My father enlistÂed in the Navy at the age of 16 to fight in the KoreÂan War. He was seriÂousÂly ill before he could ship out, and so he became a supÂply clerk stateÂside. In May of 1953, he was disÂcharged. The KoreÂan War armistice took place in July. My parÂents were marÂried on SepÂtemÂber 5th of that year and my father died on OctoÂber 11th. He was 21. I didÂn’t lose him to the War, as so many did. I nevÂer knew him. I’ve watched M*A*S*H, wonÂderÂing what life was like for solÂdiers in that war, wonÂderÂing if my father’s life would have been difÂferÂent, who he would have been havÂing fought in a war.
Ellen Oh’s stoÂry is firmÂly rootÂed in the present-day UnitÂed States where Junie Kim is wagÂing her own batÂtle against midÂdle school bulÂlies and racism and depresÂsion. She doesÂn’t know how to fight back and so she isoÂlates herÂself from her friends. Her parÂents encourÂage her to see a therÂaÂpist. But it’s her hisÂtoÂry teacher who proÂvides the key that opens a door for Junie. An assignÂment to interÂview her grandÂparÂents bring stoÂries to light that Junie has nevÂer heard. StoÂries of her grandÂparÂents’ life in Korea … durÂing the KoreÂan War. For this readÂer, the viewÂpoint of South KoreÂan resÂiÂdents is welÂcome, valuÂable, mind-widening.
The author unfolds the stoÂry in a way that young readÂers will find mesÂmerÂizÂing, imagÂinÂing her charÂacÂters in real life, turnÂing the page again and again to learn what will hapÂpen next, both in mid-cenÂtuÂry Korea and in the UnitÂed States today. You’ll be rootÂing for Junie Kim and her famÂiÂly all the way. I highÂly recÂomÂmend this book for ages 10 through adult. I am so glad it was choÂsen as an Asian/Pacific AmerÂiÂcan Award for LitÂerÂaÂture HonÂor Book in 2022.
FindÂing Junie Kim
writÂten by Ellen Oh
HarperÂCollins, 2021
ISBN 978 – 0062987983