Yuna lives with her younger sister Mina and her parents in the US. Her parents have come to the US from Korea, and hold on strongly to their cultural ways. This irritates Yuna when her parents won't let her have a phone, have sleepovers at classmates' homes, and pack her lunches that children at school think are "weird". She has quite a fight with her mother, and tells her that she throws away the carefully packed lunches every day. Her grandmother, who is still in Korea, taught Yuna that if she folded 1,000 paper stars, she could make a wish. Yuna does this, and wishes to move back to Korea with her parents so that she is seen as normal, but shortly afterwards word comes that Halmoni has died. The family travels back for the funeral, and Yuna is consumed with the idea that she cause Halmoni's death. She hasn't seen Halmoni since she was young, and had some unpleasant interactions with her that come back to haunt her. She was fearful of the texture of Halmoni's hands, which felt like paper to her, and she feels herself slowly turning to paper as guilt consumes her. The family goes through all of the funeral proceedings, but Yuna decides that if she can fold another 1,000 paper starts, she can bring her grandmother back. Because of family obligations, she is unable to do this, so feels even more guilty. Eventually, she admits her feelings to her mother, who helps her to understand that you can have disagreements with those who love you, and they will understand.
Strengths: The death of a grandparent who lives far away is very traumatic, and this is a good description of how a family deals with returnin home to honor a deceased relative. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of Halmoni's life, and also Yuna's interactions with her grandmother. Yuna's feelings of not belonging in the US, and then of not belonging in Korea, will be interesting to readers who feel that way, and informative to readers who feel firmly identified with just one culture. The illustrations style is pleasant, and makes it easier to see as Yuna's "paper" skin takes over. I liked that instructions on how to fold the stars was given at the end of the book, along with some personal notes from the author.
Weaknesses: While this seems solidly middle grade, it seemed odd that Yuna really seemed to believe that she could bring Halmoni back to life with her wish. This belief in magic usually ends in first or second grade, but Yuna really does seem to think that folding 1,000 stars will grant her a wish, and that her first wish resulted in her grandmother's death.
What I really think: Comparisons to Chanani's Pashmina or Wang's Stargazing are apt, and this will also be appreciated by readers who like the history in Ahn's A Spoonful of Time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a sweet, heartfelt story with themes of grief, pride in one's heritage, and connecting to family. Yuna was born in America, but feels "too Korean" for her friends, trying to fit in desperately, while also wishing she could go to Korea where she would fit in better. When her grandmother dies, her family returns to Korea for the funeral, but Yuna believes that her wish caused her grandmother's death. In Korea, Yuna feels "too American" and also feels guilty for not knowing her grandmother better.
While the story is often sad, there is also a positive message that culture and heritage can be a source of pride, and that our loved ones live on through our stories and memories.

deep and heartfelt story about family and being an immigrants

Yuna hates how she felt like the odd one out in her american school (seems like homemade lunches were universal problem for Asian kids in western countries) so she wished upon 1000 paper stars to be able to live in Korea normally. It turns to an event where Yuna regret her wish and tries to fix it. Apparently she's not even Korean enough to live in Korea, so wherever she lives she's never feels like she belong.

I've been following Susie Yi on Instagram for years, since before she started to make some comic series about cats. She's really good at storytelling and her illustrations are always looking cute and neat. Love this

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and the message in the story. It’s hard to fit in when you’re not sure of yourself and this novel really allows the audience to immerse themselves in the story. Thank you for allowing me to read this before the publishing!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.

This short graphic novel is pretty heavy for its cute artwork. This is the story about a girl who feels like she doesn't belong to her Korean nor her American cultures. When a family member dies, she learns more about her Korean background and her family's struggle to move to America.

I felt that the ending was a little rushed and I wanted to see more of life back in America after learning and appreciating the Korean culture.

I was confused a lot of the time and didn’t feel connected to the story. The different fonts aren’t unique enough to really differentiate from one another. It also feels like there’s too much going on/too many plot points and characters for a graphic novel. It just didn’t draw me in.

Graphic novel about identity, fitting in, the immigrant experience, family, culture, and regrets. Suitable for all readers from middle grade up, although not necessarily aimed at a younger audience. The art style is a little basic and rough, but ultimately it lends the story a sort of charm.

A lovely exploration of memory, grief, loss, guilt, and multi-generational family relationships. The story and accompanying illustrations work perfectly together. This might also work as a jumping off point to discuss loss with kids.

Such a sweet and fabulous MG graphic novel that navigates grief and the Asian-American identity/diaspora with a dash of magical realism. It is a love letter to Korean food and portrays language between English and Korean in a simple, yet succinct style that I rarely find across graphic novels attempting to incorporate more than 1 language. I also enjoy reading and learning about the other family members—Yuna's grandmother and mother—where it takes readers to Halmoni's life that makes this story more raw. For fans of The Farewell and Everything, Everywhere All At Once, A Sky of Paper Stars was full of vibrant color and heartwarming relationship within Yuna's family that left me both delighted and emotionally touched.

I thought this was a super sweet and light hearted book, I loved our characters and the illustrations. The only issue I had was that I just couldn't invest myself in the story enough.

I really enjoyed this book. The text was easy to read and the illustrations were colorful and nice. Very realistic story about dealing with grief, family, siblings, and fitting in with your peers. The story talks about a Korean belief that if you fold 1,000 stars you can make a wish. Each chapter begins with a diagram of how to fold the strips of paper into a star so readers can try it themselves. There was a bit of magical realism (Yuni turning into paper) but in the end it was clear that wasn't actually happening. Great read for younger middle grade readers.

** Review will not post until 8/26/23
My Thoughts:

Yuna is having a middle school identity crisis. With her ultra Korean, conservative family, she does not get to go to sleepovers and she feels like she does not fit in with the other kids in her school because her mom makes her Asian lunch versus a "normal" American lunch. She remembers what her grandmother taught her in Korea about origami folding 1,000 stars to make a wish. But her wish, in a cruel jolt of irony, is granted and her family goes to Korea. The sad thing, though is that she does not fit in there either.

Besides teaching readers how to fold the paper stars, this book is a bittersweet story about grief, acceptance, identity, and holding on to family. If readers read this book, give them Sheets by Brenna Thummler, also a graphic novel around loss and grief. Or if they want to read a novel, give them the just released Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea, which is also about not fitting in, as well as the relationship between a grandmother and a granddaughter.

From the Publisher:
All Yuna wants is to belong. She wants to go to sleepovers, have a smart phone, and go to summer camp―just like her friends in middle school.

Furious at her Umma for never packing her a “normal” American lunch, they get into yet another fight. Out of options and miserable, Yuna remembers a legend that her grandma, Halmoni, told her. If you fold 1,000 paper stars, you will be granted one wish.

When she reaches 1,000 paper stars, Yuna wishes for her family to move back to Korea, where she can finally be normal. Seconds later: a knock at her door. It’s her sister with devastating news. Halmoni has died and they must go back to Korea to attend the funeral.

Yuna knows this is all her fault. As her guilt builds, her body begins to turn into paper. Yuna realizes she must undo her wish and bring her Halmoni back―or turn into paper forever.

Wholly heartbreaking and with light touches of magic realism, A Sky of Paper Stars is a captivating graphic novel about identity, family, and the love that can bridge generations.

Publication Information:
Author/Ilustrator: Susie Yi

Publisher: Roaring Book Press (September 26, 2023)

This was a great, cute story about a first-generation immigrant daughter of Korean parents, her struggles to fit in between two worlds, and her ability to finally embrace her roots. Kids will also be excited to learn about and fold the paper stars with the instructions provided!

Middle school is hard, and feeling like you're different from everyone else doesn't make existence any easier. This graphic novel tenderly explores ideas like identity, and the dissonance many children of immigrant families experience being raised at home in the culture of their parents, while simultaneously growing up in a society immersed in American culture.

Yuna, struggling for acceptance with American classmates, makes a wish to return to South Korea. When her overseas grandmother dies, necessitating a family trip there, Yuna is convinced that she caused her grandmother's death. Magical thinking and grief are portrayed with a great deal of heart. The parents assure her that she wasn't to blame, and the family unites to remember their beloved matriarch. Korean words used, but all is accessible to a non-Korean readership.