Overview

For fans of Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H-Mart and Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings comes a coming-of-age memoir about a daughter of immigrants discovering her Korean American identity while finding it in her heart to forgive her Tiger Mom.  In this courageous memoir of parental love, intergenerational trauma, and perseverance, Joan Sung breaks the generational silence that curses her family. By intentionally overcoming the stereotype that all Asians are quiet, Sung tells her stories of coming-of-age with a Tiger Mom who did not understand American society.  Torn between her two identities as a Korean woman and a first generation American, Sung bares her struggles in an honest and bare confessional. Sifting through her experiences with microaggressions to the over fetishization of Asian women, Sung connects the COVID pandemic with the decades of violence and racism experienced by Asian American communities. 

Full Product Details

9781647428426

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Reviews

“. . . a moving chronicle that shows strength, growth, and reflection.”—Kirkus Reviews “So many of us must wrestle with the paradox of being too Asian for America, and too American for Asia. In a collection of sharply-rendered—and tender—portraits, King writes unflinchingly to confront the pain of the past and set new narratives into motion.”—Elise Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital  “Kinda Korean tackles the complexities of navigating between cultures with both lyricism and courage. It details the author’s life with unflinching honesty, and in doing so, creates a work of profound empathy.”—Kara H.L. Chen, author of Love & Resistance and Asking For a Friend “Kinda Korean is an intimate and gutsy portrait of resilience and radical self-acceptance . . . Through stories filled with heartbreak, and healing, she confronts intergenerational trauma and reclaims her inner defiance, finding the power to redefine her boundaries in a world that often seeks to impose them. I was moved by her story and rooting for the fierce spirit rising on every page.”—Rachel Sahaidachny, Editor and Poet “[Sung’s] is a universal voice of children of immigrant parents. As a Latina who grew up in the USA with Honduran immigrant parents, I deeply connected with [Sung’s] personal struggles, and I’ve never felt more seen while reading a book. From feeling ashamed of my father’s heavy accent to not speaking perfect Spanish, I found myself nodding along to each chapter . . . Whether you’re the parent or child in an immigrant household, there are parts of you blended in these pages. I recommend this book to anyone, but if you’ve ever felt stuck between two cultures, you must read this book.” —Marie Garcia, Memoir Magazine Book Review

"""[Sung's] is a universal voice of children of immigrant parents. As a Latina who grew up in the USA with Honduran immigrant parents, I deeply connected with [Sung's] personal struggles, and I've never felt more seen while reading a book. From feeling ashamed of my father's heavy accent to not speaking perfect Spanish, I found myself nodding along to each chapter . . . Whether you're the parent or child in an immigrant household, there are parts of you blended in these pages. I recommend this book to anyone, but if you've ever felt stuck between two cultures, you must read this book."" --Marie Garcia, Memoir Magazine Book Review"

Author Information

Joan Sung is a national cultural competency conference presenter and consultant and has a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a Doctorate in Education. Her articles regarding Asian American voices have been published in TinyBeans.com, Mochi Magazine, Memoir Magazine, and Writerly Magazine. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, her son, and two dogs. 

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