Rate this book

Since You Asked (2013)

by Maurene Goo(Favorite Author)

3.55 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0545448212 (ISBN13: 9780545448215)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Scholastic

review 1: A year in the life of sophomore Holly Kim, a bored, complacent teen who happens to be Korean American. Her biggest bane in life is her overprotective, nosy, bossy mother who won't give her any privacy or space. Potentially funny as Goo attempts to show the conflict between tradition and culture and 21st century American teenagers. However, Holly comes across as needlessly put upon, whiny, and ungrateful (not so unusual for a teen protagonist, I realize) and shows mostly flat character growth. The plot arc is equally flat. Holly is a mean girl even as she berates and belittles all the other mean girls and cliques in her school. Secondary characters are also flat. There is some salty language and underage drinking. It's not horrible but I wouldn't go out of my way to ... moreread it or recommend it. There are better books that tackle the theme of Asian parents and the pressure to be perfect.
review 2: Since You Asked is the perfect combination of humor and seriousness as you meet and get inside the head of a Korean-American teenager who has one foot in her family's traditional Korean values and the other foot in the landmines of American teenagerhood. It's super cute and funny and sarcastic and flirty. I don't think I've ever read a YA before with a Korean-American teenager either. Go, Maurene! Keep your novels coming! less

Download links for: Since You Asked

Advertising