WHAT'S EATING JACKIE OH?

Ami Park's facility with Korean weaves through this story of Jackie Oh, a Korean American teen whose primary languages are sarcasm and the culinary arts. Park's tonal changes capture joy and warmth as Jackie views cooking shows on TV with her grandparents and works in their deli. In contrast, Park evokes Jackie's parents' continual pressure for high academic achievement, which is not important to her. While Park strongly voices ironic humor, she also reveals the mixed emotions beneath it. Jackie frequently longs for her incarcerated brother and notes microaggressions and anti-Asian hate around her. Humor, heart, and cooking combine as Jackie's appearance on a competition TV show challenges her relationships, cooking style, and stereotypes. Appendixes include recipes and the author's powerful words on anti-Asian hate. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]