David Yoon

I bought and read this one because David Yoon came to my local bookstore on the week his YA novel launched. I try to support the store when I can so I went to the meet & greet and, well, I have yet to hear an author talk about their work without wanting to read it. David Yoon seemed like a great guy and his book did not disappoint.

In theory this is about a senior in high school involved in a fake dating scheme to fool his parents but it's really about what it's like to be stuck between two worlds: Korean vs American, high school vs. college, friends vs lovers, kid vs. adult, and the list goes on.

It's sweet and funny and sad and a simple delight to read.… (más)

I feel like I say this about every other YA romance, but this was really cute! The entire thing being in present tense felt a little odd at first, but it really sets the reader right in Frank's head. There's a ton of specific cultural notes for second generation Korean-Americans (am reminded of the Viet Thanh Nguyen quote about writing as if you're the majority, do not pause to explain, etc. The romance also has a bit of that universal teen feeling of wondering whether this is a for now romance, with college looming at some point but "then what?" after that ends.

There's what I felt was a clever use of language about ~290 pages in, when two adults have an argument. As a second generation kid, Frank isn't necessarily fluent in Korean, so the text actually changes to Hangul and most readers will be right there with Frank, not comprehending why two friends are suddenly mad at each other. I used a phone translation app and while I know that wasn't perfect, it got across the point (and another adult later gives their version of what happened in the next chapter). That REALLY felt like an unapologetic existence, and I thought it was neat.

Also oh man I did not need to remember the stress around college admissions and then knowing that your friends will be farflung after graduation. :(… (más)