, hey," Mom said. "You don't need to raise your voice." "I'M NOT RAISING MY VOICE," I said. "Shelley's parents actually like it when she asks questions about her family, but with you guys it's like banging my face against a wall."
I was surprised to realize that Chloe and Shelley are supposed to be in seventh grade, because at times the things they say and the way they react give the impression that they're younger. Their sarcasm isn't particularly clever, or witty; it's excessive and rude. For instance, Chloe has this ongoing competition with Adam for the violin first-chair seat. Because of that, and because of something he said that was racist (but, given the context, presumably harmless), she calls him a "weasel-faced little preppypants" (pg. 38).
Chloe's irritation with people's assumptions about her ethnicity is understandable but I don't think excusable. Perhaps she could extend the same open-mindedness that she expects from others. For instance, maybe Lindsay Crisp really doesn't know any better when she asks Chloe if she knows the new South Korean teacher. Does that give Chloe the excuse to make fun of Lindsay's ignorance?
Aside from character, I wasn't particularly taken with the story itself. I suppose the focus is on friendship (what really matters, regardless of differences) etc., but my interest in sci-fi had a hard time just accepting the facts without further explanation. No spoilers :) But you who have read the story know what I mean!
Chloe's character -- her exaggerated sarcasm, her generalizations of other students and locals (as racists, etc.), her dramatic reactions -- bothered me. For example, when upset by even the smallest things, Chloe REACTS, quite often. In CAPS. She's also often rude (and unnecessarily dramatic in response to) to her parents.
Ex. page 18: "Can you answer my question?" I barked. Mom leaned the top half of her body away from me. "Hey, hey," Mom said. "You don't need to raise your voice." "I'M NOT RAISING MY VOICE," I said. "Shelley's parents actually like it when she asks questions about her family, but with you guys it's like banging my face against a wall."
I was surprised to realize that Chloe and Shelley are supposed to be in seventh grade, because at times the things they say and the way they react give the impression that they're younger. Their sarcasm isn't particularly clever, or witty; it's excessive and rude. For instance, Chloe has this ongoing competition with Adam for the violin first-chair seat. Because of that, and because of something he said that was racist (but, given the context, presumably harmless), she calls him a "weasel-faced little preppypants" (pg. 38).
Chloe's irritation with people's assumptions about her ethnicity is understandable but I don't think excusable. Perhaps she could extend the same open-mindedness that she expects from others. For instance, maybe Lindsay Crisp really doesn't know any better when she asks Chloe if she knows the new South Korean teacher. Does that give Chloe the excuse to make fun of Lindsay's ignorance?
Aside from character, I wasn't particularly taken with the story itself. I suppose the focus is on friendship (what really matters, regardless of differences) etc., but my interest in sci-fi had a hard time just accepting the facts without further explanation. No spoilers :) But you who have read the story know what I mean!
March 4, 2016
Oh, man, I really liked this one. I marked it as both contemporary and sci-fi because while it is definitely science fiction, the bulk of the story is written as contemporary fiction and I think that fans of contemporary fiction will gravitate to this one more than huge science-fiction fans.
This is a book about a middle school girl trying to figure out her identity and dealing with bigger issues than she could have ever imagined. While she's dealing with big identity issues, she's also dealing with tons of microaggressions since her family is the only Korean family in their town. The book handles these really well; readers will identify with Chloe or get a taste of what it's like to face microaggressions in daily life. And, while racial and cultural identity is a huge theme of the book, the book's not actual about a kid dealing with overt racism.
Bottom line: I loved it. I would hand it to kids who like the kind of contemporary/sci-fi genre blend found in The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm or readers who like character driven stories like Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee (which is mentioned as one of Chloe's favorite books), etc.
This is a book about a middle school girl trying to figure out her identity and dealing with bigger issues than she could have ever imagined. While she's dealing with big identity issues, she's also dealing with tons of microaggressions since her family is the only Korean family in their town. The book handles these really well; readers will identify with Chloe or get a taste of what it's like to face microaggressions in daily life. And, while racial and cultural identity is a huge theme of the book, the book's not actual about a kid dealing with overt racism.
Bottom line: I loved it. I would hand it to kids who like the kind of contemporary/sci-fi genre blend found in The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm or readers who like character driven stories like Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee (which is mentioned as one of Chloe's favorite books), etc.
May 18, 2016
So this one is mostly a realistic ya novel of a girl trying to connect with her Korean heritage while her parents resist saying it's "too hard" or "too painful" to think about the family's past. I had a few students in mind as I read this and thought of my own grandfather from Italy, whom I never had the chance to talk to about his reasons for leaving Italia. All this is until there is a shift in the story line, and the realistic cultural quest becomes more sci-fi. I can see how this will appeal to some students because the shift was sort of fun, and I found Chloe's resistance to her school and friend identity as believable; however, I am not sure that this plot twist worked or was necessary. I am interested to hear what student-readers think of this one.
April 16, 2019
Chloe's parents have always been cagey about her heritage. Chloe wants to know why.
I read this with my 4-6th grade book club, and it was a really good discussion. I was into the fish name-dropping and like that he was specific about where they came from.
Jung is a pretty solid author for me!
Prolly gonna booktalk this at local elementary school in Spring 2019.
I read this with my 4-6th grade book club, and it was a really good discussion. I was into the fish name-dropping and like that he was specific about where they came from.
Jung is a pretty solid author for me!
Prolly gonna booktalk this at local elementary school in Spring 2019.
November 5, 2016
I thought this book was amazing! I loved how it was realistic fiction and then switch to fantasy. That was a big surprised and I thought I was not going to like the book any more, but I did. I think making the book fantasy half way though made the book better. If you like science fiction books you would probably like this one. This is what I thought about this amazing book.
January 9, 2018
I really liked this one at first--Chloe is a great narrator, and I found myself chuckling at her sarcastic, dry inner voice. She's not perfect, but what middle school kid is?
But that twist...ugh.
Don't get me wrong--I'm all for a good surprise. There's nothing better than "Oooh...things are happening that make me think this but BAM. Something else."
But this was more "Oooh...things are happening that make me think this but BAM. Now here's a recipe for meatballs."
It was just SO sudden and SO unexpected...which maybe people will like. It just wasn't exactly the "exploration of culture" I was hoping it would be.
But that twist...ugh.
Don't get me wrong--I'm all for a good surprise. There's nothing better than "Oooh...things are happening that make me think this but BAM. Something else."
But this was more "Oooh...things are happening that make me think this but BAM. Now here's a recipe for meatballs."
It was just SO sudden and SO unexpected...which maybe people will like. It just wasn't exactly the "exploration of culture" I was hoping it would be.
April 26, 2016
4.5 Stars
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
The Painter household has been waiting for a new Mike Jung book since we first read Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities when it first came out. Unidentified Suburban Object did not disappoint.
Chloe Cho is the only Asian girl in her school. When people aren't confusing her with being Chinese or Japanese (she's Korean), they are busy thinking she is first chair violin and the smartest kid in school simply because she's Asian. She is interested in her Korean identity, but her parents refuse to discuss their history or culture with her. When she starts 7th grade and has a new Korean teacher, she couldn't be more excited. Ms. Lee assigns her students a project that means Chloe HAS to learn about her family history. Finally Chloe will get some answers, but they are not anywhere close to the answers she was looking for.
This is the second MG book I've read this year that has a heroine with sharp edges who isn't "nice" all the time. If this is the start of a new trend, I'm 100% on board! Chloe is magnificent. She is smart, talented, and ambitious. She works hard, but she has a lot of natural talents as well. This has made her more than a little sure of herself. She has always been on top and she expects to stay there. Chloe is snarky in the perfect way middle schoolers are. Her longing to know who she is and how she fits into the world strike exactly the right note. That is a universal story that all middle schoolers understand, but her story is also a specific one that children of immigrants will especially connect with. Chloe's best friend Shelly is a good foil for her: more shy, more sensitive, just as smart but not as showy. They make a good team.
For the most part, this is a basic MG novel about identity and friendship that takes place at school. But it has a pretty spectacular twist. One that is going to have its target audience gasping. Again they will be able to identify. Jung excels at taking the feelings all tweens have and focusing them perfectly in a very particular direction. The friendship aspect is well done too. In her anger, confusion, and temper, Chloe does not treat Shelly the way she should. Watching her grow in this area is significant to both the plot and her character development. I appreciated how there are very realistic consequences for all of Chloe's actions too. Unlike many MG novels, the adults are present and realistic. Chloe's parents love and support her. They are sometimes a little clueless to her emotions and what she needs to deal with the things she's learned, but as a parent of a tween myself, I could relate. The teachers are well done as well. Some of them are excellent, some of them are clearly picking up a paycheck, but they behave and respond as actual teachers do.
I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone. I know my daughter will love it too, and I can't wait for our official copy to arrive.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher, Arthur A. Levine Books, via Edelweiss. Unidentified Suburban Object is available April 26th.
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
The Painter household has been waiting for a new Mike Jung book since we first read Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities when it first came out. Unidentified Suburban Object did not disappoint.
Chloe Cho is the only Asian girl in her school. When people aren't confusing her with being Chinese or Japanese (she's Korean), they are busy thinking she is first chair violin and the smartest kid in school simply because she's Asian. She is interested in her Korean identity, but her parents refuse to discuss their history or culture with her. When she starts 7th grade and has a new Korean teacher, she couldn't be more excited. Ms. Lee assigns her students a project that means Chloe HAS to learn about her family history. Finally Chloe will get some answers, but they are not anywhere close to the answers she was looking for.
This is the second MG book I've read this year that has a heroine with sharp edges who isn't "nice" all the time. If this is the start of a new trend, I'm 100% on board! Chloe is magnificent. She is smart, talented, and ambitious. She works hard, but she has a lot of natural talents as well. This has made her more than a little sure of herself. She has always been on top and she expects to stay there. Chloe is snarky in the perfect way middle schoolers are. Her longing to know who she is and how she fits into the world strike exactly the right note. That is a universal story that all middle schoolers understand, but her story is also a specific one that children of immigrants will especially connect with. Chloe's best friend Shelly is a good foil for her: more shy, more sensitive, just as smart but not as showy. They make a good team.
For the most part, this is a basic MG novel about identity and friendship that takes place at school. But it has a pretty spectacular twist. One that is going to have its target audience gasping. Again they will be able to identify. Jung excels at taking the feelings all tweens have and focusing them perfectly in a very particular direction. The friendship aspect is well done too. In her anger, confusion, and temper, Chloe does not treat Shelly the way she should. Watching her grow in this area is significant to both the plot and her character development. I appreciated how there are very realistic consequences for all of Chloe's actions too. Unlike many MG novels, the adults are present and realistic. Chloe's parents love and support her. They are sometimes a little clueless to her emotions and what she needs to deal with the things she's learned, but as a parent of a tween myself, I could relate. The teachers are well done as well. Some of them are excellent, some of them are clearly picking up a paycheck, but they behave and respond as actual teachers do.
I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone. I know my daughter will love it too, and I can't wait for our official copy to arrive.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher, Arthur A. Levine Books, via Edelweiss. Unidentified Suburban Object is available April 26th.
October 23, 2016
I have to start off by saying I was really looking forward to this..... about a young girl struggling with culture identity as a Korean in America. However this is probably one of the first times that I've agreed with a lot of the reviews on Goodreads (since usually a 80% of the time they say the book is amazing even its obviously not) This time people seem to be a little bit more objective and I agree with them. The plot twist twist was completely unnecessary. It's fine but it didn't add anything to the story. The revelation wasn't delved into or any background information provided. It's literally a page or two of actual information and then that's it. If they have focused more on that twist since it *was *so monumental, I probably would have enjoyed it better. Also practically speaking it was weird that her parents would keep freezing on what to tell her about her grandparents or aunts and uncles. it was so obvious that they're hiding something it's like when you ask a kid did you eat chocolate cake? NO I DIDNT CHOCOLATE CAKE WHY WOULD SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER EATEN FOODBIN LIFE I HATE CAKE I PUT A PIECE IN MY MOUTH BUT I DIDNT EAT IT" Sigh. okay you're being obvious and dumb just lie already because you're lying right now. Thats how I felt whenever they would respond to her questions. And in this day and age to be completely ignorant on Korean culture? SPOILER If you're pretending to be South Korean why wouldn't you learn the culture and the language?! it's not that difficult they have free books at the library free books online......
Instead it ends up being a book about two girls being friends. There's a bit on how to fit in and how teachers relate to their students but that kinda gets lost in the shuffle.
This is going to be a book students go "huh" and they will either LOVE it or remain confused. I don't think most teachers will promote it at all. Adults don't usually like it when you blend genres.
Instead it ends up being a book about two girls being friends. There's a bit on how to fit in and how teachers relate to their students but that kinda gets lost in the shuffle.
This is going to be a book students go "huh" and they will either LOVE it or remain confused. I don't think most teachers will promote it at all. Adults don't usually like it when you blend genres.
June 11, 2016
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung combines satire with a serious examination of racial stereotypes, family connections, and friendship.
Chloe Cho is frustrated by being the token minority in her all-white town. Her parents don’t seem interested in their asian ancestry. When a Korean American teacher moves to town, Chloe immediately connects with her. However when Chloe explores her family history as part of a class project, she finds unexpected results.
Librarians will find that the combination of humor and serious social themes will appeal to middle grade youth. The authentic storyline and engaging twist will keep readers engaged. While the science fiction element adds an unusual element, the book will primarily be a draw for readers of contemporary, realistic fiction.
To learn more about the author, go to https://captainstupendous.wordpress.com/.
Published by Scholastic on April 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Chloe Cho is frustrated by being the token minority in her all-white town. Her parents don’t seem interested in their asian ancestry. When a Korean American teacher moves to town, Chloe immediately connects with her. However when Chloe explores her family history as part of a class project, she finds unexpected results.
Librarians will find that the combination of humor and serious social themes will appeal to middle grade youth. The authentic storyline and engaging twist will keep readers engaged. While the science fiction element adds an unusual element, the book will primarily be a draw for readers of contemporary, realistic fiction.
To learn more about the author, go to https://captainstupendous.wordpress.com/.
Published by Scholastic on April 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
September 23, 2017
This 2017 Texas Bluebonnet nominee was extremely promising for the first half of the book. Chloe Cho is a solid main character with a great mix of both positive and negative traits and with her supportive parents and solid best friend, I just knew that author Jung was going to use Chloe's intelligence and almost too strong work ethic to smooth the rough edges of her temper and superiority complex. But then he took the developing mystery of why Cho's parents refuse to acknowledge their Korean heritage and the subtle prejudices of townspeople toward the only Asian family in town and threw in a twist that I found distracting and unnecessary. From that point on, the realistic part of this work of fiction limped alongside the not so realistic and sputtered to a very predictable ending. I am anxious to see if my 4th and 5th grade library patrons will enjoy the unexpected route taken by the author or find it as unsatisfying as I did.
November 6, 2016
I think that this book was a really good book! I loved both the reality part and the science fiction twist when Chloe finds out about the truth of her family! One thing I think Mike Jung could've done better was the nemesis. It seemed like Lindsay Crisp, the "stupidest person in school" was kind of one. But she wasn't really mean. She was just oblivious to a lot of things and plain dim-witted. Still, every story should have an enemy, and it should show it. Whether the enemy is the coolest girl in school or a mutant alien trying to conquer the world, the enemy should always be apparent, and should've been more so in this book. Otherwise, I thought it was really good!
January 16, 2016
A hilarious middle-grade tale about discovering and coming to terms with your personal identity, with a twist. Chloe desperately wants to embrace her Korean heritage but every time she asks her parents about their culture and traditions they are weirdly reluctant to talk about it. They're obviously hiding something, and when Chloe finds out what it is, her world is rocked. A lot of good stuff about race, identity, family and friendships is going on here, plus some serious library love, delivered with a light touch and believable tween voice.
March 28, 2016
Well, that took a completely unexpected turn (I mean, I did not see that twist coming AT ALL), though I guess there were hints. I guess the lesson of self-acceptance did remain constant too. Also, interesting (unfortunate?) cover choice considering the book's discussion about book covers not featuring non-white characters.
December 23, 2016
Well, this was moving along OK and then about half way through it took a "wrong" turn.
I lost interest in the story, didn't care for the main character and wondered why the author chose to leave the multi-cultural theme that could have been developed into an OK read.
I lost interest in the story, didn't care for the main character and wondered why the author chose to leave the multi-cultural theme that could have been developed into an OK read.
February 20, 2017
Wait, what? I did anticipate that particular twist, and it was anticlimactic at that.
Chloe was so angry, so rude, and so unlikeable. I think some of her anger and frustration was justified, but her character never improved.
Chloe was so angry, so rude, and so unlikeable. I think some of her anger and frustration was justified, but her character never improved.
January 29, 2018
Told through the lens of a middle school girl, desperately trying to connect with her Korean heritage and looking to better understand her place in the world, this book had an unexpected, super fun twist worthy of a Gordon Korman novel. Jung also provided an ending that left me wanting more.
January 4, 2022
Very weird plot, very weird twist, overall very werid
June 14, 2023
Entertaining and surprising, this is a fun middle grade read.
December 18, 2019
The cover for this book threw me. I really thought it was going to be about someone turning into a fish. So, um, spoiler alert, it's not. No one actually turns into a fish. Of course, that means that once the truth was revealed, I was not expecting it.
While I understand what Chloe's parents were trying to do by not telling her the truth for so long, I feel that a lot of the problems that come up could have been completely avoided if they had just spoken up.
All in all, this is a good book with humor thrown in.
Author: Mike Jung
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
While I understand what Chloe's parents were trying to do by not telling her the truth for so long, I feel that a lot of the problems that come up could have been completely avoided if they had just spoken up.
All in all, this is a good book with humor thrown in.
Author: Mike Jung
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
February 6, 2017
I am excited to see that so many of the 17-18 Texas Bluebonnet books have a focus on minorities and different cultures. So many of those stories have been largely untold in elementary school books. I wanted SO much to like this book. I mean, a sassy, smart girl who is going to teach cool things about the Asia and/or Korean culture, and it seems like we might learn a bit about the violin, too. This sounded awesome.
I was disappointed. I try to rate the books based on what I think my 3rd -5th grade students may like. Some may like the plot twist. The mixing of genres is something that is not done all of the time, so for that, and the belief that students may think it is cool, I will give it two stars. At the plot twist point, though, I feel like kids will be expecting some cool, sci fi material (like I was). Again, I think they will be disappointed when they read how Chloe's dad reveals the plot twist.
What really gets my students into books, especially longer ones, (I do have some reluctant readers) is the main character. They want to either like, identify with, or learn cool things from the character. Like most schools, we are really focusing on recognizing "bullying" type issues, and while Chloe does not fit the true definition of a bully, she is unnecessarily mean, throughout 97% of the book. She's disrespectful to her parents, condescending to school staff, and sarcastic to students who may be being unintentionally discriminatory. At points where she ciuld have used her intelligence, which she will not let readers forget, to educate people, she further distances them with sarcastic, rude comments. Whereas this book could have dispeled some misinformation about Asian students, Chloes's unnecessary sarcasm just perpetuates it. She even disregards her parents when they tell her their past is hurtful. She is certainly smart enough to know what that could mean; she just does not care. I think some of my more sophisticated readers will think of her as a bully. Reluctant readers may identify more with the students she makes fun of, and since they may have been in situations like those, they may dislike Chloe and not want to finish the book.
Also, I do not think even think my Asian students (who if they are smart, they are proud of it but do not use that knowledge to put others down) will like or identify with Chloe. I know that students can be mean, sometimes. It's okay with me that authors show those students. However, the "mean girl" books, where the characters are so mean for say, 29 chapters, then, they learn their lesson in the last two chapters, I think, just sends the wrong message.
I suspect this is not the last we will see of Chloe Cho, and I am hoping that book two will introduce some of the fascinating things about the Korean culture and science fiction that readers may have wanted to see in this book. If and when book two is released, I do hope that students have not lost interest in such a way that they will not read it. Personally, I really disliked Chloe Cho, and I hope the author will allow her temperament/attitude to change in book two so that I can give her another chance. Also, I hope to see Ms. Lee develop more. For me, she was the only endearing character in this book. Chloe severely needs a reality intervention, and it seems as if Ms. Lee is the only character who is willing give her one.
I was disappointed. I try to rate the books based on what I think my 3rd -5th grade students may like. Some may like the plot twist. The mixing of genres is something that is not done all of the time, so for that, and the belief that students may think it is cool, I will give it two stars. At the plot twist point, though, I feel like kids will be expecting some cool, sci fi material (like I was). Again, I think they will be disappointed when they read how Chloe's dad reveals the plot twist.
What really gets my students into books, especially longer ones, (I do have some reluctant readers) is the main character. They want to either like, identify with, or learn cool things from the character. Like most schools, we are really focusing on recognizing "bullying" type issues, and while Chloe does not fit the true definition of a bully, she is unnecessarily mean, throughout 97% of the book. She's disrespectful to her parents, condescending to school staff, and sarcastic to students who may be being unintentionally discriminatory. At points where she ciuld have used her intelligence, which she will not let readers forget, to educate people, she further distances them with sarcastic, rude comments. Whereas this book could have dispeled some misinformation about Asian students, Chloes's unnecessary sarcasm just perpetuates it. She even disregards her parents when they tell her their past is hurtful. She is certainly smart enough to know what that could mean; she just does not care. I think some of my more sophisticated readers will think of her as a bully. Reluctant readers may identify more with the students she makes fun of, and since they may have been in situations like those, they may dislike Chloe and not want to finish the book.
Also, I do not think even think my Asian students (who if they are smart, they are proud of it but do not use that knowledge to put others down) will like or identify with Chloe. I know that students can be mean, sometimes. It's okay with me that authors show those students. However, the "mean girl" books, where the characters are so mean for say, 29 chapters, then, they learn their lesson in the last two chapters, I think, just sends the wrong message.
I suspect this is not the last we will see of Chloe Cho, and I am hoping that book two will introduce some of the fascinating things about the Korean culture and science fiction that readers may have wanted to see in this book. If and when book two is released, I do hope that students have not lost interest in such a way that they will not read it. Personally, I really disliked Chloe Cho, and I hope the author will allow her temperament/attitude to change in book two so that I can give her another chance. Also, I hope to see Ms. Lee develop more. For me, she was the only endearing character in this book. Chloe severely needs a reality intervention, and it seems as if Ms. Lee is the only character who is willing give her one.
March 28, 2017
Chloe is a star student: straight As and first chair violin. She works hard and takes her academic career very seriously. Her best friend, Shelley, whom she's known since she was three, is also highly motivated in school. Unfortunately, Chloe stands out in another way, as well. She is of Korean heritage in a place where there isn't much diversity. She's heard every stereotypical comment you can think of: "You're good at math, right?" "Are you Japanese or Chinese?" (no one even thinks about Korean). And then, when the new teacher in school, Ms. Lee, is Korean: "Do you know her already?"
Chloe is aggravated by these insensitive remarks. What's even more frustrating for her though, is that her parents never want to talk about their former lives in Korea or any of their family from Korea. They keep saying it's too painful, but Chloe can't help feel that she's missing out on a big piece of herself by not knowing. She's proud of being Korean, why aren't her parents?
When Ms. Lee sets up the Model UN project, Chloe finally gets a chance to explore more about the history and culture of Korea. But first, she needs to get a family story from her parents about her Korean heritage. Even though it's for an assignment, her parents keep diverting her attention to other things (like a new violin). She even talks to Ms. Lee about how resistant they are to talking about it. With Shelley's help, Chloe finally convinces her father to tell her something. Eureka! He's talking about their lives. Chloe writes it all up and then turns it into the teacher, excited to hear what Ms. Lee has to say. The assignment is returned with an F and a "see me after class." Ms. Lee informs her that the paper is plagiarized. The entire story that Chloe's father told her came from a book.
Chloe is livid! When she goes home to confront her parents, she has no idea what she's going to find out. It's something that changes her life forever. Suddenly, class assignments don't mean anything to her anymore. And she doesn't practice once before she has to audition for first chair ... not once. She has a huge fight with Shelley and, for the first time in her life, gets a detention for talking back to a teacher. But these things are nothing compared to the turmoil going on inside of her. "Upset wasn't the right word. There really wasn't any one word that captured it all; only a phrase would do, like head in a blender." What do all those things matter when everything she thought she knew about her family was wrong.
What a great read! Chloe has a snarky and playful voice that students will enjoy. And this would lead to some great discussions if it were read aloud to a class.
Chloe is aggravated by these insensitive remarks. What's even more frustrating for her though, is that her parents never want to talk about their former lives in Korea or any of their family from Korea. They keep saying it's too painful, but Chloe can't help feel that she's missing out on a big piece of herself by not knowing. She's proud of being Korean, why aren't her parents?
When Ms. Lee sets up the Model UN project, Chloe finally gets a chance to explore more about the history and culture of Korea. But first, she needs to get a family story from her parents about her Korean heritage. Even though it's for an assignment, her parents keep diverting her attention to other things (like a new violin). She even talks to Ms. Lee about how resistant they are to talking about it. With Shelley's help, Chloe finally convinces her father to tell her something. Eureka! He's talking about their lives. Chloe writes it all up and then turns it into the teacher, excited to hear what Ms. Lee has to say. The assignment is returned with an F and a "see me after class." Ms. Lee informs her that the paper is plagiarized. The entire story that Chloe's father told her came from a book.
Chloe is livid! When she goes home to confront her parents, she has no idea what she's going to find out. It's something that changes her life forever. Suddenly, class assignments don't mean anything to her anymore. And she doesn't practice once before she has to audition for first chair ... not once. She has a huge fight with Shelley and, for the first time in her life, gets a detention for talking back to a teacher. But these things are nothing compared to the turmoil going on inside of her. "Upset wasn't the right word. There really wasn't any one word that captured it all; only a phrase would do, like head in a blender." What do all those things matter when everything she thought she knew about her family was wrong.
What a great read! Chloe has a snarky and playful voice that students will enjoy. And this would lead to some great discussions if it were read aloud to a class.
March 8, 2016
Chloe Cho is used to not fitting in. She's used to being the only Korean-American girl at her school and to being compared to all other Asian people (because Japanese/Chinese/Korean is all the same, apparently, UGH). Chloe is also at the top of her class academically, highly competitive at violin, and almost never afraid to speak her mind. Chloe knows not everyone in her class likes her, but that's okay as long as she has her best friend Shelley. Chloe has always wanted to learn more about her Korean heritage, but her parents annoyingly never want to talk about their past, which becomes a bigger problem when a new teacher assigns Chloe's class to write about a family story. Chloe's parents keep changing the subject and distracting Chloe from doing her assignment, until finally they're forced to drop a bombshell of a revelation, unlike ANYTHING Chloe could have expected. Chloe's world has officially been turned upside-down and now nothing makes sense or even seems to matter. Will life ever be the same again??
This book was awesome. Seriously, awesome. Unfortunately I saw the twist coming, mostly because of a blurb on the back of the book that was not as subtle as it thought it was. But it didn't really matter. The beautiful thing about this book is that although what Chloe's parents reveal is unbelievable and obviously fictional, Chloe reaction to it is amazingly authentic. You could substitute any number of family secrets for the Chos' and the story of the aftermath would ring true. I think a lot of kids will be able to relate to Chloe, despite the fact that they'll never LITERALLY be in her shoes. Chloe herself is an amazing character, actually, with an amazing voice. She is so clear in my mind, with a personality that has its positives and negatives, sometimes within the same personality trait. After this and Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, I plan to read anything Mike Jung writes. (Also, I hope this book will have a sequel!)
I would recommend this book to grades 4-8, especially fans of realistic school stories, stories with twists, and science fiction. This would be a great book to read alongside The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm, since they have obvious similarities but don't detract from each other at all.
This book was awesome. Seriously, awesome. Unfortunately I saw the twist coming, mostly because of a blurb on the back of the book that was not as subtle as it thought it was. But it didn't really matter. The beautiful thing about this book is that although what Chloe's parents reveal is unbelievable and obviously fictional, Chloe reaction to it is amazingly authentic. You could substitute any number of family secrets for the Chos' and the story of the aftermath would ring true. I think a lot of kids will be able to relate to Chloe, despite the fact that they'll never LITERALLY be in her shoes. Chloe herself is an amazing character, actually, with an amazing voice. She is so clear in my mind, with a personality that has its positives and negatives, sometimes within the same personality trait. After this and Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, I plan to read anything Mike Jung writes. (Also, I hope this book will have a sequel!)
I would recommend this book to grades 4-8, especially fans of realistic school stories, stories with twists, and science fiction. This would be a great book to read alongside The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm, since they have obvious similarities but don't detract from each other at all.
October 15, 2016
The basic premise of this book is fantastic, and perfect for middle-school readers, who will feel slightly superior to all the characters and won't mind the mediocre writing; Chloe Cho, the 7th-grade daughter of Korean immigrants in a "tiny, middle-of-nowhere, whiter-than-white-bread town" called Primrose Heights deals daily with the unconscious microaggessions of her peers, her teachers, and various neighbors and other locals who have never met anyone else from Korea, or perhaps anyone from Asia.
Chloe wants to know more about her ethnic heritage, but her parents are committed to blending in to the amorphous white community to a degree that seems neurotic, and they won't tell her anything about her background or her family. When her parents finally tell her that they are actual immigrants from a planet in a distant solar system (Tau Ceti 4) who happen to match human DNA from Earth at about 99%, she flips out.
This exciting development and the excellent examination of stereotyping and microagressions that is woven in are nevertheless marred by mundane writing, nonsensical responses of the main character and her family, weak character development, and a total lack of special alien powers. Theoretically, the parents are supposed to be aliens pretending to be Koreans, and laughingly basing everything they know on literature, television, and movie stereotypes, but in fact, they are almost blank characters, while they have somehow raised their daughter to act like a stereotypical "Asian" student, with the intellectual competitiveness, drive to college, studious discipline, and lack of emotional responses that fit a Korean stereotype, while exaggerating certain characteristics for laughs.
Name-dropping Fenton's Creamery (p. 183) when everyone knows it's in the upscale neighborhood of the multicultural city of Oakland, California (not Primrose Heights) undercuts the believability of the setting.
With so much good going on, and so many thought-provoking ideas woven into this, I will certainly give it to middle school readers. It has a light tone, but no reader could avoid thinking about the implications of the metaphor.
Chloe wants to know more about her ethnic heritage, but her parents are committed to blending in to the amorphous white community to a degree that seems neurotic, and they won't tell her anything about her background or her family. When her parents finally tell her that they are actual immigrants from a planet in a distant solar system (Tau Ceti 4) who happen to match human DNA from Earth at about 99%, she flips out.
This exciting development and the excellent examination of stereotyping and microagressions that is woven in are nevertheless marred by mundane writing, nonsensical responses of the main character and her family, weak character development, and a total lack of special alien powers. Theoretically, the parents are supposed to be aliens pretending to be Koreans, and laughingly basing everything they know on literature, television, and movie stereotypes, but in fact, they are almost blank characters, while they have somehow raised their daughter to act like a stereotypical "Asian" student, with the intellectual competitiveness, drive to college, studious discipline, and lack of emotional responses that fit a Korean stereotype, while exaggerating certain characteristics for laughs.
Name-dropping Fenton's Creamery (p. 183) when everyone knows it's in the upscale neighborhood of the multicultural city of Oakland, California (not Primrose Heights) undercuts the believability of the setting.
With so much good going on, and so many thought-provoking ideas woven into this, I will certainly give it to middle school readers. It has a light tone, but no reader could avoid thinking about the implications of the metaphor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2016
Chloe is different from all of her classmates in the small suburban town in Washington state. Everyone else there is a Caucasian American and they really don’t know what to expect of Asian Americans, or they think the only two possibilities are Japanese and Chinese. To make matters worse, as much as Chloe wants to know more about her own heritage, her parents skillfully avoid the subject at every turn. So, while Chloe is at first thrilled when a new Korean American teacher comes to her school, Ms. Lee’s arrival is as challenging as it is exciting. Her class’s big assignment for the year is a family history project requiring the students to interview members of their family, and Chloe will not settle for anything less than a 4.0. But since Chloe doesn’t have living grandparents, her parental communication problems are coming to a head. Jung’s story had me engaged from the beginning, with likeable characters, an interesting plot, and what seemed to be a multi-cultural theme, focused on a Korean-American family. Having a handful of Korean friends, I am fond of their culture and thus was intrigued by this aspect. I did, thus, enjoy the opportunities to learn a bit about popular Korean music and cooking, but after the surprising flip in the story, I was a bit disappointed. The flip was one of the most clichéd and yet completely unexpected I’ve ever read. Aside from my disappointment, Jung actually pulled it off pretty well. The ending did bring all of the strings together to a satisfying conclusion for Chloe’s inner conflict, both those she had at the beginning and those that ensued upon her discovery of the truth about herself. I am not sure, though, how well young Korean or other Asian Americans will respond. Some might feel cheated while others might find it an appropriate metaphor of their experiences.
April 10, 2016
Chloe Cho is fed up with the people around her automatically comparing her to Abigail Yang, not knowing the difference between Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, and crediting her intellect to her being Asian. She’s also angry at her parents who refuse to tell her anything about their Korean background, something she desperately wants to know more about. When an assignment from the new, Korean American teacher leads Chloe to push for more answers from her parents, she discovers something she never imagined.
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-hom...
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-hom...
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