Chi-Hoon: A Korean Girl (Paperback)

by Patricia I. McMahon (Author), Michael F. O'Brien (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Crisp and colorful photographs highlight this "up-close and personal" glimpse of a week in the life of an eight-year-old Korean girl. Kim Chi-hoon lives with her older sister and parents in an island neighborhood of Seoul called Yoido. Through McMahon's narrative and entries in Chi-hoon's diary (which she is required to keep for school), readers are taken on a whirlwind tour of Korean culture. From culinary traditions to day trips in the city to everyday family life, a world both familiar (sibling rivalry; playing tennis; bike riding) and vastly different (tremendous pressure to perform well at school; a lingering belief amongst the older generation that girls are second-best) is revealed. In its zeal to cover as much ground as possible, the book is somewhat text-heavy; nevertheless, the spirited Chi-hoon emerges as a thoroughly sympathetic character. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
A typical week in the life of a high-spirited eight-year-old in Seoul, emphasizing her wish to be properly dutiful and respectful (paramount cultural values in Korea) in order to win a prize at school, with excerpts from her diary (the days in Korean characters) and a wealth of information about names, foods, schools, and the city of Seoul. McMahon is candid about the tension between traditional attitudes toward females and the more equitable practices favored by younger Koreans. The several dozen excellent photos are not captioned, even though they are not always adjacent to the relevant text (on page 16, Chi-Hoon is shown holding a braided string of garlic that isn't mentioned until page 21). A few places of interest are described but unfortunately not pictured (e.g., the Gate of Exalted Ceremony); simple maps of the country and the city would also have been helpful. Still, a handsome, informative, and readable photo-essay. (Nonfiction. 6-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563977206
• ISBN-13: 978-1563977206
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #766,725 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and informative, January 19, 2000

By A Customer

Chi-hoon could be an 8-year-old girl almost anywhere--she is playful, imaginative, has an occasional disagreement with her older sister, and loves to visit her grandparents. The charm of this book is that we see Seoul, Korea through a young girl's eyes. This book is filled with snippets of Korean history and culture. We see Chi-hoon struggle to pay attention at a piano lesson, go to market with her mother, try to win a school prize, and play yut, a traditional Korean game, with her grandparents. In a particularly amusing scene, we see Chi-hoon persuade her grandfather to buy her cold noodle soup (a Korean specialty) against her parents' wishes. How many children and parents can identify with that scenario! :) This is a fantastic book for any age. Even the youngest children will enjoy the lovely photographs, and older children and adults will enjoy re-reading the text which contains gentle references to issues such as tremendous academic pressure (Chi-hoon's cousin will remain at home for an entire year to prepare for college entrance exams), the older generation's bias toward male children, and the age hierarchy (Chi-hoon wishes that she didn't have to call her older sister Oni, a title of respect). A must read!