young adult
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Freeman Book Award 2022. Now in translation for the first time (Takami Nieda), the award-winning debut that broke literary ground in Japan explores diaspora, prejudice, and the complexities of a teen girl’s experience growing up as a Zainichi Korean, reminiscent of Min Jin Lee’s classic Pachinko and Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street.
“Cho seamlessly weaves elements of historical Korean myth into contemporary settings and action-packed sequences. Human issues of racial microaggressions, grief, and anxiety take center stage amid godly conflicts, making for a fresh and richly layered K‑drama-esque romantasy.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
“In an arrestingly charming story with plenty of heart, Goo expertly takes readers on a mother-daughter relationship journey … the magical time-travel element fits seamlessly into a narrative that is ultimately about generational differences and seeking common ground.” (Booklist) • Junior Library Guild Selection • PopSugar Best YA Books of 2023
“Hur’s latest historical YA work is an homage to Pride and Prejudice that feels devastatingly timely as it shines an unflinching light on the downsides of government-enforced censorship of stories and ideas. … Despite the historically accurate restrictions on the characters’ ability to so much as brush hands, their romance is utterly swoony and heartstopping. … An engaging, thoughtful Austen interpretation.” (Booklist, starred review)
“If you’re in search of the perfect YA romcom with immaculate vibes and true joy and heart, consider this your ‘drop everything else on your TBR and make this book your entire personality’ notice.” —Rachel Strolle, Buzzfeed books on Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller
Freeman Book Award Winner YA 2018; translated by Takami Nieda; often cited by scholars for its portrayal of the Zainichi Korean experience. “A memorable, conflicted, defiant protagonist and an idiosyncratic love story drive this thought-provoking page-turner.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
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“It’s hard to imagine a world where Banned Book Club could be more relevant than it is right now. The graphic novel revolves around a group of young people who meet to read and discuss books banned by their government. It’s set in South Korea in the early 1980s, a time that most Americans are entirely ignorant of but may find upsettingly familiar.” —AV Club
“Last of the Talons is a stunning blend of dark romance and Korean mythology. Sophie Kim writes enemies to lovers with heart pounding intensity, blurring the line between love and hate. Bloodthirsty, addictive, and searingly romantic.” (Axie Oh, New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea)
“Good-natured humor and easygoing prose by Lee make for a lighthearted, behind-the-scenes-feeling look at a Love Island–esque production.” (Publishers Weekly) • “Brimming with cozy winter vibes and a fun, eclectic cast of side characters, Lee’s latest is comforting and warm.” (Booklist)
“With echoes of Marieke Nijkamp and Jason Reynolds, acclaimed author Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s stunning YA homage to Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men tells the tragic story of a Korean American teen who fights to protect herself and her neurodivergent older brother from a hostile community.”
“Blending folklore with rich prose and immersive worldbuilding, the novel delivers a beautifully written tale of love, identity, and destiny that explores the complexities of memory, belonging, and transformation. … Oh’s prose is lyrical and emotionally resonant, drawing readers into a richly imagined world. … The Floating World is a captivating beginning to a promising new series by a celebrated voice in YA fantasy.” (The Nerd Daily)
A Korean American teen tries to balance her dream to become a chef with the cultural expectations of her family when she enters the competitive world of a TV cooking show. A hilarious and heartfelt YA novel. “An engrossing tale full of appealing characters, foodie elements, and heart.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
“Rousing and truthful…Rich is real with readers in a way that’s refreshing…A smart tool to fight inequity.” (Booklist) … “An inspiring and practical handbook for meaningful resistance…Girls Resist! walks teens through the nitty-gritty of running a campaign, protesting a policy, or helping to get out the vote.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
“Schitt’s Creek meets Crazy Rich Asians in Shim’s hilarious and heartfelt novel about hitting rock bottom and coming back stronger. This is a must-read for any fan of family-based fiction.” (Booklist) “…a feel-good story of self-discovery and redefining the boundaries of success.” (Publishers Weekly)
A William C. Morris Award finalist. “This dark debut is a pitch-perfect balance of fantasy, horror, humor, and romance. The thoughtfully developed characters grapple with issues of race, insecurities, self-absorption, isolation, connection, family, loss, grief, and empathy. A thrilling, moving, and fantastical apocalyptic novel that readers won’t want to put down.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
“Using scores of interviews, direct quotes, news reports, and archival photographs to sculpt this thoroughly researched history, Yoo vividly and movingly conveys the broader historical context and the many lives that were affected, shedding light on systemic challenges that continue today. A nuanced and necessary narrative.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
“Whether it’s discovering shelter, finding food or simply managing in brutal conditions, the ever-challenging backdrop of City of Orange makes the determining of reality a mystery readers will want to solve alongside the main character. That’s this novel’s biggest feat: By giving just enough vivid detail but keeping key elements ambiguous, a reader can easily morph into the main character and become a part of this world.” (USA Today)
“A beautifully written epic replete with magic, shapeshifting characters, complex political intrigue and the obligatory battles between good and evil … Strong female characters and a helter-skelter plot make for a compelling read.” (The Guardian, Books of the Months Pick, praise for Book 1, The Girl King)
“Yun beautifully captures the haunting of family myths in this slow-burn horror. Eerie and poignant, And the River Drags Her Down will sweep readers into its relentless current.” (Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting)
