One Hundred Shadows

Intertwining harsh economic realities with spooky supernatural hauntings, Jungeun’s sweet, magical realist debut follows Eungyo and Mujae, workers at two different shops in the same rundown shopping area. The pair struggle to keep control of their lives as, without explanation, people’s shadows start trying to rise up and run away and notices of demolitions and shop closures plague their places of business. In the face of these threats, Eungyo and Mujae take comfort in each other, bonding through nighttime adventures in badminton and the search for good clam soup. Jungeun smartly skewers gentrification through Eungyo’s sly naivete (“I wonder if they call this kind of place a slum because if you called it someone’s home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down”). Even as the clam soup soothes, readers will also take heart from the central couple’s fearless walks after dark, hand in hand, singing. This offers much to chew on. Agent: Chiara Tognetti, Chiara Tognetti Rights. (Aug.)