Finding Junie Kim

It is so important to reach out to our grandparents. We are loosing their generation fast. And with the generation we are loosing stories of struggle and resilience. I am missing my grandparents so much today. My grandma died in April 2021. I wish I had written down the stories she would tell us all the time.

This book tackles racism in the form of a beautiful story. Ellen Oh captures the beauty of Korea, the food culture and the history of Korea through the lens of Junie Kim and her family. I was moved to tears by her choice of words and emotive language. The best read of 2021, easily!

I have read many Korean War novels. I have read many Young Adult novels. I was blown away by the melding of the two. As a mom of Korean American children, I was moved not only by the realistic depictions of situations faced at school, but also the heartbreaking authenticity of a young person struggling with depression. I feel like a lot of young people will be able to see themselves in Junie in really meaningful ways. Ellen Oh provides details about the Korean War through the grandparents' narratives in a way that shows the brutality of the war and its impact on children. She reminds us that behind so many wrinkled smiles there are stories of unbelievable hardship and suffering but also of triumph and bravery. She reminds us of the deep value in talking with our elders, and recording their stories. Many of us don't know the personal stories of our parents because we assume they are too difficult to tell or that there will be another time for them to share them...this novel reminds us of the urgency of hearing those stories and recording them. Junie also confronts racism in a way I find hopeful. Many Y/A novels problematize nonwhite identities and provide no real, actionable thoughts on combatting racism. Junie and her friends have a realistic and meaningful response that is critical to think about in this climate. I don't think my 9 year old is old enough to hear about the war in this detail, but I will keep this book ready for a year or two from now, and in the mean time, I plan to have my husband read it. Powerful, beautiful and important. Thank you for this book, Ellen Oh.

My 5th grader wrote in her book report that she "recommends this book 10,000%" and she really liked reading all the character's different perspectives (both historical and modern day). It mentions heavier topics like war, racism, and mental health but she said that while they were serious topics, she was glad to learn more about them. She loved how each part of the book flowed together into a beautiful ending. It was definitely a tear-jerker and hopes more readers can experience the impact of this book.

This is an excellent book with up-to-the-minute references and lots of history. My 5th grade granddaughter is reading it with me for a category of historical fiction. I would say it's quite sophisticated in terms of history for most 10-year-olds, at least for her. It's good to see a book with relevant and up-to-date themes (racism, bullying) and weaving in history.

As a Korean American woman (mid 30s), this book still struck a chord. It’s a quick read and we’ll worth it!