Ha puts a queer and feminist twist on the origins of the Fox Maiden from Korean folklore in this fantastical graphic novel. Across cleanly rendered, digitally illustrated panels with starkly highlighted hues in reds, blues, greens, and yellows, Kai tenaciously attempts to change her fate, encounters a familiar face on a parallel journey, and finds compassion and love along the way.” — Publishers Weekly
“Ha employs a limited but versatile color palette to create a world that feels grounded in real history yet imbued with magic. The inkbrush-like digital illustrations are evocative of traditional Asian art and contrast poignantly with the book’s contemporary treatment of nonconformity, queerness, and intergenerational trauma. A lushly illustrated fantasy that feels ancient and modern at the same time.” — Kirkus Reviews
"Ha’s magnificent storytelling reclaims, reveals, and honors [Korean women's] strength." — Booklist (starred review)
"A worthy addition to the canon of myths retold through the female lens that will appeal to any who enjoys the monster’s backstory." — School Library Journal
“Action packed and exciting, this family drama is full of unexpected twists and turns. The art is rich with historical details, beautiful nature scenes, and fast paced fight scenes. Lovers of ghost stories, kdramas, and queer retellings of fairy tales will find much to enjoy here.” — Maia Kobabe, author and illustrator of Gender Queer
"A book that makes you want to devour the patriarchy. The Fox Maidens is a beautiful dive into Korean history, mythology, and social issues we can all learn from." — Laura Gao, author and illustrator of Messy Roots
“Robin calls forth her entire self to elevate Korean folklore to a haunting, horrifying, and enchanting epic about what (and who) we would sacrifice for love and redemption. Truly a femme fatale I wish I had growing up.” — Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo
Praise for ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL: “A powerful memoir that not only shows what it’s like to be in a new town or a new school, but what it’s like to move to an entirely new country! It’s an amazing journey that is sure to promote empathy with readers.” — Jerry Craft, author of New Kid
“Incredibly honest, poignant, and ultimately triumphant, Almost American Girl is a treasure.” — Michael Cho, author of Shoplifter
“Robin’s story is both utterly her own and deeply resonant for anyone who’s felt lost in the world and fought to carve out a place for themselves.” — Hazel Newlevant, author of No Ivy League
“This heartfelt memoir from an author who shares her honest, personal experiences. An insightful, moving coming-of-age tale.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A poignant and unvarnished depiction of immigration—both the heartache and the rewards." — School Library Journal (starred review)
“With unblinking honesty and raw vulnerability [and] presented in full-color splendor, her energetic style mirrors the constant motion of her adolescent self, navigating the peripatetic turbulence toward adulthood.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Touching and subtly humorous, this emotive memoir is as much about the steadfast bond between a mother and daughter as it is about the challenges of being an immigrant in America.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Ha successfully brings to life the wide range of emotions that both tell the story and provide evidence that the comic medium has been a healing force for her and perhaps could be for readers who have walked similar paths.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Ha effectively uses the comic book format to recall her own memories of dislocation, explore a testy mother-daughter relationship and ultimately chronicle a poignant search for identity.” — San Francisco Chronicle
11/20/2023
Ha (Almost American Girl) puts a queer and feminist twist on the origins of the Fox Maiden from Korean folklore in this fantastical graphic novel. The only daughter of famed General Song, 10-year-old Kai desperately wants to be a fighter like her older brothers. But her father will only train her secretly, believing that the patriarchal Joseon society will never accept a female warrior. The rumors that she’s a descendant of Gumiho, a nine-tailed fox demon, ostracize her further. But her strong sense of justice emboldens her to stay on the warrior path and prompts her to aid a thief in their escape. On the day she experiences her first moonblood, or period, Kai’s life changes drastically, forcing her mother to reveal the truth about her own past—and about Kai’s destiny. Across cleanly rendered, digitally illustrated panels with starkly highlighted hues in reds, blues, greens, and yellows, Kai tenaciously attempts to change her fate, encounters a familiar face on a parallel journey, and finds compassion and love along the way. Front matter provides context into historical worldbuilding. An author’s note concludes. Characters are Korean. Ages 13–up. Agent: Samantha Haywood, Transatlantic Literary. (Feb.)
03/15/2024
Gr 7 Up—From monster to mistreated, Ha redefines our understanding of the Gumiho—the nine-tailed fox of Korean folktales—by infusing the female perspective. Kai wants nothing more than to live her life how she wants. Sadly, it's a near impossibility in the Joseon era—a time where a society run by men relegated women to traditional roles. Those who did not fit, like this talented martial artist, were often ostracized. Still, Kai tries to meet the expectations of her supportive family, even after discovering she is a fox demon. No matter her actions, the story revolves around the inner turmoil between being herself versus her morals. However, the late-game LGBTQIA+ love link resolves the issue. Ha ties the mythical symbol of a powerful, monstrous woman to the trauma of women forced into monstrous choices. For those unfamiliar with the source material, she provides a foreword and footnotes with further explanation, as well as certain cultural and linguistic particularities. Her art fittingly takes influence from Joseon-era paintings with pops of red, yellow, and blue surrounded by muted hues, while calligraphic brushwork is seen in the digital line art.VERDICT A worthy addition to the canon of myths retold through the female lens that will appeal to any who enjoys the monster's backstory.—Rachel Forbes.
2023-11-04
Noted graphic memoirist Ha makes her fiction debut with this feminist retelling of the legend of the Gumiho, set in Korea during the Joseon dynasty.
Kai Song is no ordinary general’s daughter: She was born with a gift for fighting and has been trained in martial arts by her father, General of the Royal Legion and a hero of the dynasty who’s known for slaying Gumiho (a nine-tailed fox demon that can shapeshift into a beautiful woman). Wild, spirited Kai has no patience for Joseon social norms, which dictate that she should become a subservient wife or a courtesan to high-status men. Her unusual upbringing doesn’t help curb the widespread rumors that Kai and her mother are descendants of the very demon her father defeated. Through the years, Kai’s talent becomes more of a liability as she begins to attract unwanted attention around her village and from her father’s enemies. When Kai unexpectedly learns the true nature of her abilities, deeply hidden family secrets come to light, and she’s set on a tumultuous path of self-discovery. Ha employs a limited but versatile color palette to create a world that feels grounded in real history yet imbued with magic. The inkbrush-like digital illustrations are evocative of traditional Asian art and contrast poignantly with the book’s contemporary treatment of nonconformity, queerness, and intergenerational trauma.
A lushly illustrated fantasy that feels ancient and modern at the same time. (author’s note) (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)