Michelle Zauner tells a story of growing up Korean American in the states, and her bond with
her Korean mother, in a memoir of love, loss, and finding yourself. During her adolescence and
early adulthood, Michelle, a half-Korean and half-white girl, struggled: with her identity (was
she American or Korean?), with her family, and with her mom’s high expectations. But, while
Michelle and her mom didn’t have the best relationship growing up, there was one thing they
could always bond over: Korean food. As she grows up and begins to become more independent,
The storytelling in this book about Mrs. Zauner’s life is breathtakingly moving and engrossing. You meet Michelle Zauner who is a Korean American. She talks about the hardships she faced as an Asian American and about the struggles she went through with her relationship with her mother. You also read about the challenges she goes through while finding out what truly makes her happy and the challenges she has throughout her life. This book was very well written as you can feel Zauner’s emotions throughout the book and also through the food she writes about.
Crying in H Mart is a powerful memoir detailing the author’s unique life experiences. The title comes from Zauner’s memories of crying in the aisles of the Asian grocery store, remembering the dishes her mom used to make. She describes her childhood and her teenage years as a Korean-American, caring for her cancer-stricken mother, and even provides some insights as to the beginnings of her music career.
Jayne Baek is struggling. She is struggling with her college, her friends, her boyfriend, and her secret eating disorder. Her sister, June, is the total opposite of Jayne. She is wealthy; she has a nice apartment, and has had an easy life. That is until June develops cancer. Now, both sisters unite to be there for one another.
Finding My Voice by Marie Myung-Ok Lee focuses on17-year-old Ellen Sung, the only Korean girl in her small, all-white school in a small, all-white town. While grappling with her parents’ high academic expectations, Ellen also experiences blatant and implicit racism. Time and time again, she catches hissed remarks or sly smirks from other students, yet she doesn’t seem able to speak up against them.
