Ann Y. K. Choi

This is a remarkable book, the story of a young woman's struggle to understand herself and to establish her identity. Mary, a Korean girl who was named Yu-Rhee at birth, struggles to make her parents understand that she wants to be Canadian. Her parents have other ideas and try to match her up with a Korean suitor . . . even though Mary is in love with someone else. Ann Choi's writing is descriptive and evocative, bringing the world of Korean families in 1980's Toronto to life. A number of other reviewers have categorized this book as a "YA novel." It's not; it's a beautifully written novel that anyone could enjoy.

Kathleen Jones, author of Love Is the Punch Line… (mere)

Mary Hwang and her brother and parents have immigrated from Korea to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Hwang family lives above the family convenience store. The pressures placed on Mary to succeed and please her parents are considerable. Mary and her family struggle with traditional Korean culture and that of 1980s Canadian culture. A dark and interesting read. I felt that were too many tragedies in 275 pages for the story to be believable. On the plus side, the author does not dwell on the often shocking misfortunes that befall the family.

Recommended. 3.9 stars.… (mere)