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A review by panda_incognito
Cooper's Lesson by Sun Yung Shin
4.0
This bilingual picture book explores the experiences of a mixed race boy who feels frustrated about not fitting into the Korean community. He struggles with the language, and with reconciling the Korean and white parts of his identity, but after he gets in trouble with a Korean storekeeper, he begins to help at the shop, learns more about the dual parts of this man's identity, and grows in compassion.
This picture book highlights the power of inter-generational friendships, and provides a nuanced look into the experiences of a biracial child. The author and illustrator are both Korean adoptees, and according to the teacher's guide from the publisher, Sun Yung Shin drew on her own experiences of feeling sheepish and uncomfortable when other Korean Americans would ask her if she could speak Korean, or spoke to her in Korean and expected her to understand them.
This story explores identity challenges with nuance and authenticity, and can be a great resource for Korean Americans, whether they are mixed race, adopted, or from a later generation that feels disconnected from their heritage and family's original language. The bilingual element is engaging and creative, because even if someone can only read one of the languages, it is accessible to both Korean and English readers, and the dual languages printed in the book reflect Cooper's identity and story.
This picture book highlights the power of inter-generational friendships, and provides a nuanced look into the experiences of a biracial child. The author and illustrator are both Korean adoptees, and according to the teacher's guide from the publisher, Sun Yung Shin drew on her own experiences of feeling sheepish and uncomfortable when other Korean Americans would ask her if she could speak Korean, or spoke to her in Korean and expected her to understand them.
This story explores identity challenges with nuance and authenticity, and can be a great resource for Korean Americans, whether they are mixed race, adopted, or from a later generation that feels disconnected from their heritage and family's original language. The bilingual element is engaging and creative, because even if someone can only read one of the languages, it is accessible to both Korean and English readers, and the dual languages printed in the book reflect Cooper's identity and story.