Unidentified Suburban Object

About this book

Comic and satirical, but also full of painful truths of being a “model-minority” in a decidedly NOT-diverse town.

The next person who compares Chloe Cho with famous violinist Abigail Yang is going to HEAR it. Chloe has just about had it with people not knowing the difference between someone who’s Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. She’s had it with people thinking that everything she does well — getting good grades, winning first chair in the orchestra, etCETera — are because she’s ASIAN.

Of course, her own parents don’t want to have anything to DO with their Korean background. Any time Chloe asks them a question they change the subject. They seem perfectly happy to be the only Asian family in town. It’s only when Chloe’s with her best friend, Shelly, that she doesn’t feel like a total alien.

Then a new teacher comes to town: Ms. Lee. She’s Korean American, and for the first time Chloe has a person to talk to who seems to understand completely. For Ms. Lee’s class, Chloe finally gets to explore her family history. But what she unearths is light-years away from what she expected.

Reviews

Praise for Unidentified Suburban Object:

"In Unidentified Suburban Object, Mike Jung takes 'not fitting in' to a whole new level. Chloe, her friends, and her family are funny, surprising, and authentic. Wonderful!" -- Gene Luen Yang, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and author of American Born Chinese

"How much do I love this book? Unidentified Suburban Object is a wonderfully heartwarming and seriously funny tale about a Korean girl who has always felt alien... only to discover [REDACTED].* Mike Jung has a talent for writing books that I wish I had written instead. Curse you, Mike Jung!!!!" -- Ellen Oh, founder of #WeNeedDiverseBooks and author of The Prophecy series

"Wow! Important and thought-provoking ideas wrapped in a funny and surprising story -- with a crackerjack ending!" -- Linda Sue Park, New York Times–bestselling author of A Long Walk to Water

"For any kid who ever felt like they were all alone in the universe. Hilariously original!" -- Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times–bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish

"With clever snark and easy humor, Mike Jung... manages to infuse thought-provoking statements about identity, race and living life as the only and 'other' -- or, as Chloe proudly insists, 'waving my freak flag solo.' Go, Chloe, go!" -- Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness

"Jung excels at showing how racial insensitivity can isolate even a student who is doing everything she can to fit in... It's easy to imagine Chloe's story starting conversations about how seemingly innocent remarks can make a minority student feel like an alien in the only home she's ever known." -- Publishers Weekly

"Chloe’s lively, agreeable voice makes her a spokesperson for every kid who has ever felt like an outsider... A slam-dunk choice." -- Booklist

"A powerful message... A good choice to add diversity to the shelves." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A very welcome and original surprise... This novel takes a hilariously unpredictable turn that will stun and ignite readers." -- School Library Journal




*Are you kidding? We’re not giving this away! You have to read the book!