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Krista Kim-Bap
Krista and Jason have been best friends since preschool. It never mattered that he was a boy with reddish brown hair and she was "the Korean girl" at school. Now in fifth grade, everyone in their class is preparing their Heritage Month projects. Jason has always loved Krista's Korean family, and particularly her mom's cooking, but Krista is conflicted about being her school's "Korean Ambassador." She's also worried about asking her intimidating grandma to teach the class how to cook their traditional kim-bap. Combine that with her new friends pulling her away from Jason, and Krista has a lot to deal with this year!
183 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2018
13 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
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Angela Ahn
8 books20 followersThanks for finding me! I don't check Goodreads. Please connect with me on Twitter @angelaahnbooks or Instagram @writeahn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 8, 2018
Krista Kim-Bap
is a middle-grade fiction book which is about Krista and her Korean family who resides in Canada. Krista was struggling with some of the changes she's experiencing such as the transformation in her style of clothing, and the shift in how her classmates treat here. Because of these changes, her relationship with her best friend Jason was on the rocks. Her sister, grandma and her mom all helped her by trying to let her clear and understand some things, especially on how she must learn to accept what she really is.
Through a school project, she also learned about her Korean ethnicity: its culture and its history, specifically which are related to food. Krista's relationship with her grandma and her older sister has come into good terms after; family is a family and must help each other especially during times of need.
Through a school project, she also learned about her Korean ethnicity: its culture and its history, specifically which are related to food. Krista's relationship with her grandma and her older sister has come into good terms after; family is a family and must help each other especially during times of need.
December 1, 2017
This heartwarming chapter book for children from a Korean Canadian teacher epitomises #ownvoices gold, with laughs alongside learning about friendship, culture, and growing up!
August 1, 2018
This book was cute and the characters felt real to me. The problems faced by the MC were not over the top or overly traumatic, but they were legitimate and something that I would think most children go through at one time or another.
One HUGE warning with this book. It will make you SO HUNGRY!!! Lol, the food described in this book sounded AMAZING and I wanted ALL of it. The MC is Korean-Canadian and one of the plot points is that she has to do a report on the countries of her ancestry (all the children in her class do) and how it is expressed in her. She chooses Korean food, since that is what she eats at home and what she feels ties her to the land of her family. So Korean food is described with a lot of mouth-watering detail. (I'm salivating just thinking about it.)
This is a 3.5 star book, but with the food descriptions, I'm boosting it to a 4.
My thanks to NetGalley and Second Story Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
One HUGE warning with this book. It will make you SO HUNGRY!!! Lol, the food described in this book sounded AMAZING and I wanted ALL of it. The MC is Korean-Canadian and one of the plot points is that she has to do a report on the countries of her ancestry (all the children in her class do) and how it is expressed in her. She chooses Korean food, since that is what she eats at home and what she feels ties her to the land of her family. So Korean food is described with a lot of mouth-watering detail. (I'm salivating just thinking about it.)
This is a 3.5 star book, but with the food descriptions, I'm boosting it to a 4.
My thanks to NetGalley and Second Story Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
December 13, 2017
Krista, almost twelve, lives in Vancouver, Canada, and suddenly faces the challenges of a National Heritage assignment, an invitation to a Red Carpet party thrown by one of the cool, popular girls and then her class's participation in a Celebration of Dance. Krista enlists the help of her critical, traditional Korean grandmother to learn how to prepare Korean dishes for her class presentation. Krista and her grandmother prepare kimbap (which is NOT the same as sushi!) for the class and learns how sharing food with her Korean family teaches her more about being Korean than any history book. Older sister Tori helps Krista with clothes and friends and helps her realize that she can make new friends and still keep her best friend, Jason.
(I received pre-publication access to this Kindle edition thanks to NetGalley.)
(I received pre-publication access to this Kindle edition thanks to NetGalley.)
March 20, 2018
This was a quick read that transported me back to my days as a tween. The story deals with the awkwardness and complexity of changing social circles at school as well as connecting with one's family and heritage across generational divides. I enjoyed the balance between the friendship and family arcs and the appreciated the explicit discussion of narrow beauty standards in Korea (which are similar to in Taiwan). Krista reminded me of myself at the same age–unfashionable, not very popular, and breaking from the typical gendered segregation among peers by having a best friend who was a boy. Her struggles were super relatable to me.
January 4, 2018
I really loved this story. Krista is eleven and I felt like the reading difficulty was appropriate for that 10+ age range, while at the same time introducing themes of culture, family, friendship, growing up, and self discovery. I also am slightly obsessed with Korean food, so I loved all the great descriptions of Korean food and culture in this book. This book is definitely accessible for a young audience, but at the same time I really enjoyed reading it at age 32 as well. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more by Angela Ahn.
February 11, 2018
Krista navigates the choppy waters of fifth grade in Krista Kim-Bap, examining friendship, identity, and family in Vancouver, Canada. Krista’s long-standing friendship with Jason is tested when she begins to explore friendships with the other girls in class, and an impending Heritage Month school project forces her to think about the ways her family expresses their Korean identity. Since Krista’s teen sister downplays her ethnicity at every turn and her mother refuses to cook Korean food to avoid criticism from Krista’s grandmother, what’s a girl to do? Krista goes on a culinary journey with her grandmother, allows her sister to restyle a hanbok dress for an important party, and clashes with her mother over fashion tape that allows her to achieve a Western-style double eyelid look. Readers will identify with the ebb and flow of drama in Krista’s life, and will find the situations to be highly relatable to their own late elementary school experiences. Krista triumphs over challenges in her own way, with help from her supportive extended family who alternately encourage her and warn her of the pitfalls that await as she takes her first tentative steps into the adolescent experience. Ahn’s debut novel will resonate with tweens who are trying new things and looking for ways to stay true to themselves.
April 2, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will be purchasing it for my library.
Krista is in fifth grade, and has to do a project for Heritage Month at school. She's not excited about the project, because there aren't many Korean-Canadian kids at her school and she doesn't want to draw attention to herself. She finally decides to focus on Korean food, something which she loves to eat, and a passion she's also shares with her best friend, Jason. Krista has a rocky relationship with her grandmother, but she enlists her help with the project, as she is an excellent cook. Krista's relationship with Jason begins to change, as does the one with her grandmother, and Krista realizes that figuring out who you really are can be very complicated.
Food plays a central part of this book, and I love the way it has the power to bring people together. I especially loved to watch as Krista's grandmother changed in how she interacted with both Krista, and Jason. There are excellent descriptions about the dishes that they eat, and I appreciated learning something about Korean cuisine.
Since Canada is such a multicultural country, I love to see more books that reflect the lives of children who come from a variety of backgrounds, and the Korean-Canadian storyline is not one I've seen before in Canadian middle grade literature. I look forward to sharing this book with my young patrons.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will be purchasing it for my library.
Krista is in fifth grade, and has to do a project for Heritage Month at school. She's not excited about the project, because there aren't many Korean-Canadian kids at her school and she doesn't want to draw attention to herself. She finally decides to focus on Korean food, something which she loves to eat, and a passion she's also shares with her best friend, Jason. Krista has a rocky relationship with her grandmother, but she enlists her help with the project, as she is an excellent cook. Krista's relationship with Jason begins to change, as does the one with her grandmother, and Krista realizes that figuring out who you really are can be very complicated.
Food plays a central part of this book, and I love the way it has the power to bring people together. I especially loved to watch as Krista's grandmother changed in how she interacted with both Krista, and Jason. There are excellent descriptions about the dishes that they eat, and I appreciated learning something about Korean cuisine.
Since Canada is such a multicultural country, I love to see more books that reflect the lives of children who come from a variety of backgrounds, and the Korean-Canadian storyline is not one I've seen before in Canadian middle grade literature. I look forward to sharing this book with my young patrons.
October 23, 2017
Krista and Jason have been best friends since preschool. When she gets noticed by the popular girls she can't so no to their invitations to join them. Meanwhile Jason is left hurt and confused. She soon realizes that she isn't herself when she is with the girls and only Jason makes her feel comfortable in her own old shoes. This story of friendship is also filled with the tradition of Korean food. Jason loves both Krista and her Korean family and it isn't long before Krista regrets how she has treated him. Although the plot is a little predictable, it's a great little story for young readers also struggling to fit in new friends with old.
May 21, 2018
Krista Kim is a fifth-grader living in Vancouver, BC and the only Korean Canadian in her school. Jason has been her best friend since preschool and Krista has always just assumed they would always be besties. And Krista had turned Jason onto Korean food, which he now loves and consequently, is at the Kim house fairly frequently. Unfortunately, Krista's grandmother doesn't seem to like Jason one bit.
When their teacher announces that they will be working on a Heritage Month project, Krista isn't too thrilled, feeling she will end up being the "Korean Ambassador" and asked stupid questions like "how do you say fart in Korean?" Jason suggests she do her project on Korean food, but before Krista decides, she receives an invitation to a "Red Carpet" birthday party from Madison, a popular girl in school and someone Krista hasn't had much to do with in the past.
When her older sister Tori hears about the invitation, she remakes a traditional Korean hanbok into a more modern style for Krista, and her grandmother takes her to a Korean beauty salon the morning of the party. There, Krista learns about a special tape that will make the shape of her eyes more Western and less Korean. In fact, Grandma Kim promises to take Krista and Tori to Korea to have their eyes surgically redone when they are old enough.
Krista and her dress are a real hit at Madison's party, and during the following school week, Madison and her friends pull Krista away from Jason to hang out with them. Krista convinces herself that this is all OK with Jason, not even seeing his hurt feelings.
Meanwhile, Grandma Kim is starting to teach Krista how to make traditional Korean food, and agrees to help with the Heritage Month project at school. As Krista and Jason drift apart, she gets caught up in the trying to fit in with Madison and her friends, until she is confronted with Jason's rejection in school one day.
Can Grandma Kim make things better between the two friends? She's never liked Jason, but when she discovers his love of Korean food, maybe that is just what she needs to get them talking again.
For a book aimed at younger middle-grade kids, Krista Kim-Bap took me on quite a reading roller coaster of ups and downs. At first, I thought it was going to be a cute kind of fluffy story about best friends who run into a glitch in their friendship but ultimately make-up. But, as I read, I began to think it was going to be a story about how a Korean Canadian girl finally figures out how to be just like all the other girls in school with the help of her sister. But in the end, Krista learns to be really proud of her Korean heritage and to accept who she is, and not become what others want to her be.
Along the way, the author, Angela Ahn, addresses some important issues about identity. For instance, I know that there is the traditional hanbok, which is quite beautiful, and now a more modern version, so the idea that Tori altered the hanbok her grandmother gave her seemed in keeping with today's world and Tori's interest in fashion. What I did find distressing was that Krista and Tori were both willing to eventually have their eyes cosmetically altered to look Western. To me, that takes away so much of who a person is. I remember hearing Julie Chen talk about having it done when she first started out as a news reporter and saying it was something she has always regretted. I'm sure that Krista's mother is speaking for Ahn in Chapter 14, when she sits her girls down and talks to them about changing their "Korean-ness." A chapter not to be skipped over.
On a lighter note, Krista Kim-Bap also introduces young readers to a variety of different Korean dishes and anyone who hasn't tried some Korean food yet is in for a real culinary taste treat.
Krista Kim-Bap is a fun/serious coming-of-age story about identity, finding and accepting youself, and knowing who your real friends are. It reminded me of something I learned in Brownies and passed on to my own Kiddo when she was in middle school: "Make new friends/Keep the old/One is silver/the other is gold."
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
When their teacher announces that they will be working on a Heritage Month project, Krista isn't too thrilled, feeling she will end up being the "Korean Ambassador" and asked stupid questions like "how do you say fart in Korean?" Jason suggests she do her project on Korean food, but before Krista decides, she receives an invitation to a "Red Carpet" birthday party from Madison, a popular girl in school and someone Krista hasn't had much to do with in the past.
When her older sister Tori hears about the invitation, she remakes a traditional Korean hanbok into a more modern style for Krista, and her grandmother takes her to a Korean beauty salon the morning of the party. There, Krista learns about a special tape that will make the shape of her eyes more Western and less Korean. In fact, Grandma Kim promises to take Krista and Tori to Korea to have their eyes surgically redone when they are old enough.
Krista and her dress are a real hit at Madison's party, and during the following school week, Madison and her friends pull Krista away from Jason to hang out with them. Krista convinces herself that this is all OK with Jason, not even seeing his hurt feelings.
Meanwhile, Grandma Kim is starting to teach Krista how to make traditional Korean food, and agrees to help with the Heritage Month project at school. As Krista and Jason drift apart, she gets caught up in the trying to fit in with Madison and her friends, until she is confronted with Jason's rejection in school one day.
Can Grandma Kim make things better between the two friends? She's never liked Jason, but when she discovers his love of Korean food, maybe that is just what she needs to get them talking again.
For a book aimed at younger middle-grade kids, Krista Kim-Bap took me on quite a reading roller coaster of ups and downs. At first, I thought it was going to be a cute kind of fluffy story about best friends who run into a glitch in their friendship but ultimately make-up. But, as I read, I began to think it was going to be a story about how a Korean Canadian girl finally figures out how to be just like all the other girls in school with the help of her sister. But in the end, Krista learns to be really proud of her Korean heritage and to accept who she is, and not become what others want to her be.
Along the way, the author, Angela Ahn, addresses some important issues about identity. For instance, I know that there is the traditional hanbok, which is quite beautiful, and now a more modern version, so the idea that Tori altered the hanbok her grandmother gave her seemed in keeping with today's world and Tori's interest in fashion. What I did find distressing was that Krista and Tori were both willing to eventually have their eyes cosmetically altered to look Western. To me, that takes away so much of who a person is. I remember hearing Julie Chen talk about having it done when she first started out as a news reporter and saying it was something she has always regretted. I'm sure that Krista's mother is speaking for Ahn in Chapter 14, when she sits her girls down and talks to them about changing their "Korean-ness." A chapter not to be skipped over.
On a lighter note, Krista Kim-Bap also introduces young readers to a variety of different Korean dishes and anyone who hasn't tried some Korean food yet is in for a real culinary taste treat.
Krista Kim-Bap is a fun/serious coming-of-age story about identity, finding and accepting youself, and knowing who your real friends are. It reminded me of something I learned in Brownies and passed on to my own Kiddo when she was in middle school: "Make new friends/Keep the old/One is silver/the other is gold."
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
December 24, 2017
When I was in the grade school, we studied our heritage, just as Krista does in this middle-school book. And like Krista, we were encouraged to study our cultural history through food. We were all supposed to bring in recipes from our family that were part of our heritage. My heritage was half Italian and have British. But, my father, like the parents in this book, who are first generation born in their country, do not speak to the language of their parents. Thus, like Krista, I did not know Italian, in her case Korean, and so felt closer to my British heritage. So, while all the other kids were brining in strange and exotic recipies, I brought in one for fruit cake. My teacher though I had misunderstood the assignment. She kept saying, bring in something from my heriatage, and I'd tried to explain to her that I had.
She sent me back to try again.
I told my mother, the British side of my family, what had happened, and she realized the teacher wanted something Italian, despite the fact that none of us ate anything more Italian than pizza, and so gave me a receipt for eels in wine sauce.
The teacher approved.
Krista, in this book, does not have this problem, because her grandmother is still alive, and actually wants to help her learn to cook Korean.
But this book is not just about Krista learning how to cook Korean food. This is a fish-out-of-water story. A girl whose best friend is a boy, and how doesn't understand the girls in her class, not because she is Korean-Canadian, but because she doesn't understand girls in general.
And it takes her grandmother to help her with the assignment, and with the understanding.
It really is a sweet story, and I am so glad that Krista showed how eating Korean was important to her heritage and who she was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
She sent me back to try again.
I told my mother, the British side of my family, what had happened, and she realized the teacher wanted something Italian, despite the fact that none of us ate anything more Italian than pizza, and so gave me a receipt for eels in wine sauce.
The teacher approved.
Krista, in this book, does not have this problem, because her grandmother is still alive, and actually wants to help her learn to cook Korean.
But this book is not just about Krista learning how to cook Korean food. This is a fish-out-of-water story. A girl whose best friend is a boy, and how doesn't understand the girls in her class, not because she is Korean-Canadian, but because she doesn't understand girls in general.
And it takes her grandmother to help her with the assignment, and with the understanding.
It really is a sweet story, and I am so glad that Krista showed how eating Korean was important to her heritage and who she was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
January 8, 2018
Fifth grade has changes in store for Krista. She sees a new side of herself and her sister Tori, when Tori makes a gorgeous dress for a party Krista reluctantly goes to. Suddenly Krista is hanging out with all of the popular girls instead of with her bestie since preschool, Jason. Krista is also learning more about her Korean heritage while making traditional Korean foods with her intimidating grandmother. Some changes are good, others not so much. Can Krista find her place and still be happy?
Great book about growing up, making and keeping friends, and about culture and family. I definitely recommend having this book in classrooms and libraries!
Great book about growing up, making and keeping friends, and about culture and family. I definitely recommend having this book in classrooms and libraries!
May 6, 2018
I tutor EAL with a recent immigrant from South Korea. This book has been an excellent way for me to gather insight into the South Korean culture—especially food and a bit of fashion. Last week we discussed 'ssangapul'—an eyelid surgery to make the eyes appear bigger. Angela Ahn's book talks about this. I think adding some recipes could have made the book even better.
Growing up as a first generation immigrant myself, I appreciate the challenges that Krista and her sister, Tori experience in Ahn's book.
Growing up as a first generation immigrant myself, I appreciate the challenges that Krista and her sister, Tori experience in Ahn's book.
February 2, 2020
This is an lovely story about friendship. In a lively voice, the author draws us into Krista's 5th grade world. Krista doesn't consider herself a tomboy, but she's not interested in clothes or makeup or boys— except her best friend Jason, who has been her true best friend for years, and that's their relationship. Things change when Krista is invited to a popular girl's party and ends up being drawn into that girl's social circle. It's not filled with nasty girls, but they demand a certain degree of loyalty, which means giving up lunchtime and afternoons with Jason. This book is a fascinating take on the friendship story from a really sweet girl who accidentally hurts her best friend, and then has to figure out how to deal with it. The story also delves into Krista's uneasy relationship with her traditional Korean grandmother—and food, deliciously described, is a big part of that.
March 10, 2018
This was adorable! And now I’m craving Korean.
April 5, 2018
An enjoyable read about a girl who’s trying to figure out who she is, and who who true friends are. It’s a great story, with tasty food, mixed with learning about your identity.
April 26, 2019
A good book that has a great message about one of the main problems tweens and perhaps teenagers struggle with. I think it can help young adults learn about friendship and self-confidence.
January 21, 2021
Krista Kim-Bap is an endearing middle-grade book with a strong resemblance to
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
. It was interesting to read a Canadian middle-grade book with cultural diversity. This book features a sweet sister relationship, a loving Korean grandma, healthy school friendships, and lots of food! If you’re looking for a feel-good middle-grade book with a dash of humor, you will absolutely enjoy this one. I look forward to Ahn’s forthcoming title,
Peter Lee's Notes From the Field
.
Read my full review on my blog.
Read my full review on my blog.
July 29, 2018
Such a heartwarming book about a Korean Canadian middle grade girl who is trying to figure out her identity. Loved how she bonded with her heritage and grandmother over its food. Also, how she learned to balance friendships between her boy best friend and some new girlfriends. But the best part is when her mother, sat her and her sister down, to emphasize that the western concept of beauty (double eyelids) is just that. A western concept. And it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong or less attractive with their Korean features.
April 8, 2018
I came across this book on Twitter, where it was recommended by a friend who is a public librarian and an authority on middle grade books. Since a review copy was available on NetGalley, I logged my request and got the free eARC on my Kindle. Needless to say (but am still saying it!) this does not impact my review of the book.
Krista Kim-Bap is a slice of the life of twelve-year old Krista Kim who is a Korean-Canadian living in Vancouver. She has never been to Korea, cannot speak or read Korean and has little information about Korean history or culture. The one Korean thing she truly loves is Korean food. Sharing her love for bulgogi and kimchi is her best friend since preschool, Jason. Jason is Scottish Canadian, but adores the bold, punchy flavours of Korean Food. Krista and Jason are inseparable and have perfect understanding between them, without any sort of romantic feelings.
On the other hand, Krista has zero understanding with her elder sister Tori. Tori is in high school, tries to underplay her Korean-ness as much as possible, has a keen sense of fashion and always looks beautifully put-together with perfect hair, trendy clothes and the poise to match. Krista lives in jeans, tshirts and sneakers, her hair is always twisted up in a ponytail and she thinks that she and Tori just don't have anything in common to connect over.
The story begins with their class teacher Mrs. June announcing a new project for Heritage Month- they each have to make a presentation and submit a report about their heritage. Krista is lost, and has no idea how to talk to her classmates about what it feels to be Korean when she knows next to nothing about Korea and does not feel as Korean as much as she feels Canadian. But Jason comes to the rescue and suggests that she base her project on Korean food, since it is something she feels strongly about.
Thus begins the most tumultuous period of Krista's hitherto uneventful life. She approaches her stern and critical grandmother for help with her project. Grandma Kim had emigrated to Canada from Korea years ago, and still holds the views and opinions she had had as a young woman in Korea. She believes in girls dressing up, wearing make up and looking pretty- everything that Krista hates. Her compliments to Krista are all backhanded and she is mistrustful of her friendship with Jason. But she is very helpful (in her brusque way) and starts teaching Krista to make Korean food. She takes her and Tori to a Korean salon to get their hair and makeup done. Tori, coming to know of Krista's project, makes her a modern version of the traditional Korean dress hanbok that she can wear for her presentation. As Krista explores becoming more 'girly', all the popular girls in her class 'discover' her and invite her to join their clique. Suddenly it is as if there are too many changes happening in Krista's life and as she drifts apart from Jason, she feels like she is lost as she tries to find herself. The rest of the book is about how she finds her way to her real self, with help from her grandmother and mother.
I liked the book because it gave me a window into Korean food and culture. I had no idea that kim-bap was the Korean version of sushi (though never say that to a Korean!) or that saangapul tape or ssangapul surgery (to make the eyes look bigger) was a part of Korean beauty culture and almost a rite of passage there. I found myself looking up things online while reading the book which I think is the best thing a book can do- make the reader more curious and hence more informed.
I also liked the message in the book- be true to yourself. The talking-to Krista's mom gives to her and Tori about being comfortable in their own skins is one of the best advice I have seen being given to tweens and teens who are exploring their own identities- it is balanced and sensible, without any talking down. The advice Grandmother Kim gives Jason (and Krista) about being vocal about your feelings rather than expecting your loved ones to simply understand you is also important.
What I didn't like is the style of narration- it reads in a montone, like a boring, ceaseless ticking of words like the seconds hand of a clock. Writing should be a mix of long sentences and short, of vivid exclamations and patient explanations, of evocative descriptions and interesting conversation. It should not be a rhythmic endless barrage of words with little texture and emotion to bring it alive. The books suffers from this. Another the thing that irked me is that some of the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. In several places, people address each other by name even while its just the two of them talking, which never happens in real life. For example:
1)
“Tori, you did this?” my mom was amazed. She looked pleased. “Yes, I did. Not bad, huh?”
“Tori, it looks amazing! I was wondering what you were doing last night. What’s it for?”
2)
”I’m going to tell you something else, Krista, because, I know I shouldn’t be, but I am totally shocked at how naïve you are."
3)
When I finally calmed down, I asked, half afraid, “Jason, are we good?”
"Krista, we’re good,” he said.
But according to me, these flaws in writing are more the editor's responsibility than the author's.
In conclusion, the book has a nice message and a great intro to Korean culture. A better, more thorough edit would have made all the difference.
Suitable for kids aged 10-12.
Krista Kim-Bap is a slice of the life of twelve-year old Krista Kim who is a Korean-Canadian living in Vancouver. She has never been to Korea, cannot speak or read Korean and has little information about Korean history or culture. The one Korean thing she truly loves is Korean food. Sharing her love for bulgogi and kimchi is her best friend since preschool, Jason. Jason is Scottish Canadian, but adores the bold, punchy flavours of Korean Food. Krista and Jason are inseparable and have perfect understanding between them, without any sort of romantic feelings.
On the other hand, Krista has zero understanding with her elder sister Tori. Tori is in high school, tries to underplay her Korean-ness as much as possible, has a keen sense of fashion and always looks beautifully put-together with perfect hair, trendy clothes and the poise to match. Krista lives in jeans, tshirts and sneakers, her hair is always twisted up in a ponytail and she thinks that she and Tori just don't have anything in common to connect over.
The story begins with their class teacher Mrs. June announcing a new project for Heritage Month- they each have to make a presentation and submit a report about their heritage. Krista is lost, and has no idea how to talk to her classmates about what it feels to be Korean when she knows next to nothing about Korea and does not feel as Korean as much as she feels Canadian. But Jason comes to the rescue and suggests that she base her project on Korean food, since it is something she feels strongly about.
Thus begins the most tumultuous period of Krista's hitherto uneventful life. She approaches her stern and critical grandmother for help with her project. Grandma Kim had emigrated to Canada from Korea years ago, and still holds the views and opinions she had had as a young woman in Korea. She believes in girls dressing up, wearing make up and looking pretty- everything that Krista hates. Her compliments to Krista are all backhanded and she is mistrustful of her friendship with Jason. But she is very helpful (in her brusque way) and starts teaching Krista to make Korean food. She takes her and Tori to a Korean salon to get their hair and makeup done. Tori, coming to know of Krista's project, makes her a modern version of the traditional Korean dress hanbok that she can wear for her presentation. As Krista explores becoming more 'girly', all the popular girls in her class 'discover' her and invite her to join their clique. Suddenly it is as if there are too many changes happening in Krista's life and as she drifts apart from Jason, she feels like she is lost as she tries to find herself. The rest of the book is about how she finds her way to her real self, with help from her grandmother and mother.
I liked the book because it gave me a window into Korean food and culture. I had no idea that kim-bap was the Korean version of sushi (though never say that to a Korean!) or that saangapul tape or ssangapul surgery (to make the eyes look bigger) was a part of Korean beauty culture and almost a rite of passage there. I found myself looking up things online while reading the book which I think is the best thing a book can do- make the reader more curious and hence more informed.
I also liked the message in the book- be true to yourself. The talking-to Krista's mom gives to her and Tori about being comfortable in their own skins is one of the best advice I have seen being given to tweens and teens who are exploring their own identities- it is balanced and sensible, without any talking down. The advice Grandmother Kim gives Jason (and Krista) about being vocal about your feelings rather than expecting your loved ones to simply understand you is also important.
What I didn't like is the style of narration- it reads in a montone, like a boring, ceaseless ticking of words like the seconds hand of a clock. Writing should be a mix of long sentences and short, of vivid exclamations and patient explanations, of evocative descriptions and interesting conversation. It should not be a rhythmic endless barrage of words with little texture and emotion to bring it alive. The books suffers from this. Another the thing that irked me is that some of the dialogue is stilted and unrealistic. In several places, people address each other by name even while its just the two of them talking, which never happens in real life. For example:
1)
“Tori, you did this?” my mom was amazed. She looked pleased. “Yes, I did. Not bad, huh?”
“Tori, it looks amazing! I was wondering what you were doing last night. What’s it for?”
2)
”I’m going to tell you something else, Krista, because, I know I shouldn’t be, but I am totally shocked at how naïve you are."
3)
When I finally calmed down, I asked, half afraid, “Jason, are we good?”
"Krista, we’re good,” he said.
But according to me, these flaws in writing are more the editor's responsibility than the author's.
In conclusion, the book has a nice message and a great intro to Korean culture. A better, more thorough edit would have made all the difference.
Suitable for kids aged 10-12.
October 28, 2017
I really loved this story. It's for a younger middle grade crowd and has some great lessons about embracing yourself and your family's culture, friends shouldn't ask you to do uncomfortable things, and people may be using you. These are all great lessons for the book's intended audience. I thought it was a super cute story and well done.
to-start-soon
February 16, 2018A digitized ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
Krista Kim’s life is about to be shaken up by a family heritage project, popular girl Madison’s birthday party, and the Celebration of Dance her teacher has signed the class up to participate in. For the heritage project her best friend Jason suggests she focus on Korean food because he loves eating the stuff at her house. The trouble is her mom, though of Korean descent, has lived in Canada all her life and doesn’t really know how to cook Korean so Krista’d have to ask her grandmother for help. Her grandmother is a very strict, traditional Korean grandma, and seems to love Krista’s older, more fashionable sister Tori and barely tolerates her. Madison’s birthday party unexpectedly finds Krista questioning her fashion taste and hanging out with the popular girls a little more, which means hanging out with Jason less. And then the Celebration of Dance is pretty much a nightmare because dance is not something that comes naturally to Krista. Through it all, Krista will learn more about herself, her family, and what makes a true friend.
This book made me hungry. I lived in Korea for a year, and there are lots of Korean students at my current school too, so I recognize many of the foods Krista talks about and makes as she prepares for her project. And I didn’t have any kimbap in reach! It was agonizing. So to read this right, make or go get some kimbap to munch on between chapters. Or if you’ve never had Korean go to a Korean restaurant, that’s a must while reading this so you can taste what you’re reading about. Besides the yummy Korean food being talked about, this is a middle grade book about a tween girl figuring out who she is in a world that tells her all sorts of things she should be. I loved Krista’s mom’s talk to her girls about accepting themselves, and not trying to look like fake magazine pictures. Krista learns to have better balance in her life eventually. She learns a lot of great lessons about friends, understanding family, and self-acceptance. And I felt like it was realistically handled too, because Krista doesn’t go back to being 100% the same as she was before. She keeps a few of the changes she’s made, but she also realizes some of them just aren’t her or they weren’t good decisions. It’s a good model for kids who are going to face changes whether they want to or not. Change isn’t all bad. So overall, it is a fun middle grade realistic read about a Korean-Canadian tween. Hand this to readers looking for someone of Korean descent as a main character, readers who gobble up contemporary fiction like they live on it, and kids who may need a wake up call to be their real selves and not be fake in the roller coaster years of upper elementary and middle school.
Notes on content: No language issues, though there are 3 words that in some cultures are borderline words. No sexual content. No violence.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book made me hungry. I lived in Korea for a year, and there are lots of Korean students at my current school too, so I recognize many of the foods Krista talks about and makes as she prepares for her project. And I didn’t have any kimbap in reach! It was agonizing. So to read this right, make or go get some kimbap to munch on between chapters. Or if you’ve never had Korean go to a Korean restaurant, that’s a must while reading this so you can taste what you’re reading about. Besides the yummy Korean food being talked about, this is a middle grade book about a tween girl figuring out who she is in a world that tells her all sorts of things she should be. I loved Krista’s mom’s talk to her girls about accepting themselves, and not trying to look like fake magazine pictures. Krista learns to have better balance in her life eventually. She learns a lot of great lessons about friends, understanding family, and self-acceptance. And I felt like it was realistically handled too, because Krista doesn’t go back to being 100% the same as she was before. She keeps a few of the changes she’s made, but she also realizes some of them just aren’t her or they weren’t good decisions. It’s a good model for kids who are going to face changes whether they want to or not. Change isn’t all bad. So overall, it is a fun middle grade realistic read about a Korean-Canadian tween. Hand this to readers looking for someone of Korean descent as a main character, readers who gobble up contemporary fiction like they live on it, and kids who may need a wake up call to be their real selves and not be fake in the roller coaster years of upper elementary and middle school.
Notes on content: No language issues, though there are 3 words that in some cultures are borderline words. No sexual content. No violence.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2018
Disclosure - the author is a friend of mine, though we haven't seen each other in many years.
This is a truly enjoyable story that celebrates culture, friendship, and family. Krista Kim is almost 12 years old and lives with her Korean-Canadian mum, dad, and sister Tori in Vancouver. Her very best friend is a boy named Jason; they’ve been thick as thieves since the first day of preschool together. They eat lunch together, choose each other as partners in class, and have a standing date every Wednesday after school at Krista’s house where Jason dives into the fridge, hoping for leftover kimchi, to the annoyance of Krista’s traditional Grandma. Krista isn’t sure how she feels about her Korean-ness. Then she attends a classmate’s fancy party wearing a hanbok that Tori has altered for her, and it’s the envy of every girl there. Suddenly Krista is invited to spend lunch and recess with the girls, she starts experimenting with clothes and even makeup, and she doesn’t have as much time for Jason. But surely he understands, right? Ahn has written a lively and engaging story of a tween girl struggling to figure who she is and who her friends are, while dealing with shifting boundaries as relationships develop and change. She gives Krista a solid family foundation from which to understand and navigate the push and pull between her heritage and her Canadianness, an authentic reality that will resonate with young readers from all cultures who sometimes find themselves as “others.”My thanks to Second Story Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is a truly enjoyable story that celebrates culture, friendship, and family. Krista Kim is almost 12 years old and lives with her Korean-Canadian mum, dad, and sister Tori in Vancouver. Her very best friend is a boy named Jason; they’ve been thick as thieves since the first day of preschool together. They eat lunch together, choose each other as partners in class, and have a standing date every Wednesday after school at Krista’s house where Jason dives into the fridge, hoping for leftover kimchi, to the annoyance of Krista’s traditional Grandma. Krista isn’t sure how she feels about her Korean-ness. Then she attends a classmate’s fancy party wearing a hanbok that Tori has altered for her, and it’s the envy of every girl there. Suddenly Krista is invited to spend lunch and recess with the girls, she starts experimenting with clothes and even makeup, and she doesn’t have as much time for Jason. But surely he understands, right? Ahn has written a lively and engaging story of a tween girl struggling to figure who she is and who her friends are, while dealing with shifting boundaries as relationships develop and change. She gives Krista a solid family foundation from which to understand and navigate the push and pull between her heritage and her Canadianness, an authentic reality that will resonate with young readers from all cultures who sometimes find themselves as “others.”My thanks to Second Story Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2018
* Thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a good book about growing up, navigating the social difficulties of being a tween, and appreciating your cultural heritage. Krista is a young Korean-Canadian who doesn't relate at all to her Korean heritage except for her love of the food. Her nuclear family is very modern, but her grandmother is still very traditional - she cooks all of the traditional foods, expects girls to always look their best, and to be very feminine. Krista has never cared for fashion, that's her older sister's department. She prefers hanging out with her best friend Jason. But when she is given an assignment to explore her heritage, the only thing she can come up with requires her to spend a great deal of time with her grandmother. She even dresses up for a party that she would never have gone to before and the popular girls start talking to her because of a dress her sister made. As these girls try to make Krista more like them, her friendship with Jason suffers. Krista has to figure out who she is and what is important to her, not to everyone else.
There are a lot of good lessons in the book and will probably appeal to younger middle-grade readers, but the writing didn't make the story move as well as it should have. I liked the fact that Krista was Korean as we don't see enough of that in literature, it just didn't resonate much with me.
This was a good book about growing up, navigating the social difficulties of being a tween, and appreciating your cultural heritage. Krista is a young Korean-Canadian who doesn't relate at all to her Korean heritage except for her love of the food. Her nuclear family is very modern, but her grandmother is still very traditional - she cooks all of the traditional foods, expects girls to always look their best, and to be very feminine. Krista has never cared for fashion, that's her older sister's department. She prefers hanging out with her best friend Jason. But when she is given an assignment to explore her heritage, the only thing she can come up with requires her to spend a great deal of time with her grandmother. She even dresses up for a party that she would never have gone to before and the popular girls start talking to her because of a dress her sister made. As these girls try to make Krista more like them, her friendship with Jason suffers. Krista has to figure out who she is and what is important to her, not to everyone else.
There are a lot of good lessons in the book and will probably appeal to younger middle-grade readers, but the writing didn't make the story move as well as it should have. I liked the fact that Krista was Korean as we don't see enough of that in literature, it just didn't resonate much with me.
October 23, 2018
Krista Kim-Bap by Angela Ahn, published by Second Story Press is a fabulous little middle grade novel.
Krista and her best friend Jason have been friends since preschool. Now they are in fifth grade and things begin to change. First, Krista starts developing a new friendship with some of the girls while neglecting her best friend. She also becomes the class defacto ”Korean Ambassador” for Heritage Month at her school. At a time when so much begins to change, how does Krista manage?
I really loved this story from start to finish. From Krista’s grandmother Mrs. Kim, who totally reminded me of Mrs. Kim from Gilmour Girls, to Krista herself, it is a real story of self-discovery, honouring traditions and navigating friendships. There are some really important lessons to be learned through reading Krista’s story. How to manage friendships and which friendships are reciprocal and genuine is at the forefront of this book. It really is about Krista realizing what true friendship looks like and how to cultivate new friendships while honouring those who have always been tried and true.
Also, there is the theme of being true to yourself and owning your truth, realizing that we are all individuals and all have different strengths, different likes, different tastes. Individuality can be tough for children as they enter their tweens and teens and having a story available to relate to can provide comfort.
Krista and her best friend Jason have been friends since preschool. Now they are in fifth grade and things begin to change. First, Krista starts developing a new friendship with some of the girls while neglecting her best friend. She also becomes the class defacto ”Korean Ambassador” for Heritage Month at her school. At a time when so much begins to change, how does Krista manage?
I really loved this story from start to finish. From Krista’s grandmother Mrs. Kim, who totally reminded me of Mrs. Kim from Gilmour Girls, to Krista herself, it is a real story of self-discovery, honouring traditions and navigating friendships. There are some really important lessons to be learned through reading Krista’s story. How to manage friendships and which friendships are reciprocal and genuine is at the forefront of this book. It really is about Krista realizing what true friendship looks like and how to cultivate new friendships while honouring those who have always been tried and true.
Also, there is the theme of being true to yourself and owning your truth, realizing that we are all individuals and all have different strengths, different likes, different tastes. Individuality can be tough for children as they enter their tweens and teens and having a story available to relate to can provide comfort.
November 20, 2021
This was a sweet little book to read along with my daughter. I especially loved the relationships between Krista’s family members. They were down-to-earth and positive, but also realistic, which is something I always love to see in children’s books. Krista’s struggles juggling both new and old friends is the central conflict, and it seems like a fairly relatable portrayal for the age group.
I do think the book read a bit young. Krista’s is in 5th grade, and while her behaviors and dialogue fit pretty well, the writing itself seems to aim a bit younger. It was scheduled in our curriculum for kids around 3rd grade, and I think 3rd-4th sounds about right. It wasn’t far enough off to be distracting, just noticeable.
There were a couple of minor details that were mentioned in the beginning, completely forgotten for the rest of the book, and then showed up randomly at the end. For example, the fact that Jason lived in a more chaotic household with a few dogs. This is simply told to us once in the beginning. Then toward the end, Jason brings a dog as part of his school presentation. The dog is referred to as “that crazy dog” as if we, the reader, are familiar with him. Things like that were minor, but again noticeable (as an adult reader. I’m sure a kid wouldn’t care one bit 😆).
Anyway. Cute book in all. My daughter wasn’t excited about it at first but wound up really enjoying the story.
I do think the book read a bit young. Krista’s is in 5th grade, and while her behaviors and dialogue fit pretty well, the writing itself seems to aim a bit younger. It was scheduled in our curriculum for kids around 3rd grade, and I think 3rd-4th sounds about right. It wasn’t far enough off to be distracting, just noticeable.
There were a couple of minor details that were mentioned in the beginning, completely forgotten for the rest of the book, and then showed up randomly at the end. For example, the fact that Jason lived in a more chaotic household with a few dogs. This is simply told to us once in the beginning. Then toward the end, Jason brings a dog as part of his school presentation. The dog is referred to as “that crazy dog” as if we, the reader, are familiar with him. Things like that were minor, but again noticeable (as an adult reader. I’m sure a kid wouldn’t care one bit 😆).
Anyway. Cute book in all. My daughter wasn’t excited about it at first but wound up really enjoying the story.
June 19, 2019
This title is nominated for the 2020 Hackmatack Award in the English Fiction category.
Krista is pretty much your average grade 5 student. She is a Canadian of Korean descent, and lives with her mum, dad and sister and her traditional Korean Grandmother lives close by. She has a best friend named Jason, with whom she has been inseparable since preschool. When popular girl Madison invites Krista to her party and starts inviting her to hang out at school, a distance begins to develop between Krista and Jason. While Krista is intrigued by this new girl world and the unwritten rules that everyone else seems to know, she is more comfortable hanging out with her best friend who always accepted her for who she was. At the same time that all of this is going on, Krista and Jason's class starts working on a heritage month project where they must investigate their own family heritage and make a presentation for the class. With Jason's encouragement, Krista enlists the help of her grandmother to learn how to make traditional Korean Kimbap.
I thought this was an excellent story that includes a lot of really positive messages about being true to ourselves, the meaning of friendship, and the importance of letting people in. I would definitely recommend it for kids grade four and up.
Krista is pretty much your average grade 5 student. She is a Canadian of Korean descent, and lives with her mum, dad and sister and her traditional Korean Grandmother lives close by. She has a best friend named Jason, with whom she has been inseparable since preschool. When popular girl Madison invites Krista to her party and starts inviting her to hang out at school, a distance begins to develop between Krista and Jason. While Krista is intrigued by this new girl world and the unwritten rules that everyone else seems to know, she is more comfortable hanging out with her best friend who always accepted her for who she was. At the same time that all of this is going on, Krista and Jason's class starts working on a heritage month project where they must investigate their own family heritage and make a presentation for the class. With Jason's encouragement, Krista enlists the help of her grandmother to learn how to make traditional Korean Kimbap.
I thought this was an excellent story that includes a lot of really positive messages about being true to ourselves, the meaning of friendship, and the importance of letting people in. I would definitely recommend it for kids grade four and up.
June 11, 2018
this was such a fun light-hearted read. krista's struggle to find her identity as she enters fifth grade is something everyone can empathise with - that's the time period when lines can be drawn between gender and class in the cruelest ways, splitting up friendships easily. the ways she finds to strengthen her relationships to her sister and her grandmother are also easy to identify with. family can be hella confusing! but they will surprise you with unexpected support from time to time. krista's perspective on being korean and what that means really resonated with me, a 1.5 generation korean myself. food truly is one of the truest ways to connect with your culture, and krita's journey towards having that understanding resonate for her was really great for me to experience. other things i liked: the way the book starts, with the description of how awesomely stinky kimchi is; krista's mom's speech about not changing to fit unrealistic ideals of beauty; grandma's intervention on culture day.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
July 17, 2019
This book is about self discovery and figuring out who you are. Krista is the only Korean in her school, and when she has to do a project for heritage month on what that means to her, she discovers a whole new side of herself.
This book is really well written and I enjoyed it for the most part, but a few things bugged me. The authors constant need to remind the reader about how the book was based in Vancouver. It’s raining, because it’s Vancouver. The hair salon looked like it could have been Seoul, but nope just Vancouver. Also, the way Krista was so judgmental of everyone struck me as a bit off, it could have been because she was so inwardly judgemental but it just rubbed me the wrong way.
I think it is great that this book exists and that Korean-Canadian kids will be able to see themselves represented in books. I hope this author writes me and her style continues to develop. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
This book is really well written and I enjoyed it for the most part, but a few things bugged me. The authors constant need to remind the reader about how the book was based in Vancouver. It’s raining, because it’s Vancouver. The hair salon looked like it could have been Seoul, but nope just Vancouver. Also, the way Krista was so judgmental of everyone struck me as a bit off, it could have been because she was so inwardly judgemental but it just rubbed me the wrong way.
I think it is great that this book exists and that Korean-Canadian kids will be able to see themselves represented in books. I hope this author writes me and her style continues to develop. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
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