Robin Ha – The Hub

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2021) Nominees Round Up, June 9 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Quick Picks nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
Harper Teen / HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-0062685100

In 1995, Robin and her mother move from South Korea to Alabama, U.S.A. Forced from the known into the unknown, Robin is forced to learn a new language, navigate the ins and outs of American high school and share a home with family she has never met before. When things don’t turn out quite the way Robin’s mother had expected, Robin encounters another drastic change in an unexpected second move. Will this one be better than the last?

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2021) Nominees Round Up, April 16 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Great Graphic Novels nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
ISBN: 9780062685100

Chuna Ha is a South Korean girl who finds herself abruptly moved from her comfortable life in Seoul to Alabama once her vacation abroad turns into a new marriage for her mother. When her Mom marries Mr. Kim, Chuna finds herself surrounded by her new Korean American family. At first, Chuna struggles to find common ground with her classmates and has a difficult time learning English. To fit in more, she chooses an American name: Robin. After enrolling in a drawing class, Robin befriends Jessica, another comic book artist. When her mother’s marriage to Mr. Kim is on the rocks, her mother decides to move the two of them to Virginia. This move is close to D.C. and Robin is happy to see lots of international students, including fellow Korean students. As an adult, Robin returns to Seoul to visit with her old school friends and finds that she no longer completely fits in with Korean culture. When she returns to the U.S., she begins to think of her identity as Korean American, as she identifies with both cultures.

Women in Comics: Cooking Comics (with Recipes Included!)

Since I first read Relish by Lucy Knisley, I have been fascinated by comics that integrate cooking and recipes with an engaging story. Though the books on this list are very different from one another, they all share a focus on the joy that can come from food and cooking. Whether you hope to one day be a professional chef or simply enjoy a good meal, these books are sure to nourish the mind as well as the body.

Kitchen Princess, Omnibus Volume 1 cover Space Battle Lunchtime cover Cook Korean cover

Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando and Miyuki Kobayashi – As a child, Najika met a boy who comforted her at her time of need. Now that she is older – and an expert with food – she is on a quest to find him, a quest which takes her all the way to the fancy Seika Academy. Once there, she must use her cooking talents to win over skeptical classmates and find the boy from her childhood. Along the way, she wins a prestigious cooking competition, helps to revitalize a café, tackles difficult topics like eating disorders and learns a lot about her special skills. This manga will appeal to shōjo fans and includes recipes and extras with each volume. Continue reading Women in Comics: Cooking Comics (with Recipes Included!)