The Last Story of Mina Lee
By Amanda Nojadera,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Heartbreaking mother-daughter tale has lots of violence.
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What's the Story?
Twenty-six-year-old Margot hasn't heard from her mom, Mina, in weeks. When she returns to her childhood home in Los Angeles' Koreatown, she discovers that Mina has mysteriously died. Although the police ruled Mina's death an accident, Margot suspects someone else was involved as details and secrets from Mina's past emerge. She might not have known much about her mom while she was alive, but can she solve THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE?
Is It Any Good?
Nancy Jooyun Kim's heartbreaking tale explores mother-daughter relationships, grief, and the realities of being an immigrant in America. Readers will be captivated by the flashback chapters about Mina, as they learn about her struggles adjusting to life in America, her tragic love story, and the pain and loneliness she's endured throughout the years. Although the writing is often poetic and vividly describes Korean culture, many of the passages are repetitive, making the book move slowly before ending abruptly. However, as Margot digs into her mom's past to solve The Last Story of Mina Lee, readers will see the importance of family, forgiveness, communication, and perseverance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mother-daughter relationships which can be fraught with tension and strong bonds. Do any of the conflicts in The Last Story of Mina Lee sound familiar to you?
Reconciling two different cultures can be challenging for the children of immigrants. Do you have any personal experience with this issue? How do you think a person can find harmony between the culture of your family heritage and the culture of the place you're living in?
How do the characters demonstrate communication and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author: Nancy Jooyoun Kim
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Park Row
- Publication date: September 1, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 16 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 22, 2021
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