A Sky of Paper Stars

A Korean American tween grapples with the ill-fated consequences of a wish in Yi’s tear-jerking speculative debut, a graphic novel loosely inspired by her experiences. Yuna wishes she fit in more with her American classmates; worried that eating traditional Korean foods will separate her further from her peers, she throws away the lunches that her mother packs for her. In a flashback rendered in monochromatic blues, Yuna recalls making paper stars with her grandmother, Halmoni, who tells Yuna that if she gathers 1,000 paper stars in a jar, she can make a wish on them that will come true. In full-color present-day, after Yuna finishes making the thousandth star, she wishes for her relatives to go back to Korea so that “our family could be normal.” The next day, she learns that Halmoni has died and that Yuna’s family must leave for Korea. Believing she caused her grandmother’s death, Yuna—who has begun transforming into paper—determines to make another wish to bring Halmoni back. Expressive faces and stout figures paired with a soft color palette economically showcase Yuna’s struggle with grief and identity as she learns more about her family’s roots in this heartfelt story. An author’s note concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kathleen Ortiz, KO Media Management. (Sept.)