Cooper's Lesson [Hardcover]

Sun Yung Shin (Author), Kim Cogan (Illustrator), Min Paek (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2004 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Cooper's Lesson is an inspiring story about identity and intergenerational friendship, featuring a young biracial boy, written in both English and Korean. Cooper has had about enough of being half and half. And he's really had enough of Mr. Lee, the owner of his neighborhood grocery store, speaking to him in Korean even though Cooper can't keep up. Frustrated, he often wonders why things have to be so complicated. Why can't he just be one race or the other? But one moment in Mr. Lee's store changes everything. Soon Cooper realizes that the things that make up a person are never simple — whether one talks about them in English or Korean. Richly hued oil paintings and tender vivid prose combine to bring the characters to life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Cooper, who has a Korean mother and a white, American father, is called "half and half" by his cousin. With his mixed heritage, the boy doesn't know where he fits in. When he goes to the Korean grocery, he is overwhelmed by a language of which he knows very little. He concludes that Mr. Lee, the owner, is laughing at him. In retaliation, Cooper shoplifts a brush for his mother. Caught in the act, he must work off his debt and learns that Mr. Lee's life in the United States has been difficult because of the language barrier. The man also listens to Cooper's frustrations. Eventually, the two come to a better understanding of their own and one another's problems. Told in gentle language, this quiet story focuses on the challenges of being caught between two cultures. The book follows through on the bilingual theme by presenting the text in both English and Korean. The artwork features wide brush strokes and large flat areas of color. Backgrounds are often minimal, while the people are more brightly painted. Using few details, Cogan skillfully captures frustration, confusion, and understanding in the characters' faces. This story can be used to explore and stimulate discussion about issues of identity.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 3. Both author and illustrator are Korean American, and their poignant picture book is an intimate look at a biracial child's bewilderment, denial, anger, and, finally, acceptance about being "half and half." Cooper's father is white; his mother is Korean. People always ask Cooper where he's from, and they look at him funny if he says he's American. He hates going to the neighborhood store, where Mr. Lee scolds the boy for not speaking Korean. Angry and frustrated, Cooper shoplifts. Mr. Lee catches him and makes him work in the store after school, and the two become friends. Mr. Lee shares his personal story and helps Cooper accept that it's OK not to fit into a box, but there's no simple, sentimental "lesson" here, despite the book's title. Language is the heart of the story, which is told in both English and Korean. The beautiful full-page oil paintings draw on several traditions to reveal the problems and the riches of the boy's cross-cultural identity. A distant view of the store window evokes Cooper's alienation; in contrast are the close-up, impressionistic portraits of the scowling boy at home and outside. Many immigrant families will want this for the truth it tells about the important role of language and the bonds across race, culture, and generation. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; 1st edition (January 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892391936
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391936
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,036,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book--overall would recommend, March 12, 2004

By 

H. Park "beefleef" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooper's Lesson (Hardcover)

Cooper's Lesson is about a young boy who is embarrassed by his half-Korean, half-Caucasian identity. His mother insists he speak Korean even though he feels like everyone is making fun of him. He dreads encounters with Mr. Lee, a grocery store owner. One day, in his haste to leave, Cooper forgets to pay for a brush. Accused of shoplifting, he has to spend days in Mr. Lee's shop. Cooper learns through spending time with Mr. Lee to appreciate his multi-cultural identity.

Overall, this book deals with sensitive biracial issues in a way for children to understand. It seems like this is the first book of its kind and I can't seem to find anything bad about it. The drawings are very good and capture the characters emotions. The korean and english text makes it a very good learning tool for children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally--a book to give the kids I know!, April 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Cooper's Lesson (Hardcover)

Sun Yung Shin and Kim Cogan have answered a need for children's literature that portrays hapa children. I was so pleased to give this book to my nephews, and to keep another copy in my piano studio to share with all the kids I know whose real-life experiences resonate with Cooper's. Shin portrays Cooper as an emotionally complex boy who takes responsibility for his own actions. Shin treats all the characters with dignity and grace--and the prose is lovely. This would be a welcome addition to any children's library -- and it would also be great reading for adults who are interested in how our multicultural world affects children. A wonderful first book by Shin--please write more!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for adoptive parents of Asian children, May 25, 2004

By 

"losangeles4444" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooper's Lesson (Hardcover)

Although Cooper is hapa (Asian/White) and is not adopted, the author and illustrator are both Korean adoptees (from the book jacket). Cooper's ethnicity/language struggles also apply to the struggles of adoptees who live in both worlds, of home & new country/culture/family/language. Spread the word about this book to adoptive parents who are looking for a story that shows an Asian American child discovering how complex becoming American can be.