Finding Junie Kim

The novel includes an emphasis on realistic representations of Korean food, language, and customs. Books 2 and 4 are important in establishing this motif, which provides context and a connection to her Korean ancestry by helping her to assume a greater sense of belonging and acceptance within her Korean family. This motif is also an important element of the cultural realism that positions Ellen Oh’s novels within the context of the We Need Diverse Books mission and organization. Jinjoo and Doha’s stories provide cultural-historical context for the Korean War, but the setting plays an important role in normalizing depictions of Korean culture through details such as the types of foods sold at the local market in Incheon and the smells and texture of the Korean dishes the characters enjoy describing when food is available. These details highlight the shortages the characters experienced during the war and help familiarize second-generation Korean Americans with these aspects of Korean culture.

Important to this realistic depiction of Korean culture is the ubiquity of Korean terms and patterns for naming. Oh weaves these elements seamlessly into Books 2 and 4 without calling unnecessary attention to them, marking these elements as commonplace.