One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian.On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that … mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.
Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she’s a girl named Kay Nakamura–and Yumi doesn’t correct them.
As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.
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Book Review: Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim (2020) (Middle Grade) (Fiction) 4 Stars ****
Cute, sassy, eleven-year-old Yumi Chung has a dream to become a stand-up comedian. Problem? Living in the shadow of a perfect older sister, her Korean parents want her to do something important and high-level with her life, giving them bragging rights in their community. Set in Los Angeles, California, Yumi is torn between the traditional values her parents are trying very hard to instill, and her desire to be a modern American girl.
Yumi has a busy life. She helps out every day at her parents’ Korean Barbecue Restaurant but busy has taken a sudden turn for the worse. “Ever since the new luxury high-rise condos went up all over Koreatown, foot traffic into our family restaurant has all but stopped. Dad blames the new people for hogging all the parking spots, driving up the rent, not supporting small businesses, and probably even causing global warming.”
Family money is tight, so Yumi is told she must study hard to win a scholarship to continue at Winston, her prestigious private school. Her parents enroll her in a three hour a day, five days a week study class to prepare for the SSAT test which she must ace with at least ninety-eighth percentile for her academic scholarship. Yumi is ambivalent about the school since the wealthy kids tease her about smelling like barbecued meat, giving her the nickname Yu-meat. As luck would have it, Yumi discovers The HaHa Club where a famous stand-up comedian is running classes for kids. With a case of mistaken identity working in her favor, Yumi attends these classes, learns to overcome her shyness and self-consciousness and attains her dream, rescuing her family’s business on the way. The only failure is not trying.
Yes, Yumi wins the scholarship but she’s now happy about it. “Even I’m surprised that Winston no longer scares me. After scheming the entire summer to get out of returning, I realize that it wasn’t Winston itself that was holding me back. It was my fear of it. I imagine myself walking through Winston’s halls, and I know this year will be different because I’m not the same person I was last year. I’m ready to be heard. And I don’t need to go to a new school for that, because no matter where I go, I’m still going to get my new beginning, my fresh start. As the True Me.”
What I found surprising and disturbing about this book, is how easily Yumi and her sister lied to their parents about their whereabouts and pastimes. I don’t believe most parents would appreciate this quality in book characters, especially since there are no consequences for their actions. A guilt trip, reprimand, or punishment would probably help to make the case that ambitions are fine, but lying is not.
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Being your true self can be tough, but with guts, gumption, and a whole lot of heart, Yumi Chung rises to the challenge and shows us all who she really is — a bona fide star.
A funny, tender story about family, friendship, and the courage to be yourself!
I adored this book! Like, I seriously hugged it when I was done. This is quintessential middle grade — charming, funny, real, and overflowing with heart.
This book is my favorite combination of heartfelt and hilarious. Yumi Chung is a headliner!
Come for the puns, the laughs, and the wacky plot of mistaken identity, but it’s the bighearted characters that take center stage in Stand Up, Yumi Chung!