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yapha's review against another edition
5.0
Mike Jung has knocked it out of the park with this one! Chloe Cho has had it with being not just the only Korean-American in her entire school/town, but the only Asian-American at all! To make matters worse, her parents refuse to tell her anything about her heritage. Luckily, her best friend Shelley is just as excited to explore all things Korean. Together they make food, buy clothes, and listen to K-Pop. It's almost enough to make up for the microaggressions she faces on a daily basis. Chloe can't believe her luck when the new social studies teacher at school is also Korean-American! Finally, some one like her! But her first assignment from the Ms. Lee is disastrous -- she has to write a personal family history story. This leads to her parents finally revealing the truth about her heritage, which turns Chloe's world upside down. Chloe's raw emotions, mixed with equal parts snarky sarcasm, will ring true for any middle schooler who feels out of place. It is not only a fun book, but can also serve as an important starting place for discussions on identity and feelings of being "other." Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, man, I really liked this one. I marked it as both contemporary and sci-fi because while it is definitely science fiction, the bulk of the story is written as contemporary fiction and I think that fans of contemporary fiction will gravitate to this one more than huge science-fiction fans.
This is a book about a middle school girl trying to figure out her identity and dealing with bigger issues than she could have ever imagined. While she's dealing with big identity issues, she's also dealing with tons of microaggressions since her family is the only Korean family in their town. The book handles these really well; readers will identify with Chloe or get a taste of what it's like to face microaggressions in daily life. And, while racial and cultural identity is a huge theme of the book, the book's not actual about a kid dealing with overt racism.
Bottom line: I loved it. I would hand it to kids who like the kind of contemporary/sci-fi genre blend found in The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm or readers who like character driven stories like Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee (which is mentioned as one of Chloe's favorite books), etc.
This is a book about a middle school girl trying to figure out her identity and dealing with bigger issues than she could have ever imagined. While she's dealing with big identity issues, she's also dealing with tons of microaggressions since her family is the only Korean family in their town. The book handles these really well; readers will identify with Chloe or get a taste of what it's like to face microaggressions in daily life. And, while racial and cultural identity is a huge theme of the book, the book's not actual about a kid dealing with overt racism.
Bottom line: I loved it. I would hand it to kids who like the kind of contemporary/sci-fi genre blend found in The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm or readers who like character driven stories like Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee (which is mentioned as one of Chloe's favorite books), etc.
jengennari's review against another edition
4.0
What a plot twist! A fresh look at how alien you can feel in middle school. Great humor, as always.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, with realistic depictions of family and friendship and identity - with a little twist. Recommended to kids who like realistic fiction that's on the lighter side.
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this! I think for a lot of kids a book like this--where the Asian protagonist Chloe Cho is outraged that there aren't any sci-fi books with Asian protagonists--might be the first time kids think about or put into words the importance of representation in media. It's also a great, very realistic story about friendship and identity and family secretssss
kerameia's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but perhaps younger readers will. I admit that I don't think I read the jacket cover summary well, or didn't think the book would actually take it where it hints it would, because I was actually surprised by what Chloe learns about her family history.
Chloe's character -- her exaggerated sarcasm, her generalizations of other students and locals (as racists, etc.), her dramatic reactions -- bothered me. For example, when upset by even the smallest things, Chloe REACTS, quite often. In CAPS. She's also often rude (and unnecessarily dramatic in response to) to her parents.
Ex. page 18: "Can you answer my question?" I barked. Mom leaned the top half of her body away from me. "Hey, hey," Mom said. "You don't need to raise your voice." "I'M NOT RAISING MY VOICE," I said. "Shelley's parents actually like it when she asks questions about her family, but with you guys it's like banging my face against a wall."
I was surprised to realize that Chloe and Shelley are supposed to be in seventh grade, because at times the things they say and the way they react give the impression that they're younger. Their sarcasm isn't particularly clever, or witty; it's excessive and rude. For instance, Chloe has this ongoing competition with Adam for the violin first-chair seat. Because of that, and because of something he said that was racist (but, given the context, presumably harmless), she calls him a "weasel-faced little preppypants" (pg. 38).
Chloe's irritation with people's assumptions about her ethnicity is understandable but I don't think excusable. Perhaps she could extend the same open-mindedness that she expects from others. For instance, maybe Lindsay Crisp really doesn't know any better when she asks Chloe if she knows the new South Korean teacher. Does that give Chloe the excuse to make fun of Lindsay's ignorance?
Aside from character, I wasn't particularly taken with the story itself. I suppose the focus is on friendship (what really matters, regardless of differences) etc., but my interest in sci-fi had a hard time just accepting the facts without further explanation. No spoilers :) But you who have read the story know what I mean!
Chloe's character -- her exaggerated sarcasm, her generalizations of other students and locals (as racists, etc.), her dramatic reactions -- bothered me. For example, when upset by even the smallest things, Chloe REACTS, quite often. In CAPS. She's also often rude (and unnecessarily dramatic in response to) to her parents.
Ex. page 18: "Can you answer my question?" I barked. Mom leaned the top half of her body away from me. "Hey, hey," Mom said. "You don't need to raise your voice." "I'M NOT RAISING MY VOICE," I said. "Shelley's parents actually like it when she asks questions about her family, but with you guys it's like banging my face against a wall."
I was surprised to realize that Chloe and Shelley are supposed to be in seventh grade, because at times the things they say and the way they react give the impression that they're younger. Their sarcasm isn't particularly clever, or witty; it's excessive and rude. For instance, Chloe has this ongoing competition with Adam for the violin first-chair seat. Because of that, and because of something he said that was racist (but, given the context, presumably harmless), she calls him a "weasel-faced little preppypants" (pg. 38).
Chloe's irritation with people's assumptions about her ethnicity is understandable but I don't think excusable. Perhaps she could extend the same open-mindedness that she expects from others. For instance, maybe Lindsay Crisp really doesn't know any better when she asks Chloe if she knows the new South Korean teacher. Does that give Chloe the excuse to make fun of Lindsay's ignorance?
Aside from character, I wasn't particularly taken with the story itself. I suppose the focus is on friendship (what really matters, regardless of differences) etc., but my interest in sci-fi had a hard time just accepting the facts without further explanation. No spoilers :) But you who have read the story know what I mean!
mxsunny's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot! Chloe and Shelley have been best friends since preschool. Even when Chloe felt got sick of being the only Asian kid in town she always had her bestie. Something changes that dramatically alters their relationship and everything Chloe knows about herself. Get into this if you love resilient friendships, thinking about identity, and enjoy realistic fiction with a twist of sci-fi. Of course there's also an awesome librarian character who helps Chloe think critically about book covers. This would be great for middle schoolers.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
4.0
Chloe Cho is fed up with the people around her automatically comparing her to Abigail Yang, not knowing the difference between Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, and crediting her intellect to her being Asian. She’s also angry at her parents who refuse to tell her anything about their Korean background, something she desperately wants to know more about. When an assignment from the new, Korean American teacher leads Chloe to push for more answers from her parents, she discovers something she never imagined.
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-home/latest-kids-indie/discussions/review?id=37397
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-home/latest-kids-indie/discussions/review?id=37397
nikimarion's review against another edition
4.0
Whip-smart, hilarious, and endearing, this book will win your heart and your funny bone. Chloe Cho feels alien as the only Korean kid at her middle school. She encounters casual racism daily, which fuels her already-short temper, but her BFF Shelley is a constant source of support and acceptance. When her parents reveal her true ancestry and it impacts her relationship with Shelley, Chloe realizes that she might not have been a very observant or kind friend. (Inter)Stellar work from #weneeddiversebooks author Mike Jung.