Review by Booklist Review
Jenny has been moving toward the same goal for as long as she can remember--a spot at the Manhattan School of Music as a cellist. So when a competition note calls her out for a "lack of spark," she isn't sure how to move forward. Before she can think through it, she meets a guy with whom she has an instant connection, who just as instantly disappears. But when she and her mother move to South Korea, she finds herself reunited with her meet-cute, with one serious complication--he's a K-pop star. This is a sweet love story about the pitfalls of fame and the importance of standing up for what you care about. Jenny's journey is never defined by her love story but instead pushed forward by stolen moments that will make romance fans swoon. At its core, this is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that will remind readers that love for a friend, family, your art, and a partner can all find space in your heart.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When her estranged grandmother requires surgery, Korean American cellist Jenny Go, 16, briefly relocates from L.A. to Seoul with her widowed mother. After a critique calls her performance technically proficient but lacking "spark," Jenny jumps at the opportunity to enliven her playing through a semester of study at Seoul Arts Academy. A number of K-pop trainees and idols also attend SAA, including boy band XOXO, whose lead vocalist, Bae Jaewoo, turns out to be the mysterious Korean boy with whom Jenny had a spark-inducing encounter one L.A. night. As Jenny tries to balance commitment to her own musical aspirations with burgeoning romance under the gaze of ever-present paparazzi, Jaewoo grapples with the pressures of fame and the expectations of his other band members--especially after a previous dating scandal threatened the group's chance at success. Despite early uneven pacing and information-heavy dialogue, Oh's (Rebel Seoul) narrative reaches an enjoyable clip that is both accessible to readers unfamiliar with K-pop and pleasing for fans of K-dramas as well as anyone who enjoys a breezy contemporary romance. Ages 13--up. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Jenny dreams of becoming a professional cellist and after receiving comments from her latest competition that she plays technically perfect but lacks heart, she does something she would never usually do. She spends an evening exploring Los Angeles with Jaewoo, a boy from Seoul she meets in a karaoke bar. She's sad when he stops responding to her texts, and soon after, her life changes. Her grandmother becomes ill, and Jenny travels to Seoul for the first time with her mother, enrolling in an elite boarding school with a well-known music program. She is surprised to find out Jaewoo is also a student and is even more surprised when she learns that he and many of her fellow classmates are current or aspiring K-pop idols. As the story unfolds, Jenny learns more about her culture and who she wants to be as a person and musician. Her relationship with Jaewoo is complicated, but they can't stay away from each other, even though it may cause problems with his career. The romantic tension between them is a slow burn that gives readers a satisfying ending, with side characters lending additional drama as well as comic relief. Fans of K-pop will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be an idol-in-training. Narrator Greta Jung creates a world of voices that easily draws readers in and makes them feel each character's uniqueness; hearing Korean words and accents spoken breathes authenticity into the Seoul setting, as well as the relationships among the characters. VERDICT A must-buy on audio to recommend to K-pop fans and also to readers who enjoy a bit of drama in their love stories.--Courtney Pentland
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
After receiving feedback that her performance lacks spark, seventeen-year-old cellist Jenny Go decides to heed her uncle's advice and "live a little." Jenny, very uncharacteristically, goes on a one-night adventure at and around the L.A. Korean Festival with cute, mysterious Jaewoo, who is visiting from Korea. Soon after, she bargains to accompany her mother on her visit to Seoul to care for Jenny's grandmother, who has colon cancer; while they're there, Jenny will study at the prestigious Seoul Arts Academy. In addition to reconnecting with her roots, she finds that Jaewoo also attends the school -- and is the lead singer of the famous K-pop group XOXO. Despite his packed schedule and the school's strict rules, they fall for each other. Oh treats readers to a whirlwind romance with all the hallmarks of a K-drama (forbidden romance, betrayal, illness). The author's obvious love of K-pop is contagious, and the glimpse into idol culture makes for a primarily breezy, enjoyable read. Depictions of ordinary student and family life in Korea, and the natural integration of Korean words and phrases in conversation, invite readers to explore Korean food, language, and culture. Gabi K. Huesca September/October 2021 p.101(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A driven young woman learns to balance expectations and priorities with heart and passion. A vivid, comical scene of everyday life in Koreatown introduces narrator Jenny Jooyoung Go, a high school junior and classical cellist aiming for a top conservatory. While her single-minded focus yields technical perfection, competition judges deem Jenny lacking in soulful spark. Her Uncle Jay advises her to experience more of life and broaden her horizons. An opportunity soon beckons, and the plot unfolds like a minidrama amid the Los Angeles Korean Festival, launching Jenny and her new acquaintance, Jaewoo, on an accidental adventure that foreshadows romance. When her mom, a widowed immigration lawyer, needs to return to Seoul to care for her dying mother, Jenny negotiates to go along for her first visit to Korea. Attending Seoul Arts Academy, Jenny witnesses the institutional grooming of K-pop idols--including (surprise!) classmate Jaewoo, who, as it turns out, is popular band XOXO's lead singer. She also shares in the student performers' duty-bound lives: Behind the glamour, they are burdened with obligations to their communities that can require sacrifice of their personal happiness. Themes of responsibility, regret, and reconciliation weave through the intergenerational dynamics in Jenny's family, adding dimension and depth. The author incorporates Korean honorifics to convey a conversational tone and signal dialogue occurring in both languages. K-pop helps a cellist develop musically and emotionally in this novel filled with humor and theatrics. (Fiction. 13-17) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
