Review: Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

*I was sent this book from the publisher but that has not swayed my review. While this book has already been published, my review is of an ARC.*

A powerful and timely teen graphic novel memoir—perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo—about a Korean-born, non-English-speaking girl who is abruptly transplanted from Seoul to Huntsville, Alabama, and struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.

For as long as she can remember, it’s been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up in the 1990s 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 at home 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.

I felt so much while reading this book. I have NO idea what it's like to move to a country where I don't speak the language. The confusion, despair, and insecurity that Robin felt broke my heart, and it was so much worse when I closed my eyes and thought about this happening to a real little girl, because in the 8th grade, you are still a child. oh my gosh.

Thank goodness for Jessica, and thank goodness Robin found her confidence and her voice, and thank goodness for Anime conventions. One day I'm going to be confident enough to go to one. 

Robin's journey wasn't roses and sunshine, but they did take a turn for the better. I like to think that I'm a good enough person to consider the experiences of others, and I don't know if it was the images in conjunction with words, but this book really touched my heart. I think I'm going to buy a Discussion set for my library. Someone HAS to see the benefit in sharing this story with their student. 

Such a great book. Read it and have an honest conversation about it with your friends and students. Life hasn't changed as much as we would like to think. There maybe hundreds of Robin's in the world and while this book ends on a relatively positive note, we need to do better.