Jung, Mike. Unidentified Suburban Object.

Jung, Mike.  Unidentified Suburban Object.  Scholastic/Arthur Levine  2016  265p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-78226-5      ms  Science fiction  VG-BN

The reader begins by thinking that this story is about finding one’s roots.  Chloe is the only Asian-American student in her school.  She is constantly compared to a famous Korean violinist because she is good at the violin and is Korean. Or is she? Her parents will never talk about their childhood in Korea or have anything to do with Korean culture. When Chloe has a school project about family ancestry, this creates a problem. Eventually her father tells her and proves that they are actually aliens from another planet. Chloe’s life crashes in around her until her best friend helps her find perspective. It’s a great coming-of-age story with a twist.

Readers of all backgrounds can associate with Chloe’s feelings and her wish to embrace her past.  The alien twist comes as a shock to the reader, but as her friend gets her to understand, what difference does it make if she is the only Korean student or the only alien?  Girls will love it!                      

Summary: Chloe is searching for identity.  As the only Asian-American student in her school, she wants to know more about her Korean heritage, until her father tells her that they are actually aliens.  This shakes Chloe’s entire foundation. Middle school.         

Family-Fiction, Minorities-Fiction                                                                                        --Joan Theal