Goodreads Review:
Yoon's name means Shining Wisdom, and when she writes it in Korean, it looks happy, like dancing figures. But her father tells her that she must learn to write it in English. In English, all the lines and circles stand alone, which is just how Yoon feels in the United States. Yoon isn't sure that she wants to be YOON. At her new school, she tries out different names – maybe CAT or BIRD. Maybe CUPCAKE!

Helen Recorvits's spare and inspiring story about a little girl finding her place in a new country is given luminous pictures filled with surprising vistas and dreamscapes by Gabi Swiatkowska.

My Name Is Yoon is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

"An unhappy young immigrant seeks, and at last regains, a sense of self in this atmospheric, expressionistically illustrated episode. Instead of writing her own name on her papers at school, Yoon calls herself “Cat,” then “Bird”—“I wanted to be BIRD. I wanted to fly, fly back to Korea”—and even, after a classmate’s friendly culinary overture, “Cupcake.” Ultimately, she finds her balance again: “I write my name in English now. It still means Shining Wisdom.” Swiatkowska internalizes Yoon’s adjustment, both by depicting her escape fantasies literally, and by placing figures against expanses of wall that are either empty of decoration, or contain windows opening onto distant, elaborate landscapes. Reminiscent of Allen Say’s work for its tone, theme, and neatly drafted, often metaphorical art, this strongly communicates Yoon’s feelings in words and pictures both. She is also surrounded by supportive adults, and her cultural heritage, though specified, is given such a low profile that she becomes a sort of everychild, with whom many young readers faced with a similar sense of displacement will identify. (Picture book. 8-10)" www.kirkusreviews.com

This story is told from a little Korean girls point of view. She just moved from Korea to the United States and is told she has to have an American name. She struggles with not wanting to be called the name "Yoon". She chooses to call herself other manes. But by the end of the book she ends up calling herself her new American name "Yoon". ( )

This book is about a little Korean girl who immigrates with her family to America. She has many trials and tribulations with fitting in and being comfortable with herself. Her name gets changed from her Korean name to her American name which will be called "Yoon" and she does not like that. She struggles with being able to confidently use that and by the end of the book, she decides to keep it. ( )

My Name is Yoon is story about a Korean child moving to America and being introduced to a whole new world. Yoon, our protagonist, loves her name which means Shining Wisdom in Korean. However, after being told she has to write it in English, Yoon doesn't know if she wants to be named Yoon anymore. This book has an important lesson for young students. The reader follows Yoon through her journey of accepting herself and accepting new things. She has many moments of uncertainty and many setbacks, but her perseverance is inspiring. This is a great book for teachers who want to teach about different cultures in their classrooms, which is an important thing to do. ( )