I'm Ok

July 15, 2018
When Korean-American Ok Lee loses his father in a construction accident, he and his mom must fend for themselves financially while quietly grieving.Middle schooler Ok watches as his mother takes on multiple jobs with long hours trying to make ends meet. Determined to help, he sets his sights on his school's talent show. The winner takes home $100 in cash, enough to pay the utilities before they get cut off. His search to find a bankable talent is complicated by unwanted attention from bully Asa, who's African-American, and blackmail at the hands of a strange classmate named Mickey, who's white. To make matters worse, his mother starts dating Deacon Koh, "the lonely widower" of the First Korean Full Gospel Church, who seems to have dubious motives and "tries too hard." Narrator Ok navigates this full plot with quirky humor that borders on dark at times. His feelings and actions dealing with his grief are authentic. Most of the characters take a surprising turn, in one way or another helping Ok despite initial, somewhat stereotypical introductions and abundant teasing with racial jokes. Although most of the characters go through a transformation, Ok's father in comparison is not as fleshed-out, and Asa's African-American Vernacular English occasionally feels repetitive and forced.A work of heavy, realistic fiction told with oddball humor, honesty, and heart. (Fiction. 10-12)

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September 1, 2018

Gr 5-7-When Ok's beloved father dies in a construction accident, his mother works several jobs but can't make ends meet. Determined to help pay their bills, Ok writes a business plan for a braiding business. He doesn't make much at first, but he gets the attention of lots of girls, including the retro-fashion obsessed Mickey McDonald. Ok thinks things are under control until the suspiciously nice Deacon Kohl from the First Korean Full Gospel Church begins courting his mom. Ok becomes convinced that no one needs him anymore and he hatches a plan to run away. Ultimately, Ok learns he's not alone, friendless, or unwanted. Things might not go the way he wants them to, but he's going to be fine. Ok's hilarious observations shine in this realistic fiction title about conformity, individuality, and loving people for who they are, not who you want them to be. The Korean American characters stand out as the most nuanced and compelling throughout. The culturally authentic details Ok shares in his first-person narration bring his relationship with his parents into sharp focus. Unfortunately, Ok's friends Mickey and Asa speak in pronounced dialects, perhaps to indicate their belonging to uneducated families. Consequently, their dialogue seems exaggerated and their character development suffers. Although the plot has a few logistical holes and the character development is uneven, Ok's sincerity will hook many young readers. VERDICT The compelling, funny protagonist makes this a solid general purchase for school and public libraries.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 22, 2018
In the wake of his father’s unexpected death, sixth-grade Korean immigrant Ok Lee (“No one at school says my name right... Say “pork.” Drop the p sound. Now drop the r sound”) is determined to earn money to help his mom, who works three jobs, and “keep alive father’s plan for success in the USA.” Unfortunately, Ok’s money-making schemes—braiding his classmates’ hair, tutoring the most popular kid in class, and learning how to roller skate to win the school talent contest prize—prove less profitable than he had hoped, and in addition, he is often bullied over his name, his appearance, and his traditional Korean food. As Ok and his mother are forced to move into a smaller apartment, Ok feels like he’s failing, and his desperation leads him to lie, steal, blackmail, and betray newfound friends. Debut author Kim, also a Korean immigrant, tells a moving story of family, culture, and growing up, through the eyes of a boy who struggles to fulfill his father’s American dream and maintain his own sense of pride. Ok’s anger and frustration about his father’s death and his mother’s burgeoning relationship with a deacon from their church ring particularly true, as do his ethical and emotional growth. Ages 10–up.

September 1, 2018
Grades 5-8 Ok's mother is doing everything in her power to live the American dream: she works three day jobs, reuses aluminum foil and plastic bags, makes gelatin from acorns, forages for edible weeds, and collects rainwater. All so that Ok will have a bright future after his father passes away. Bit by his mother's entrepreneurial bug, Ok starts a hair-braiding business at school. Neither the administration nor the school bully, Asa Banks, is supportive of his new venture. To complicate matters, the deacon at Ok's church is pursuing his recently widowed mother. Not shying away from the hardships of being the child of immigrants, Ok's wry, self-deprecating outlook gives levity to his (at times) bleak situation. It all adds up to a poignant look at navigating changes in family dynamics and welcoming unexpected friendships. This is an important novel that can serve as either a window or a mirror for middle-grade readers, making it ripe for wide appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)