A Sky of Paper Stars

July 10, 2023
A Korean American tween grapples with the ill-fated consequences of a wish in Yi’s tear-jerking speculative debut, a graphic novel loosely inspired by her experiences. Yuna wishes she fit in more with her American classmates; worried that eating traditional Korean foods will separate her further from her peers, she throws away the lunches that her mother packs for her. In a flashback rendered in monochromatic blues, Yuna recalls making paper stars with her grandmother, Halmoni, who tells Yuna that if she gathers 1,000 paper stars in a jar, she can make a wish on them that will come true. In full-color present-day, after Yuna finishes making the thousandth star, she wishes for her relatives to go back to Korea so that “our family could be normal.” The next day, she learns that Halmoni has died and that Yuna’s family must leave for Korea. Believing she caused her grandmother’s death, Yuna—who has begun transforming into paper—determines to make another wish to bring Halmoni back. Expressive faces and stout figures paired with a soft color palette economically showcase Yuna’s struggle with grief and identity as she learns more about her family’s roots in this heartfelt story. An author’s note concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kathleen Ortiz, KO Media Management.

August 1, 2023

Gr 4-7-Middle schooler Yuna, born in America to Korean parents, struggles with feeling too Korean to fit in with her American peers at school. Frustrated with her fractured life and desperate to fit in, Yuna makes a wish on paper stars to return to Korea so she might feel normal somewhere. When the unexpected death of her halmoni (grandmother) makes Yuna's wish come true, Yuna is wracked with guilt and feels more fragile than ever as she realizes she also feels too American to fit in with her extended Korean family. As her family prepares to bury her halmoni, Yuna has to race the clock to fold more stars and undo her wish before her halmoni is gone forever. Color is expertly used to indicate time and perspective: blue-washed illustrations indicate Yuna's memories, yellow for her umma's or cousin's, and a vibrant full-color palette for the present. Most panels rely on modest but expressive illustrations and color blocking or otherwise minimalist design to move the story forward to great effect, and the use of paper as a connective thread and metaphor throughout is powerful. The preface includes a note about the use of font styles to represent Korean and English language as well as thoughts. Back matter includes directions on how to fold paper stars and an author's note on the inspiration behind the story, which notes it is based on true events. Most characters are Korean or Korean American, while most school peers are white. VERDICT A stirring look at the grief that comes from loss, distance, and a feeling of disconnect.-Alea Perez

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2023
Korean American Yuna feels stifled by the traditional ways of her immigrant parents. She brings homemade lunches to school while her classmates get pizza. She stays home while her friends have sleepovers. A Korean legend passed down to Yuna from her halmoni (grandmother) says that if one gathers a thousand paper stars into a jar, a wish is granted. Yuna takes on this challenge, and upon folding the thousandth star, makes a fateful wish to return to Korea and so lead a "normal" life. The next morning, she awakes to learn that Halmoni has died unexpectedly and finds that her own hand has started transforming into paper. In Korea for her grandmother's funeral, she strives to fold another thousand stars in order to reverse her wish and bring Halmoni back to life -- and avoid turning into paper ("I am a paper girl...blowing in the wind. Alone and fragile. I am invisible"). Yi's poignant graphic novel weaves together themes of isolation, belonging, guilt, death, and family along with the complex dynamics of forging a Korean American identity. The plot oscillates between the past and present, unraveling events through intermittent flashbacks. Yuna's memories unfold through pastel shades of blue; her mother's memories of her childhood and Halmoni, in sepia tones. Montage panels reflect Halmoni's endearing acts of love. Memory, magic, and mystery converge to tell an intergenerational story that captivates the imagination and heart. Jerry Dear

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 15, 2023
Grades 3-6 Although Yuna is U.S.-born, her immigrant parents insist the family adheres to their Korean traditions, which means she doesn't speak English at home, can't go to sleepovers "and stuff," and brings Umma-packed Korean food for lunch--which she throws away to evade bullies. Once upon a time, her grandmother shared a legend that folding 1,000 paper stars earns the maker a wish come true. Yuna finishes all 1,000, hoping to become a "normal" family back in Korea where "maybe [she] could belong." She gets her wish--but at the cost of losing her grandmother, who suddenly dies. The family immediately flies to Seoul where Yuna is convinced that folding another 1,000 stars could restore her grandmother's life. Yi's author's note thoughtfully reveals the autobiographical nature of her heartfelt story presented in vivid, spirited panels that move back and forth in time. Yi relies on single hues that wash over past events while the present glows in gorgeous full color. Chapter title pages cleverly demonstrate how to fold the perfect star. Be careful with those wishes, though.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2023
When her wish to fit in goes wrong, Yuna tries to make it right by folding 1,000 paper stars so she can make another wish and set things right. Feeling out of place as the child of Korean immigrants at a predominantly white American school, Yuna remembers a legend that her halmoni shared: "If someone gathers 1,000 paper stars in a jar...that person can make a wish on the stars...and it will come true." Yuna folds her thousandth star and wishes her family could return to Korea, where she might finally belong. The next morning, she learns that Halmoni has passed away, and just as she wished, her family will be traveling to Korea. Yuna also discovers that her right hand has turned to paper. As the paper spreads to her forearm, she becomes convinced that she must fold another 1,000 paper stars to bring Halmoni back--and avoid turning entirely into paper. This is a quiet and deeply moving story of intergenerational love and sacrifice. The narrative uses different fonts to indicate Korean, English, and internal thoughts, while varied color palettes effectively distinguish Yuna's memories and those of other family members from present-day scenes. These memories create a remarkably rich and clear depiction of Halmoni and the complexity of Yuna's feelings toward her, despite the time and space that separated the two. An affirming exploration of belonging and a testament to the power of family stories. (paper star folding instructions, author's note) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.