Book Title: Kimchi & Calamari
Author Name: Rose Kent
Reviewed by TFK Kid Reporter: Kennedy Ficks
Genre: Fiction
Number of pages: 220
What's the basic storyline?
This book is about a 14-year-old adopted Korean boy named Joseph, who is stuck in the middle of what he calls an “ethnic sandwich.” He feels caught between his Korean heritage and his Italian-American family.
When Joseph is asked to do a report on his ancestors, things start getting a little complicated. The issue is that he wants to know more about his birth family, but his parents want him to do the report on their family.
Were the characters believable? What made them believable or unbelievable?
The characters were definitely believable because they experience situations that happen in real life. As kids read this book, they will be able to say, “I have been there” or “I have done that,” whether it is dealing with a little sister, or perhaps cheating on a school assignment.
Would you recommend this book to kids? Why or why not?
Yes! From middle school mishaps to family struggles, readers are bound to find something that they can relate to. Anyone who enjoys a book about real-life situations would definitely love Kimchi & Calamari.
What's not-so-great about the book?
Kimchi & Calamari is one of those books that is pretty much impossible to put down. In fact, at the end of the book, I was not ready to quit reading! My only complaint is that the ending is very sudden and leaves many questions unexplained.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), how would you rate this book? Explain.
I would give this book a 9. It has many great descriptions and relatable moments, but the ending leaves you with some unanswered questions.
