The Fold
by An Na
by An Na
THE FOLD by An Na
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 4/10/08
Publisher: Putnam
Reviewed by: Marta Morrison
Rating: 5 Stars
What would you do to be beautiful?
Joyce, the main character of An Na's new book, THE FOLD, is facing that question. Joyce, who is Korean, is going to
be a senior in high school in the fall. Her Aunt Gomo has won some money and has scheduled a surgery to put a fold in
Joyce's eyes.
I wasn't sure what a fold was but I am lucky to have a Mongolian exchange student living with me and she was able to
explain. Solongo, my exchange student, said that she was lucky to have natural lines in her eyelids, but many of her aunts
and cousins do not, and they are very concerned about not having them. It was very interesting and made the book more
accessible for me.
Joyce has a big sister, Helen, who seems to be perfect, and Joyce feels that she is living in her shadow. Joyce also has a
giant crush on a boy in school named John Ford Kang. John doesn't even know that Joyce exists. Joyce thinks that
maybe, if she gets the fold, then John will realize that she is there -- but she really doesn't want to go through the surgery.
The book then deals with this subject from the points of view of many other different characters.
I loved this book. I enjoyed the main characters, Joyce's family is funny, loving, and very open-minded. Gomo is
demanding, but upon hearing her back story she seems to be someone with a very big heart. I enjoyed the scenes at the
Korean church and how everyone knew everyone else's business. This book educated me a little about
Korean-American culture. I was surprised to hear how they want to look European, while I always think that they are
beautiful!
Thank you, An Na, for the wonderful story. I am now going to read your other books.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 4/10/08
Publisher: Putnam
Reviewed by: Marta Morrison
Rating: 5 Stars
What would you do to be beautiful?
Joyce, the main character of An Na's new book, THE FOLD, is facing that question. Joyce, who is Korean, is going to
be a senior in high school in the fall. Her Aunt Gomo has won some money and has scheduled a surgery to put a fold in
Joyce's eyes.
I wasn't sure what a fold was but I am lucky to have a Mongolian exchange student living with me and she was able to
explain. Solongo, my exchange student, said that she was lucky to have natural lines in her eyelids, but many of her aunts
and cousins do not, and they are very concerned about not having them. It was very interesting and made the book more
accessible for me.
Joyce has a big sister, Helen, who seems to be perfect, and Joyce feels that she is living in her shadow. Joyce also has a
giant crush on a boy in school named John Ford Kang. John doesn't even know that Joyce exists. Joyce thinks that
maybe, if she gets the fold, then John will realize that she is there -- but she really doesn't want to go through the surgery.
The book then deals with this subject from the points of view of many other different characters.
I loved this book. I enjoyed the main characters, Joyce's family is funny, loving, and very open-minded. Gomo is
demanding, but upon hearing her back story she seems to be someone with a very big heart. I enjoyed the scenes at the
Korean church and how everyone knew everyone else's business. This book educated me a little about
Korean-American culture. I was surprised to hear how they want to look European, while I always think that they are
beautiful!
Thank you, An Na, for the wonderful story. I am now going to read your other books.