Book Review: Almost American Girl

“I didn’t exactly fit in Korea or America. I had become Korean American. And that was okay with me.”

Wow, do I relate with that or what?

I’ve been reading a lot of really good books lately, and I just couldn’t wait to share some of them with you! I like to post even more of my reviews on Goodreads, so if you’re looking for more book recommendations, feel free to check them out.

Book: Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir

My rating: 5/5 stars

One-word description: relatable

Having spent several years living overseas in Europe, I don’t exactly fit in Europe or my home country, the United States. I may not have half the struggles Robin had in integrating into a new culture, but I know what it’s like to be a part of multiple places. Suffice to say this book really hit home for me.

It also taught me a lot about Korean American culture. I particularly liked the way it contrasted how Robin saw the Korean and American cultures at the beginning of the book versus the end of the book and the way her perspective changed. You don’t get that a lot in books, though it is a common feature for people who have cross-culture experiences.

The art was super pretty, and the characters were well-portrayed. I didn’t have much difficulty telling who was who, which is a common problem I have with some Mangas. But this isn’t a Manga—it’s a memoir. I also really liked how even though most of the book was written in English, the Korean language was portrayed in blue while English was in black, giving English speakers like myself a good sense of when the language changed. Terms that were in Korean are defined in the back, some of which I actually knew.

In all I gave Almost American Girl 5/5 stars for excellent plot, cultural representation, and relatable, real people. I highly recommend it to anybody who enjoys graphic novels and cross-cultural stories, especially real ones.

Interested in Almost American Girl? Have you read it yet? You might also enjoy these books: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui, and March by John Robert Lewis

Let’s chat! Has Almost American Girl made it to your to-be-read list yet? Have you read it yet? Have any graphic novel recommendations?

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Similar book reviews: Kids Like Us, Full Cicada Moon, and A World Without You

Haiku Collection: Down South (Audio)

I’m not used to living in a place where it’s still 95 degrees Fahrenheit in October. I’m ready for fall weather, especially the crisp sweater-worthy mornings. Though at the same time, I’m still hoping it doesn’t come just yet because I’m still living out of my suitcase. All I have are the same seven summer shirts I’ve been wearing since June. (Somebody save me.)

Some days, I still enjoy living in the American South. Other days I hate it. I enjoy my jobs, which is a wonderful change, but the bug population here is nuts. That and the buildings here are hideous, and recycling is basically nonexistent.

Moving back to the States after living in Europe for the past four years has been an adjustment for sure. As my mom put it, my family may be American by birth, but we’re European at heart. It may take some time to settle in. But I’m not quite there. Not yet.

Incandescent

the way the light shines

on the water at sunrise

birds herald the day

Stick Bug

she dance, the way she

steps—back—forward—back with those

green legs she sways, here

Wasp Nest

don’t. move. when she lands

on your collar, take her out

of doors, say goodbye

Culture Shock

hits me like a wave—

would that only the salt is

making me cough hard

***

Let’s chat! What did you think of the poems? What’s one unique trait you like about where you live?

Similar poems: Fireflies; Concrete Forest, Paper Meadows; and Haiku Collection: Sibling Trio

Book Review: Kids Like Us

Wow, what a sweet book!

Though the cover didn’t particularly draw me in, I now see how it ties in with the story, and I like it more. What really had me hooked, though, was the first page. I found myself in a reading slump and thought I’d just check out the first page to decide whether or not I wanted to read the book. Before I knew what was happening, I was on the second chapter.

Book: Kids Like Us by Hilary Reyl

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

My rating: 5/5 stars

One-word description: Cultural

Do you ever have those moments when you feel like you know a little bit of too many languages, so your brain is just a muddle of confusion trying to separate them all? I just so happened to be traveling in Spain while I was reading this book, which is set in France. In this sense I could relate a bit with the story’s main character, Martin, who mixes up his pronouns. After I finished another chapter, I was trying out my poor excuse for Spanish and asked somebody “Hablo Inglés?” Essentially: Do I speak English?

I don’t know. Do I? I certainly don’t speak Spanish. Not yet anyway.

I really enjoyed the way the book included the French culture, and it felt like the author, Reyl, knew what she was writing about rather than just setting a book in France without showing anything about it. She talked about the language and cultural differences, particularly when it comes to food and schools.

Kids Like Us also helped me better understand autism. I have a brother who’s high functioning, and I’m always looking for novels and nonfiction alike that can help me better understand autism as a whole. While my brother is obsessed with history and politics, Martin relates everything in his life with In Search of Lost Time, a French classic he’s read again and again.

Sometimes navigating social interactions can be like trying to learn a foreign language—it’s hard. I also liked how the book had characters with autism also had different interests. Usually, most books I’ve found have one character with autism, not two. I liked seeing how Martin interacted with his friend Layla, even though she was back in the United States while he was in France for the entire book. Which I can relate with a lot. As a military brat, most of my friends aren’t in the same time zone as me, let alone the same country. Characters don’t have to be physically present to be involved in a novel, which isn’t something I see a lot of.

Though the blurb kinda advertises the book as a romance, I saw it more as a story of friendship, which I support 100%. Though there are mistaken identities and many assumptions, there is also great character development.

In all, I gave Kids Like Us 5/5 stars for an excellent setting without being excessive, autism representation, and great character development. I’d recommend the book to anybody who enjoys contemporary YA and French food and culture.

Interested in Kids Like Us? Have you read it yet? You might also enjoy these books: A World Without You by Beth Revis (see book review), Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, and The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims.

Let’s chat! Has Kids Like Us made it to your to-be-read list yet? Have you read it? What are some contemporary YA recommendations you have?

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Similar posts: Book Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes, Book Blitz and Giveaway: Why I Pre-ordered The Boy Who Steals Houses, and Recommended Reading: Military Brat Edition

Poem: Romantic (Video)

If you haven’t already guessed—from the globe of London in my cover photo to my poems and posts about various places—I like to travel. There are many things, though, that they don’t tell you about in all the pretty little brochures. Culture shock. Jet lag. The disillusionment of place. Just to name a few.

I’m not saying that people shouldn’t travel. I’m just saying that every time I go someplace new, it’s never quite what I expect, in good ways and bad. I didn’t expect Germany to have so many immigrants. I didn’t expect Italy to look so dumpy. Then again, I didn’t expect to enjoy visiting the German bakeries every morning any more than I expected to start drinking cappuccinos in Italy.

Travel changes people. It teaches us about the world and our own cultures and selves. Despite Italy’s run-down nature, it is one of the most recycle-enthusiast countries I’ve visited. Because Germans’ often stoic behavior and brutally-honest words, I have learned to appreciate honesty even more.

The following poem contains just a few of my thoughts on Venice. You may recognize glimpses of the city in a previous poem, “Shadows”.

Romantic

People romanticize the canals

and arching bridges of Venice,

but have you ever gotten yourself lost

in the sticky, humid heat

down an alley that stinks of urine?

Don’t get me wrong,

I enjoy the way I stumbled

across a bookstore with volume

after volume laid out in rows

within a bathtub, within a boat

for when the city floods.

I relished watching the glassblower

tug at the liquid fire and mold it

and pull until he set a little red horse, solid,

on the table.

But try finding a place to park

outside the city inside a garage

where your car is no longer a car

but a sardine packed among sardines.

I would rather take the train

and not have to worry about driving

with these maniacs who don’t signal—

I would rather be told to stand

at the wrong platform—

then rush back

down the tunnel, up to the right platform

and board a train with cracked windows

and humid air. Pounding hearts. Less stress.

Is it worth it all?

Taking the time to travel

to walk the trash-lined streets,

sail under the Bridge of Sighs

taste the bread topped with olive oil and rosemary

smell the salt of the Mediterranean,

feel the cool water lap at my feet

as we escaped the throngs of people and pigeons.

The towers are crooked here,

but even in leaning, there are blue skies.

***

Let’s chat! What are your thoughts on travel? What’s the last journey you took? What did you think of the poem?

Similar poems: Thoughts of Place (Audio), Still Life in Spring (Audio), and Shadows

Poem: Cathedral

Over the past couple of years, since I’ve visited many cathedrals and written various poems, I wanted to write a poem that captured my emotions. But poetry doesn’t come for the asking. Sometimes it comes in spurts. If I force it, it sounds terrible.

So I waited, biding my time, until this poem came to me. I can’t say it embodies one particular building or experience, but a combination of them all. The two it most reminds me of are Notre Dame de Paris and Ulm Münster, two very different, gothic pieces of architecture. 

Cathedral

The people, like grains of sand

blow through the halls of stone,

like scattered dust amid solid,

gray rock. Sunlight streams

through the chinks of colored

windows, warming some grains

while others go untouched

in shadow, and others yet hide

amid the cracks of rock

ne’er to move despite where

the wind blows and seeps

through the halls, causing the sand

to dance across this ancient earth.

***

Similar posts: Bury Me and The Muse

Let’s chat! What did you think of the poem? If you’ve ever set foot in a cathedral, what was your first experience like? What is one of your favorite cathedrals to visit?