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A cinematic journey through the Seoul subway that masterfully portrays the many unique lives we travel alongside whenever we take the train. A poetic translation of the bestselling Korean picture book.
SIX STARRED REVIEWS
★ "Lucky readers, climb aboard: extraordinary explorations await." --Shelf Awareness
★"I Am the Subway makes for an unforgettable journey." --Bookpage
★ "[S]ensitive, closely observed portraits." --Publishers Weekly
★ "A contemplative, poignant rendering of everyday journeys." --Kirkus Reviews
★ "[B]eautiful and unusual." --Youth Services Book Review
★ "Bewitching." --Foreword
Accompanied by the constant, rumbling ba-dum ba-dum of its passage through the city, the subway has stories to tell. Between sunrise and sunset, it welcomes and farewells people, and holds them--along with their joys, hopes, fears, and memories--in its embrace. Originally published in Korean and brought to English-speaking audiences with the help of renowned translator Deborah Smith (The Vegetarian), I Am the Subway vividly reflects the shared humanity that can be found in crowded metropolitan cities.
- A wonderful gift for parents, carers, and grandparents of train-loving children
- Perfect for teachers and librarians looking for books that share global experiences and lives from an own-voice perspective
- Great for fans of Next Stop Grand Central Station by Maira Kalman, Subway by Christopher Neiman, and Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robertson
PreS-Gr 1--As the train narrating Kim's enthralling book travels both above- and underground, so it reveals passengers' visible and hidden dimensions. It carries "busy hearts" as a father sprints, to maximize time with his daughter; a diving granny who carries seafood to her daughter and granddaughter; a weary and fretful student returning from an afterschool hagwon tutoring; a small-time entrepreneur hawking gloves. Details--like the harried mom politely called "Aunty," the tiny, crammed shoe-repair shop, streetscapes, and station names--ground the book in Seoul. Both sober ink and glorious watercolor washes suggest more than they show, of the place and the people: a kind, unemployed young man adds the only color to a bustling commute; a train aisle looks like green grass; faces are distinct and expressive but soft. Particular to Seoul but also universal, this book carries no tropes or types, just "unique lives of strangers," as the train's rhythmic ba-dum ba-dum comes to sound like a heartbeat. This is the work of an accomplished and prolific illustrator who is an equally gifted writer. VERDICT For transportation fans, and all who love scenes of diversity, Smith's sensitive translation of Kim's poetic text makes this a trip not to be missed, taking every open-eyed, open-hearted reader on board.--Patricia D. Lothrop, formerly St. George's Sch., Newport, RI
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.A translation by Smith brings Kim's sensitive, closely observed portraits of Seoul's subway passengers to English-speaking readers. The subway itself narrates ("On my travels I meet so many people and things"), its words punctuated with the rails' constant "ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum" and passengers' autobiographical thoughts. Graceful, luminous watercolors convey strength and delicacy; Kim handles with equal skill the workings of the train, the architecture of the stations, and the figures and expressions of the passengers. There's Mr. Wanju, a businessman, dashing for the gate and eager to spend time with his daughter ("I always leave first, / to run home and see her smile"), while Granny takes seafood from the coast to family in the city ("I'm going to cook a feast for my girls!"). Though some of the encounters raise questions that the story itself doesn't address, in this quiet treasure of a tale, every person in the crowd has a story, a family they love, and dreams they cherish. Ages 4-7. (Aug.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.