Why does she have that kind of attitude? What made her that way? Is the story going to explain why she’s got that attitude? I wonder where I could get a pair of sunglasses like hers?Īnd the novel answered all of that (excepting the sunglasses question, ofcourse). After I got over my stylish front cover fetish, I noticed the Asian-looking girl with that don’t-mess-with-me-or-else attitude and a couple questions crossed my mind. Ridiculous enough, I was attracted to Since You Asked… mainly because the bright colors and font of the cover instantly caught my attention. In this hilarious debut, Maurene Goo takes a fresh look at trying to fit in without conforming to what’s considered “normal” in high school and how to manage parental expectations without losing one’s individuality…or being driven insane. Can she survive homecoming, mean-girl cliques, jocks, secret admirers, Valentine’s Day, and other high school embarrassments, all while struggling to balance her family’s traditional Korean values?

When she accidentally submits an article that rips everyone to shreds, she gets her own column and rants her way through the school year.

Ages 12 up.No, no one asked, but Holly Kim will tell you what she thinks anyway.įifteen-year-old Holly Kim is the copy editor for her high school’s newspaper. Nonetheless, Goo capably demonstrates the pressures and expectations Holly is under, and that a sense of humor is valuable for dealing with both. Because the story moves so quickly through the school year, the minor dramas surrounding Homecoming, Holly's family's Christmas trip to Las Vegas, a secret admirer, and other occasions come and go without making much of an impact. Instead of getting in trouble, Holly is offered a monthly column, and her sardonic dispatches give Goo's novel its structure. Holly is also the copyeditor at the school newspaper, and after she jokingly edits a classmate's column about the new school year (turning it from sappy to sarcastic), Holly's version is accidentally printed. Fifteen-year-old Holly Kim is the headstrong daughter of Korean immigrants, and she regularly butts heads with her mother, who is forever on her case about keeping her grades up and being a respectful member of the family. Goo debuts with a drily funny account of a teenager who feels like an outsider in her high school, family, and society in general.

Since you asked maurene goo