Where's Joon?

The two young Korean American siblings from Kim's best-selling debut, Where's Halmoni? (2017), return for more magical discoveries in this lavishly illustrated early reader comic. This time, it's younger brother Joon who has disappeared, leaving a mess and a broken pot handle on the kitchen floor. Halmoni offers his sister, Jin, magical door handles to open portals in her search. Once in this fantastical world, Jin outwits a hungry tiger, while Joon is seen conferring with a friendly rabbit. Reunited, the siblings join in a quest to restore their grandmother's broken pot; a mountain god will help if they can restore his beloved fish. In a richly detailed world evoking traditional Korean art, Kim weaves details of folktales into a singular journey for these modern kids to experience their cultural heritage. Back matter includes illustrated translations of the dialogue presented in Korean characters, along with summaries of the original Korean folktales. A lovely and lively sequel and a perfect companion to Kim's first inventive and immersive expedition traversing two cultures.

The Korean siblings introduced in Where's Halmoni? (2017) encounter a new conflict and some fantastical familiar faces. Jin is alarmed by the mess in the kitchen, and her younger brother, Joon, is nowhere to be found. Her grandmother Halmoni uses magic to investigate and, using her magical door handles, sends Jin through a window to the world of the first book to deliver rice cakes to Halmoni's friend Jo-harabuji. Halmoni mentions Joon will probably be waiting there for Jin. Jin, equipped with a door handle that will return her home, as well as some smarts from her previous foray into the magical land, sets out. Meanwhile Joon, who needs help repairing Halmoni's beloved cooking pot, knows exactly where he's going with his own door handle and reunites with his friend Tokki, a spunky rabbit. Hilarity ensues as characters from Korean folktales are portrayed with dynamic expressions amid a whimsical backdrop of colorful mountain ranges and roaring rivers. Joon and Tokki struggle to fix Halmoni's pot while Jin looks for Joon, outfoxes a familiar trickster tiger, and delivers rice cakes. Kim deftly balances all of the characters and their evolving goals as the siblings inadvertently reunite spirit friends and bring Halmoni fortuitous cooking alternatives. Korean dialogue is interspersed throughout the panels of this graphic novel, with translations and guides to folktales following the story. Rich in folklore, comedy, and color, a riotous and pleasurable treat. (Graphic fiction. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.