When I read that my local High School had removed the graphic memoir Almost American Girl by Robin Ha from their summer reading list, I had to read it. The school board members called it a comic book. Well, I am sure glad this book hit my radar because it is excellent. I strongly feel that most high school kids would benefit from reading it.
Let me start by saying I do not like reading graphic novels. My brain is not wired to enjoy reading small print in speech bubbles. I put that aside to read this book. I got into the groove within a few pages and didn’t have any problems reading it.
The story is about Robin Ha’s abrupt move from Korea to Alabama where she was raised by a single mom (an oddity in that country). She feels betrayed by her mother, isolated from the things she loved back in Korea (her friends and comic books), and out of place as the only foreigner in the school. Her English is poor, and her mother’s new husband’s family (although Korean) are not nice to her.
This is a wonderful coming of age story that explores racism in our country. It has never been easy being an immigrant and Robin’s experiences are probably common for teen immigrants.
Robin and her mother persevere and eventually end up somewhere where Robin can fit in, and she goes on to be an artist. I did not find anything in this book that would offend anybody who read it. The tone is light, the illustrations lovely, and it was written from the heart. It is definitely not a comic book.
I am reading this book as part of Cannonball Passport – graphic memoir genre.