A shy girl who wants to be a comedian, Yumi Chung finds herself deceiving her parents in order to make her dreams come true. Along the way she learns the importance of family and that her immigrant parents might just support her if she gave them the chance.

A heartfelt story centered on family, comedy, and being your true self; Stand Up, Yumi Chung! is one of the most hyped middle grades of 2020 and for good reason. Jessica Kim's debut has stand out characters and an impactful storyline. Yumi's passion for comedy is what truly sold me on her. She practices and writes jokes in her "Super-Secret Comedy Notebook" constantly. She is so determined to show her parents that she can do comedy and ace an important test that she spends hours studying for something she doesn't want to do. She finds it in herself to take a chance, although a morally gray one, to learn how to be a better comedian. She learns to tell jokes in front of people and be okay with being in the limelight while being shy. As a fellow shy person, I appreciated her realistic growth on the stage. Family was a large aspect of the story and having an immigrant father and grandparents myself, it's always interesting to see the similarities and differences between immigrant cultures. My parents drilled into me and my brothers how important education is because it's something that can't be taken away. With our careers they mostly want us to have stable jobs and for us to be happy. At first, Yumi's parents didn't seem to focus on happiness, but for them, a successful career where you don't have to worry about money is being happy. Speaking of being happy, I loved that Yumi's sister - Yuri - decided she rather go find herself then do something she knows she hates in order to make her parents happy. Both sisters were going through the same thing at different times in their lives which I thought was a great addition to the plot. Yumi's jokes themselves could be very good especially when she was talking about her permed hair. None of them were belly laugh funny but I'm not the audience. I can see kids her age enjoying her jokes. Lastly, I enjoyed the satisfying and somewhat realistic ending to the story. I think it had a good message that kids can take with them after the story is finished.

I do have some qualms about Yumi's story centering around being a comedian. It would be nice if more books focused on characters who want to be something either kids' have never heard of or something not revolving the arts. Yumi wants to be a comedian like someone she follows on YouTube which isn't really realistic but I guess that's the point. However, I do think that showing the drive Yumi had towards working hard to be a good comedian leveled off the playing field. Also, I love books with food descriptions but I didn't know any of the food that was talked about in this story. It would have been so nice to have an illustrated image or two of some of the food that was served at Chung's Barbecue. One last thing, I wish this wasn't a standalone. I would be really interested to see Yumi in seventh, eighth, or even as a freshman in high school with the new friends she made and her current best friend.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! is well worth the hype as it showcases the struggles and love of being a part of an immigrant family and the determination it takes to stand up for your dreams.

I enjoyed Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim. Yumi was a very relatable character that I think will appeal to a lot of my students. I enjoyed the overall premise of the book, especially Yumi's central conflict. I think middle grade students, especially those who are second generation Americans, will readily relate with a character like Yumi, and pull for her as she tries to navigate the pitfalls of the double life she is living. Yumi's parents and her sister Yuri are likable characters, which helps to build the tension as her plans begin to unravel. Overall, I thought it was a good read.

Stand-Up Yumi Chung is a book about a Korean-American girl who wants to be a stand-up comedian, but her parents want her to spend her time studying for a test that could win her a scholarship to a prestigious school.
At its heart, the story is about balancing family expectations with the individual’s heart’s desires. It’s a standard theme in American fiction, and this book handles the theme in a thoughtful and nuanced way. All the characters are fleshed out, and the resolution is nuanced and realistic.

The story moves along quickly and has engaging characters. It’s funny and highly relatable. Kids who love comedy—especially those who liked the I Funny series—are likely to be drawn to this title, as well.

I received a galley of this book through NetGalley.

Where do I even start? With Stand Up, Yumi Chung, Jessica Kim made me laugh, made me cry, and made me long to go back to when I was younger and filled with fears and self-doubt. and struggling to find my own voice.

Yumi is forced to spend the summer taking a test prep class so that she can win a scholarship to the prestigious school she currently (grudgingly) attends. Her family's Korean barbeque restaurant has fallen on hard times, and a scholarship is the only way Yumi can stay at the school. Yumi longs to be watching YouTube videos of her favorite comedian and working on her own comedy material. One day after class, Yumi discovers a new comedy club, which just happens to be hosting a summer comedy camp for kids with her favorite YouTube comedian teaching the course. Through a case of mistaken identity, Yumi continues to attend the camp, where she begins to find her voice....but is it really hers? As things begin to unravel, will Yumi must find the strength to face her own fears or will she let those fears, once again overwhelm her?

A humorous and fresh take on the pangs of a secret life when no one understands you, particularly your immigrant parents. I particularly loved that Yumi wanted to become a comedian and perform. The story is full of well-rounded and diverse characters; even the parents get their turn to shine. Definitely one for the elementary school library shelf.

"Stand Up, Yumi Chung!" tells the relatable story of a young girl trying to find her place in the world. Stuck in her older sister's spotlight has been typical for Yumi and always trying to live up to the success of her sister. Also, her parents hold Yumi to strong expectations for her academics and future. What happens when Yumi's future path looks different than the path her parents have dreamed for her? This book depicts a child wishing to follow her own path and gaining the courage to stand up to her parents.

Yumi Chung just wants to reinvent herself, but cultural pressures from her Korean immigrant parents make it hard for her to be her true self. With inspiration from an unlikely allie, and skills she learns while attending comedy camp under a differnt identity, Yumi just might be able to survive it all and help save her family's restaurant.

A fun, face=paced read for young readers, Jessica Kim marries old-world customs and expectancies with the modern emotions, dreams. and media of today's kids. Can a daughter learn to understand her parents (and vise versa) while still being true to herself and her own wishes? Yumi Chung has no choice but to find out.

I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! In the first few chapters Yumi mentions delivering bunchan to a table in her parent's restaurant and I was transported into that scene, Yumi learns how to dream big and be true to herself by first pretending to be someone else. The problems in school, family and social life that Yumi faces are universal. While Korean Americans may find mirror in the text others will enjoy looking through the window into Yumi's life as a Korean American. Tween and young teen readers will enjoy all the characters, the older sister, the cook and the friends that Yumi makes at camp.

I feel like a lot of children will relate to Yumi. She's funny, shy, sometimes awkward, and is trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. Yumi's parents are Korean immigrants and, like most parents, want more for their children. Yumi is a caught in her sister's educational shadow. Yumi isn't a bad student, but she is constantly reminded that she isn't as smart as her sister. Her parent's want her to follow in her sister's footsteps and become a doctor, but what Yumi wants, is to be a comedian.
When Yumi's parent's restaurant starts failing they can't afford private school tuition anymore, Her parent's sign her up for an intensive study program in hopes she'll be able to win a scholarship. On her way home, she is sidetracked by a new comedy club. Inside is her comedic idol, who is running a comedy camp. As Yumi peeks inside, she is mistaken for another camper, and sucked into the program. And so begins Yumi's comedic attempts to keep her two lives from intertwining. The camp kids can't find out that she's not supposed to be there, but her parents can never find out about her comedian aspirations.
A lot of kids will be able to relate to Yumi's feelings of trying to find herself. Of being different with her friends than she is with her parents. Of trying to find where she fits in between American ideals and Korean traditions. And of learning to stand up for yourself (or comedy!)

Yumi Chung loves stand up comedy and wants to perfect her craft. Her parents want her to be a good girl, get good grades and go to a good college like her genius older sister. Jessica Kim crafts a fantastic story about the struggles of balancing Yumi's passion with the expectations of her immigrant parents.

Hilarious, heartfelt middle grade that is very worthy of 5 stars. Sixth-grade Yumi is a comedy nerd who loves watching stand up tutorials on YouTube. Her parents own a Korean restaurant, and it's not doing very well. Her perfect sister is already in medical school, but Yumi is having trouble fitting in at her fancy prep school. She's shy, she feels uncool, and she really doesn't want to spend the summer taking remedial classes and studying for a scholarship exam.

But then something amazing happens. Her favourite comedian opens a comedy camp right around the corner! Yumi can't convince her parents to send her there, so she adopts a secret identity and sneaks in. At camp she develops her stand up and improv skills, makes new friends, and starts to believe in herself. But how long can her deception last? Will her family save their restaurant? And will they ever accept her comedy aspirations?

Yumi is caught between what her parents want for her and expect from her and what she wants for herself. Over the course of one summer, a school scholarship test prep class, and a stand-up comedy camp, she learns the importance of family and being true to oneself. With her parents' Korean barbecue restaurant struggling to survive, she's able to help out in a way that she never expected and prove to her parents that maybe there is room in her life for more than just academics. Yumi is a funny, smart middle school girl with problems that anyone can relate to, from pressure to succeed from her parents to fitting in with her peers. This sweet, funny story should inspire you to stand up and cheer for Yumi Chung!

All Yumi Chung wants is to be a stand-up comedian. The only problem? Her parents, Korean immigrants and hardworking restaurant owners, think comedy is a waste of time and that Yumi should be focusing all her time on school so she can be a doctor or lawyer some day. When Yumi is supposed to be studying at the library and walks in on a comedy camp--run by her favorite comedian, no less--and is mistaken for another camper, she suddenly has the perfect way to pursue her comic dreams--without her parents being any the wiser. But Yumi's lies, and her own guilt, start to catch up to her.

What a lovely story about a first-generation American girl finding her path in life when her dreams conflict with her parents' wishes for her. Every member of the Chung family is fully developed and will win readers' sympathy. Yumi's parents, while on the surface stereotypical tiger parents obsessed with school, come across as caring parents with their own hopes and dreams, anxious for their daughters to have better lives than they do as immigrants. Yumi's sister Yuri, the family rebel, is also sympathetically treated, revealing not only a generational culture clash within the family but also a desire to forge her own life while still staying in her parents' good graces. Yumi is a relatable protagonist, shy and afraid to speak up--even to the point of getting herself into some really sticky situations. In spite of her fear and the deception she creates over the story, readers will root for her to do the right thing and find her voice.

The story does an excellent job of depicting life as a child of Korean immigrants and raises interesting ethical concerns: is Yumi's parents' obsession with her schoolwork abuse or their way of showing love for their daughter? Do Yumi and Yuri have an obligation to honor their parents' wishes for their lives, or should they make their own life and career choices? It was also interesting to get a glimpse inside the world of stand-up comedy and how it can be used not just to get laughs, but also to heal and to build confidence in the comedians.

The book flows well and reads relatively quickly. Yumi's stumbling upon her favorite comedian is a little unbelievable, but overall the story feels very real. An essential purchase for all public libraries, a great multicultural title and general work of realistic fiction. This book has heart. 8 to 12.

Yumi Chang loves comedy and practices her routine whenever she can. Her immigrant family is struggling with their restaurant and sends Yumi to summer camp in hopes of her winning a scholarship. When a comedy camp opens up Yumi might have found a way of fulfilling her dream but will her parents agree? A fun story with a wonderful family!

This book is no joke, although it is chock full of laugh out loud one-liners and punchlines (don’t worry, no spoilers here). STAND UP, YUMI CHUNG! by Jessica Kim, is an engaging and wonderfully touching story of determination and staying true to yourself even if it goes against the grain of what’s expected of you. Eleven-year-old Yumi’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian, but it’s not exactly—not even close to—what her Korean immigrant parents envision her to become. Add in living up to your intelligent, big-sister’s success and you’ve got a relatable story that is sure to strike a chord with readers who’ve ever felt overshadowed by others or worried to disappoint the ones they love. Told through Yumi’s quick-witted, candid voice and “super-secret comedy notebook” entries, this charming novel explores the desire to work hard and follow your own passions while also making your parents proud and live up to their expectations. Yumi has some difficult decisions to make and finds herself living a double life! I laughed a lot. I cried a bit. I read it all in one sitting. I just loved how this story played out and the lessons learned by the whole, utterly adorable, Chung family. STAND UP, YUMI CHUNG! is a perfect balance of humor and heart that will have you applauding and craving delicious Korean barbecue long after the last laugh.

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Group through NetGalley.
Readers jump into Yumi Chung's life in the summer between sixth and seventh grade, and, wow! is she balancing her share. She's doing her best to live up to her "perfect" older sister and be everything her Korean parents want her to be. However, her heart is in comedy and sharing her jokes with the world.
Throughout her adventures and lies, she figures out who she really is with help from unexpected sources - her accelerated studies teacher and her comedy camp teacher.
Readers will relate to her attempts to be herself and still fit in her family - to speak up and be heard. We see her own up to mistakes and fix situations that require her to mature and blossom. Along the way, we see her save the family restaurant and make her parents listen to her ideas and needs.
Kim has created a delightful character and set her in a realistic situation. She shares plenty of humor as well as deep needs and heart cries.
Hope this is only the first we hear about Yumi Chung.