Narrated by Greta Jung.

5/5

Review to come after the Cybils awards!

Powerful story that moves back and forth between a modern day bullying situation combined with racist graffiti and Junie's grandparent's stories from their lives as children in the Korean War. Well written, engaging characters moving through a bunch of complex situations. Loved how Junie grew over the course of the story. Found it hard to put down. ( )

Korean-American Junie Kim and her older brother Justin dealt with anti-Asian racism from classmates on their school bus all last year, but now Justin has moved up to high school, leaving Junie to face middle school alone - and on the first day, there is racist graffiti in the school building. Junie has a strong network of diverse friends, but she doesn't tell them what's going on, and when they want to speak out and take action, she is pessimistic that they will be able to change anything, and doesn't want to be involved.

When a teacher assigns a project of interviewing someone from the Silent or Boomer generations, Junie asks her beloved grandfather for stories, and he tells her about growing up in Korea during the Korean War; his story forms one of the middle sections of the book, and Junie's grandmother's story forms another part. Both stories help Junie come to the conclusion that speaking up against racism is important and worthwhile, so she mends her relationship with her friends, and uses part of her grandfather's interview (which she recorded on video) as part of a presentation to the whole school.

The Korean War is not covered in depth (or sometimes at all) in K-12 social studies, so this history may be eye-opening for many readers. Kids who face racism - and those who espouse it or fail to speak up - can all take something away from Junie's story.

See also: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki

Quotes

My mom always says that running away never solves anything. You have to confront your problems head-on. But what if you're really scared that your problem is going to physically hurt you? (17)

"What's nationalism?" I ask.
"It's pride in your country, but with the belief that it is better than other nations," Grandpa explains. (78)

"There are moments in life when a person must decide between what's right and what's safe. It is one of the most difficult decisions in life, and I would never be angry at you for choosing to do what's safe. But I will always be proud of you for doing what's right." (Doha's father, 121)

"[War] requires average citizens to take extraordinary measures. For if we don't do what we can to minimize the suffering of others, we will lose our humanity." (Doha's father, 127)

"How can I not speak up when something so wrong is happening? If we are silent now, then they will still come for us later. It will not stop." (Doha's father, 136)

"...silence is a weapon. When people don't speak up, and let evil continue unchecked, they too have become corrupt." (Grandpa to Junie, 161)

Sometimes Chama is a good thing. It is about inner strength and resilience. To endure. But if I always endure everything on my own, how can anyone know what I'm going through? (167) ( )