Book Review: Kay's Lucky Coin Variety by Ann Y.K. Choi

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I won this book from the author. She is a Canadian author. The book takes place in Toronto which is where I was born and raised. ~~~~ Mary - named Yu-Rhee at birth - is a Korean girl growing up with her brother and parents above the family convenience store on Queen Street West. It takes place in the 1980's. Caught between two cultures, she struggles to make her parents understand that what she really wants is to be Canadian. When Mary's secret passion for her English teacher is threatened by her mother's matchmaking with a promising Korean suitor, she imagines escaping to Europe. But events soon escalate, catching the entire family in a web of deceit. Can Mary's dreams survive in the face of cultural divides and racism? This poignant coming-of-age story explores the struggle immigrant families face as they sacrifice so much to offer their children opportunity. The author captures the unspoken bonds between women - mothers, daughters, best friends, aunts - whose love for one another crosses generations and continents. ~~~~ Obviously I could not relate to these characters at all, but my eyes were opened to what immigrants face when coming to a different country, as well as the Korean cultures. The details the author chose to include from cities outside of Toronto (including my own rural town where I live now), and the description of The University of Toronto and Queen's Park were magnificent. I grew up in Toronto so this story was so close to home for me. Nothing fictional about the streets and downtown and K-Town (Korea Town). It is refreshing to read a novel that is so accurate in the places and customs, family values, and growing up an immigrant in the big city of Toronto. The mention of certain places did not move the story along - Hamilton, Brampton, Orangeville, Queen's Park, the Canada Life Building - they were merely shoutouts to real places in a fictional novel. The story seemed a bit slow to start for me, but the short chapters made it easier to push through the story. I am really glad I did. There were so many message here. I really enjoyed this.