15 Jul / Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim [in School Library Journal]
Greta Jung energetically embodies 11-year-old Yumi Chung’s evolution from quiet odd-girl-out to feisty stand-up-comedian-in-the-making. At her exclusive L.A. private school, Yumi is rarely noticed, except by the bully harassing her as “Yu-MEAT” (for her barbecue-scent-infused clothing from helping at her family’s Koreatown restaurant) or “Top Ramen” (for the bad perms enforced by her mother).
Conditioned by her genius older sister, in her second year of med school at 20, Yumi’s parents expect no less achievement. As seventh grade looms, Yumi needs a scholarship (via near-perfect test score) to continue her privileged education, so her parents enroll her at an all-summer, Korean-style cram school. Bad luck, until a case of mistaken identity (a cringe-inducing all-Asians-look-alike stereotype) enables her to join a comedy camp taught by her YouTube comic idol. That’s where Yumi – most ironically – becomes the true self she’s been composing in her “Super-Secret Comedy Notebook.” Yumi learns to stand up for her family, friends, and, most importantly, herself.
Jung nimbly complements spunky Yumi with equally affecting characterizations of her immigrant parents, her not-quite-perfect sister, and her quickly growing audience. Jessica Kim’s debut gets a spot-on audio boost for even the most reluctant readers.
Review: “Audio,” School Library Journal, July 1, 2020
Readers: Middle Grade
Published: 2020