Latest Read: Since You Asked by Maurene Goo

Here are the basics ...
Since You Asked by Maurene Goo
Publication date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Borrowed from the library

Summary: A humorous, debut novel about a Korean-American teenager who accidentally lands her own column in her high school newspaper, and proceeds to rant her way through the school year while struggling to reconcile the traditional Korean values of her parents with contemporary American culture. (Adapted goodreads.com)

My thoughts…

The good: I picked up this book mostly because it's rare to find a young adult book about what it's like to grow up Asian-American. In fact, I can't think of any (unless I'm having some sort of brain freeze at the moment). I wanted to see what the author would do and I loved the characters she created! She gives a stereotypical, albeit very true, and hilarious account of how Holly Kim feels being a sophomore in high school struggling to respect traditional Korean values while growing up American like a "normal teenager".

The writing in Since You Asked flows really well and often times felt like a conversation with a friend. I could hear Holly's voice so clearly in my head. She's snarky but kind of shy, funny, loves her group of friends and clashes with her mother BIG TIME. How I related to that last part. Everything from not being able to leave the house without at least two (if not more) people interrogating her, the big family get togethers where all the cousins get compared, not being allowed to go to sleepovers and the emphasis on academics. Granted my parents weren't as bad as Holly's but there were enough similarities to make me laugh out loud and nod my head in absolute agreement. Girlfriend, I feel your pain. Up until I moved out, I couldn't leave the house without someone asking me where I'm going and why, who was I meeting and what time do I think I'll be back. Not because they would try to stop me from going out but there are just no boundaries. Privacy does not exist in Asian homes. Just saying.

The depiction of Holly's family and culture, Holly's accidental foray into journalism and finding her voice and all the fun times with her best friends were the highlights of the book.

(Some) reservations: My biggest issue is that there wasn't an actual plot? I felt like I was just seeing Holly's every day life as she tried to make it through the school year. There was no moment of her and her mom trying to reconcile their differences, Holly didn't suddenly stand up for herself (I mean she did from time to time, but nothing major). There wasn't even a love interest which I was somewhat sad about. There's a hint of it but you mostly just have to read between the lines. The end and the whole story was kind of open-ended. I mean granted, Holly is a sophomore in high school so she does have a million possibilities in front of her so maybe that was the point.

Do I recommend?: I think if you're in the mood for something funny and light and interested in learning about Asian culture (or you're Asian like me), I would recommend this.

Happy reading!