Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A grieving Korean American teen accesses forbidden magic and must contend with the spine-tingling results in this chilling YA debut by Yun (Some Are Always Hungry, for adults). Seven years after 17-year-old Soojin Han's mother died in a car accident, the drowning of Soojin's older sister Mirae leaves the teen alone with her grief as her father travels for work. When the loneliness grows too intense, Soojin uses her family's magic to resurrect Mirae, disregarding previous warnings that she never use necromancy to reanimate anything larger than a small animal. Soojin's joy at their reunion is short-lived: Mirae doesn't remember her own name and seems plagued by a mournful bitterness, while Soojin struggles to recover from the physical and mental backlash of the powerful magic. Suddenly, their largely white coastal home of Jade Acre is beset by relentless rain and flooding, and drowned corpses begin mysteriously appearing throughout town. Soojin must now choose between keeping her sister by her side or saving the rest of her community in this grisly tale, which triumphs in its depiction of sisterhood and grief. Lyrical prose renders meaningful, tear-jerking sequences and propulsive horror alongside frank examinations of the cycles of generational trauma. Ages 14--up. Agent: Serene Hakim and Annie Hwang, Ayesha Pande Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--When 17-year-old Soojin's sister Mirae drowns, Soojin knows better than to use her magic to bring her back from the dead. Regardless, her grief gets the best of her, and she proceeds with her necromancy only to find that maybe it wasn't such a good idea. This dark novel is not only creepy but also has strong themes of grief, resurrection, and friendship. When Mirae returns to the small town of Jade Acre, she is not the same, and resurrection takes on a new meaning as the past and old truths resurface as she seeks revenge. Beautifully written, Yun's prose is lyrical; the book brings readers into the grieving process which Soojin and her father must experience more than once. Yun whisks slower pacing with action that will allow teens to reflect on the decision made. Yun does not allow the plot to spiral out of control; instead, she writes with intention as if she is no stranger to grief. Soojin represents learning to live with grief with the help of the other characters like her father and good friend, Mark. Main characters are Korean American who interact with predominantly white secondary characters. Yun includes plenty of references to Korean culture through food and language. VERDICT Yun's intent to help readers live with grief is well-executed as she reminds readers of the importance of facing it. Recommended.--Karen Alexander
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Women in Soojin Han's family can raise the dead. Korean American Soojin and her sister, Mirae, have typically used their powers to revive roadkill or (on multiple occasions) their family's beloved pet rat; their mother warned her young daughters against raising humans, citing a tragic example from an ancestor who broke the rules. Seven years ago, Soojin and Mirae's mother was killed in a car crash, and their bereaved father was emotionally unequipped to handle 10-year-old Soojin and 11-year-old Mirae, leaving parentified Mirae to take care of her sister. But now that Mirae has suddenly died as well in a drowning accident, Soojin decides bringing her back is worth the risk. Soojin is too thrilled to be reunited with her sister to notice the disturbing hints that something isn't quite right, from the mildewy rot Mirae leaves in her wake to the dark bruises appearing on Soojin's own skin and the mysterious attacks on some of the town's powerful residents. In her debut novel, Yun uses foreshadowing and alternating third-person limited perspectives to great effect, slowly unfolding mysteries from Soojin's mother's past through poetic, descriptive prose that never feels overwrought. The girls live in the predominantly white coastal tourist town of Jade Acre, which evokes Northern California. Korean language, food, and culture enrich this winning story of sisterhood, self-reflection, and moving on. A beautifully written, grief-filled tale that's equal parts creepy and heart-wrenching.(Horror. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
