Girls for Breakfast by David Yoo

ISBN: 978-0-385-73192-8
Delacorte Press, NY
2005
294 pages

Plot Summary

Nick Park has two problems; one he started liking girls way before any of his friends - he became fascinated with Miss January in Playboy magazine when he was only nine, and he's Korean - or at least an American of Korean descent - who hates Koreans and Korean food. He has always had problems keeping friends and by the time he gets to high school he realizes it's because he's the only Asian at his Connecticut school.

Critical Evaluation

This look at a Korean-American boy coming-of-age is told with humor but also with a tinge of sadness because the prejudice is often coming from within - Nick doesn't accept himself - in fact, he's a banana - white on the inside and yellow outside. The story may be partly autobiographical - the author doesn't say but ...Girls for Breakfast is well-written but a little confusing because it's ultimately unclear why Nick remains unpopular. We're left to ponder if race does play a major part in his school and community.

Reader's Annotation

Nick Park loves girls but why don't they want to go out with him? One major problem is that he never gets around to actually asking anyone for a date.

Author Info

This is David Yoo's first novel. He graduated from Skidmore College and earned his MA from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He lives in Massachusetts and loves the music of the Clash, the movie Repo Man and steak burritos. He plays adult soccer and teaches fiction at the Gotham Writers' Workshop. He obviously has a great sense of humor!

Genre

YA coming-of-age

No Curriculum Ties

Booktalking Ideas

1. Nick finally comes to the realization that he can't keep friends because he's the only Asian kid in his school. Is that the real reason? Are the kids that racist?

2. Nick's best friend from the time they were eight has been his neighbor Will? Why does Nick decide not to be friends with Will any more?

Reading/ Interest Level

High school for both

Challenge Issues and Defense

sexual situations, partying, underage drinking, inappropriate language

realistic high school situations

Library's collection development policy

Book jacket says that best for age after 14

Rave reviews from bestselling authors Tom Perrotta and Rachel Cohn and the book was a Booksense Pick and a NYPL Book for the Teenage.

Why I Included This Book

Loved the "banana" analogy, looked interesting, and the book jacket is fabulous!