Being a teenager can be hard and being the new kid can be hard. When you combine the two together, you get the tough job of growing up in a totally unfamiliar environment with complete strangers. For Chuna, or Robin, Ha, this is the reality she must face when her mother decides to move from South Korea to America. Chuna's world is turned upside down when they settle in rural Alabama with her mother's new husband and his extended family. Taking on the American name Robin, she begins 8th grade with little knowledge of the American culture and even less knowledge of the English language. Robin tries to understand her new home but is confused by the strange customs and difficult new language. All she wants to do is return to South Korea to her old life she loved. She misses her friends, the Korean comics, the stores, and even just being able to understand what is being said around her. Through this challenging experience, Robin finds ways to be true to herself but still grow as a person. She discovers herself as a Korean American.
This Young Adult book was an encouraging and realistic story. Robin Ha wrote this memoir in a way that is accessible to young people by making it a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The panels are rich in color and the details captivate the reader's attention. I found this book to be encouraging and also eye opening to the struggles of immigrants in America. Though I was born in America, I was able to connect to Robin and her struggle to find a place for herself in the world around her. I highly recommend this book for high school and up, as there is some use of strong language. This book is a wonderful read and is available in the Azalea Regional Library System.
~Abigail C.
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