Asian Pacific American Lit- BEHIND THE MASK

Bibliographic Data

Choi, Yangsook. 2006. Behind the Mask. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 9780374305222

Brief Plot Summary

It’s Halloween and Kimin’s mother suggests that he looks through his grandfather’s trunk for a costume. Kimin has a bad memory of his grandfather leaning over the trunk wearing a frightening mask. Since then his grandfather passed and he is hesitant to look through the trunks. When he finally does he triumphantly decides to honor him and wear the costume. He shares his own version of his grandfather’s dancing with his friends and shows them the contents of the trunk honoring not only his grandfather, but his culture.

Critical Analysis

Although this is a Halloween story the plot is more so about closure after loss and appreciating Korean culture and Korean-American identity. The plot is strong and so is the characterization which is what we seek in Asian Pacific American literature. This book is subtle in that Choi lets the illustrations talk to us. Character depictions are respectful and deep. It is the kind of story that will make readers smile and even choke up.

Contextual clues from the text and illustrations reveal that this is a Korean-American story. Kimin has a Korean name. He does not speak Korean and has to ask the meaning of some words from his mother. He is an American. One of the characteristics to look for in evaluating Asian Pacific American literature is that it takes place in the United States and recognizes that Asian Americans live in here.

Kimin recounts a memory of spending time with his grandfather in Korea. Readers know this because of the illustration. They see the roofline of the house outside the window. Characters of another language cover a rice paper partition. The table is low so that Kimin’s grandfather kneels before it. We know that the story takes place in contemporary America because of the houses in illustrations. He is seen celebrating Halloween by treat or treating, dressing up, and ringing doorbells.

The cover and a few pages of the book feature untranslated words in Korean. The letter to Kimin is in Korean and his mother tells everyone what it says. The other children are fascinated by this and the other things Kimin shares with them about his grandfather (and the Korean culture). They enjoy his dancing while he wears his grandfather’s costume and eagerly explore the contents of his grandfather’s trunk.

In Choi’s illustrations we see several cultural markers. Kimin’s skin tone is tan. He has black hair and higher eyebrows. His eyes are almond shaped. His family wears contemporary American style of clothing. The homes depicted have large yards with landscaped grass and trees. A jack-o’-lantern sits on his windowsill. This is an accurate and respectful depiction of a Korean-American family.

Best Books

Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007 Bank Street College of Education

Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007 H.W. Wilson

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2007 National Council for the Social Studies

Review Excerpt(s)

“Quiet and well crafted, the story manages some subtle emotional shifts as well as the smooth weaving of one tradition into another.” -Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, Oct. 15, 2006 (Vol. 103, No. 4))

“A unique look at Halloween, this is a comforting story about death and some of the traditions of Korean culture.” -Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 18)

Connections

Yangsook Choi’s official website: http://www.yangsookchoi.com/

Interview by Paper Tigers.org: http://www.papertigers.org/interviews/archived_interviews/ychoi.html 

Other books by Yangsook Choi:

Peach Heaven

This Next New Year

Nim and the War Effort

The Name Jar