Happy Korean American Day! Read New Middle-Grade Books from Korean American Voices
Korean American Day is celebrated every year on January 13. It commemorates the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903 and celebrates the many contributions of Korean Americans. Today, we’d like to recognize Korean American authors (including our very own Erin Yun) by highlighting their new and upcoming middle-grade releases. These reads will surely delight middle-grade readers—not just today, but all year round!
Pippa Park Crush at First Sight is On Sale Now!
Why Being Kind as a Middle Schooler was Important for Pippa Park
Whenever I'm having a particularly gloomy day, I find myself gravitating toward middle grade novels. Even though middle school can be a vicious time in real life, middle-school-aged characters in these books often show such compassion and capacity for growth that I always finish each novel with a little hope in my heart.
Gamify Summer Reading with the Pippa Park Escape Room Activity!
Celebrate Pride Month with a Great LGBTQ+ Children’s Book!
5 Activities to Rock Your Tween’s Spring Break
Whether you’re staying home or traveling this spring break, banish boredom from your vacation with these 5 fun activities!
3 Unexpected Women’s History Month Reads for Your Tween
Looking for something new to share with your child during Women’s History Month? Check out these unique female role models who were groundbreakers in art, sports, and politics.
10 Fun Facts About Charles Dickens
February 7th is Charles Dickens’ birthday! This year he'd be 210 years old. His classic book Great Expectations is the inspiration behind Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun.
10 Tween Holiday Activities with Friends
Book Review: King and the Dragonflies
I haven’t read many books this winter. Maybe it’s because I’ve been busy writing or spending time with family. Maybe it’s because winter is hibernation season for me. Whatever the reason, as soon as I started reading Kacen Callender’s King and the Dragonflies, all my excuses flew out the window. I finished the book in one sitting.
Book Review: Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
Are you obsessed with Netflix comedy specials? Do you salivate at the mere thought of Korean barbecue? Are you, or have you ever been, a middle schooler? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do me a favor and grab a copy of Jessica Kim’s Stand Up, Yumi Chung!—a delightfully warm, deliciously funny middle-grade novel that is sure to get you smiling.
Kimchi-Jjigae: A classic Korean stew recipe
Here is my take on a classic Korean stew from my childhood—kimchi-jjigae!
Take Your Book Club Outside!
Enjoy a book club with your friends outside for a socially distant summer activity!
Learn How To Create Your Own Retelling!
The Summer 2020 Reading Theme is ”Imagine Your Story”, which celebrates mythology, fairy tales, and folktales and encourages young readers to create their own stories.
Meet Jung-Hwa!
In my debut novel, Pippa Park Raises Her Game, I spent a lot of time thinking about the relationship between Pippa Park and her brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa. Since Pippa often squabbles with her older sister, Mina, I wanted her to have a sweet, strong bond with Jung-Hwa. Going into the first draft, I knew Pippa adored Jung-Hwa as a father figure, but the more I wrote about him, the more I adored him as well.
Book Review: Prairie Lotus
Last night, Linda Sue Park was one of many wonderful speakers at the KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives, which was created by Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds. Having recently read Park’s latest book, Prairie Lotus (delivered to my apartment by the lovely Books Are Magic) it was so powerful to see her speak about the way Asians, especially East-Asians, can use the “power of white adjacency” to speak up to white people about racism against black people. Read on for my review of Prairie Lotus, and then, if you missed the rally, you can watch the entire event here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=248795633092755.
Erin's Book Playlist for Pippa Park Raises Her Game!
If you need inspiration while writing, create your own book-themed playlist! Making a playlist will energize you, offering continued inspiration for your story. You can include songs your main character would enjoy listening to and songs representing a specific character or chapter—whatever will get you get closer to your characters and capture the tone of your book. Check out my playlist for Pippa Park Raises Her Game!
Q&A with Pippa Park Author Erin Yun
Why did you become a writer?
There wasn’t a particular reason; it’s just something I’ve always done and always loved. I’ve been writing for longer than I can remember—first, in old notebooks with such terrible handwriting that no one, not even myself, would ever be able to decipher it, and then later, on the family computer whenever I could fight off my siblings for computer time.
Host a Pippa Park Virtual Book Club!
Invite your friends and family to join a Virtual Book Club and talk about books for some fun (and educational!) social interaction.