Cooper's Lesson
by Sun Shin (Author) Kim Cogan (Illustrator)
Cooper caught his reflection in the window. Brown hair, fair skin, and some freckles. Grandmother Park always said, "Such white skin!" and Grandmother Daly always said, "What brown skin!" One cousin always teased him about being half and half.
Cooper has had about enough of being half and half. And he's certainly had enough of Mr. Lee, the owner of his neighborhood grocery store, speaking to him in Korean even though Cooper can't keep up. Why can't things be simple? Why can't he just be one thing or the other?
One moment in Mr. Lee's store changes everything for Cooper. Before long he realizes that the question of who we are is never simple-whether you talk about it in English or Korean. Kim Cogan's richly hued oil paintings perfectly complement this story of identity and intergenerational friendship, and author Sun Yung Shin brings her characters to life with tender, vivid prose.
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Review quotes
* 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'. — Booklist, starred review
* Told in gentle language, this quiet story focuses on the challenges of being caught between two cultures... Using few details, Cogan skillfully captures frustration, confusion, and understanding in the characters' faces. — School Library Journal, starred review
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV011020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
Bilingual
Racially mixed people
Korean Americans
Bilingualism
Korean language materials
