The Magic Lunch Box - (Ben Lee) by Hanna Kim

Book Synopsis

Fourth-grader Ben Lee is anxious to make new friends at his new school in Michigan. But on his first day, things take a turn for the worse. The other kids act grossed out by the homemade kimbap in his lunch box. Embarrassed, Ben makes an impulsive wish, and soon strange things start happening. A ham sandwich appears in his lunch box inside instead of Mom's homemade mandoo. At first, Ben is thrilled. But soon the magical switcheroos start happening regularly and to other things--like Ben's favorite Korean cartoon, Tobot V. And the special pencils his grandma sent from Korea. How far will the lunchbox magic go? And how far will Ben go to set things right?

Review Quotes

Raised in L.A.'s Koreatown by immigrant parents, Ben and his family have moved to Michigan, where fourth-grader Ben's traditional Korean lunches generate unwanted attention. When his new classmates make fun of the food he's brought, Ben throws his lunch away and wishes to be like everyone else. The next day, when he opens his lunch box, his dumplings magically turn into a ham-and-cheese sandwich. His wish has come true! Upsettingly, more than his mom's dumplings start to disappear, including his favorite Korean cartoon and his ability to understand his halmoni. It isn't until Ben sees his friend Emilio resist being bullied for his lunch (Mexican mole and rice) that Ben understands that he needs to stand up for himself and his culture for his life to return to normal. Colorful digital illustrations pepper the easy-to-read chapters of this series starter, which speaks to resilience and cultural pride. Bountiful back matter includes a glossary of Korean words, a list of Korean foods, a recipe for kimbap, and critical-thinking prompts.--Rose Camargo "Booklist"