Almost American Girl - by Robin Ha

About the Book

"For as long as she can remember, it's been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn't always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together. So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation--following her mother's announcement that she's getting married--Robin is devastated. Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn't understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends in Seoul and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn't fit in with her new stepfamily, and worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to--her mother. Then one day Robin's mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Harvey Award Nominee, Best Children or Young Adult Book

A powerful and moving teen graphic novel memoir about immigration, belonging, and how arts can save a life--perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo.

For as long as she can remember, it's been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn't always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together.

So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation--following her mother's announcement that she's getting married--Robin is devastated.

Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn't understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends in Seoul and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn't fit in with her new stepfamily, and worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to--her mother.

Then one day Robin's mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined.

This nonfiction graphic novel with four starred reviews is an excellent choice for teens and also accelerated tween readers, both for independent reading and units on immigration, memoirs, and the search for identity.

Review Quotes

Praise for COOK KOREAN!: "Simple, straightforward, and totally charming, Robin Ha's Cook Korean! is yet another example of why every cookbook should actually be a comic book." - Amanda Cohen, chef/owner Dirt Candy
Praise for COOK KOREAN!: "Do you feel left out when all your cool friends mention their latest Korean food adventure talking about things like galbi, doenjang and different types of kimchi? Well, fear not, as Robin Ha made it her personal mission in her graphic novel cookbook filled with colorful illustrations, incredible stories, and insightful Korean recipes to not only educate but to instill confidence. So go pick up your copy of Cook Korean! and confidently engage in your next conversation about the hottest cuisine in America." - Deuki Hong, chef and author of Koreatown: A Cookbook
Praise for COOK KOREAN!: "Cook Korean! is not just a wonderful collection of easy-to-follow recipes in comic form, it's also a delightful introduction to Korean culture. I can't decide what's more mouthwatering-the food or Robin Ha's art!" - Michael Cho, cartoonist and illustrator
Praise for COOK KOREAN!: "Illustrator Robin Ha's cheeky cartoon characters (a cape-clad superhero Spam can, a group of signing bean sprouts) guide the reader through the basics of Korean food in comic-book-style panels and drawings. [...] Her cheerful main character, Dengki, coaches readers through each step. Before you know it, you're cooking along with her." - Food & Wine
"A powerful memoir that not only shows what it's like to be in a new town or a new school, but what it's like to move to an entirely new country! It's an amazing journey that is sure to promote empathy with readers." - Jerry Craft, author of New Kid
"Incredibly honest, poignant, and ultimately triumphant, Almost American Girl is a treasure." - Michael Cho, author of Shoplifter
"Ha effectively uses the comic book format to recall her own memories of dislocation, explore a testy mother-daughter relationship and ultimately chronicle a poignant search for identity." - San Francisco Chronicle
"Robin's story is both utterly her own and deeply resonant for anyone who's felt lost in the world and fought to carve out a place for themselves." - Hazel Newlevant, author of No Ivy League
"This heartfelt memoir from an author who shares her honest, personal experiences. An insightful, moving coming-of-age tale." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Ha successfully brings to life the wide range of emotions that both tell the story and provide evidence that the comic medium has been a healing force for her and perhaps could be for readers who have walked similar paths." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A poignant and unvarnished depiction of immigration--both the heartache and the rewards." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"With unblinking honesty and raw vulnerability [and] presented in full-color splendor, her energetic style mirrors the constant motion of her adolescent self, navigating the peripatetic turbulence toward adulthood." - ALA Booklist (starred review)
"Touching and subtly humorous, this emotive memoir is as much about the steadfast bond between a mother and daughter as it is about the challenges of being an immigrant in America." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)