Parents' Guide to

Unidentified Suburban Object

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Quirky take on identity is surprising and funny.

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Mike Jung examines how the way we view ourselves is shaped by our understanding of our heritage and how others see us in this sharply funny, genre-bending novel about race, family, and identity. Unidentified Suburban Object vividly portrays how isolated Chloe Cho feels as she tries to connect with a Korean identity her parents reject. The novel takes a hard left turn halfway through that risks alienating some readers, but the payoff is an emotionally honest roller coaster trip with Chloe. She's justifiably angry and bitter over her parents' betrayal and feels more adrift than ever. She reinforces her sense of isolation by cutting herself off from everyone she's cared about, diving into fiction for clues to find a path forward. That path includes a touch of humility, a deeper understanding of close relationships, and a cliffhanger ending that suggests a sequel is in store. That's great news, because Chloe's journey seems to be just beginning.

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