Friday, November 13, 2020

11.13.2020 KPOP CONFIDENTIAL By Stephan Lee - Scholastic Books

 


Hello Friends! I am super excited to showcase a book today, that I absolutely enjoyed reading and have consumed me for the past few days - I am so delighted to have come across this fun book and a book that brought back the trip I took to Seoul and Busan last spring for the cherry blossom season. It reminded me how I loved the Korean culture, the food, the bustling city, the vibe and of course, KPOP. 

Check this book out, I highly recommend it!

ISBN-13 : 978-1338639933
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1338639935
Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.05 x 8 inches
Publisher : Point (September 15, 2020)

Candace Park knows a lot about playing a role. For most of her life, she's been playing the role of the quiet Korean girl who takes all AP classes and plays a classical instrument, keeping her dreams of stardom-and her obsession with SLK, K-pop's top boyband-to herself. She doesn't see how a regular girl like her could possibly become one of those K-pop goddesses she sees on YouTube. Even though she can sing. Like, really sing.


So when Candace secretly enters a global audition held by SLK's music label, the last thing she expects is to actually get a coveted spot in their trainee program. And convincing her strict parents to let her to go is all but impossible ... although it's nothing compared to what comes next.

Under the strict supervision of her instructors at the label's headquarters in Seoul, Candace must perfect her performance skills to within an inch of her life, learn to speak Korean fluently, and navigate the complex hierarchies of her fellow trainees, all while following the strict rules of the industry. Rule number one? NO DATING, which becomes impossible to follow when she meets a dreamy boy trainee. And in the all-out battle to debut, Candace is in danger of planting herself in the middle of a scandal lighting up the K-pop fandom around the world.

If she doesn't have what it takes to become a perfect, hair-flipping K-pop idol, what will that mean for her family, who have sacrificed everything to give her the chance? And is a spot in the most hyped K-pop girl group of all time really worth risking her friendships, her future, and everything she believes in?




MY REVIEW:

KPOP Confidential a debut novel by Stephan Lee is a completely addictive read I loved that I could not put down. It is a beautiful and well written YA novel that is centered upon the beauty of the Korean culture, following your heart and your dreams, family and friendship, and of course KPop.

The story is about Candace Park, a Korean American from New Jersey raised by her traditional parents who came to America from Seoul who are now convenience store owners. Forced to take on viola despite her love for singing and composing music, she learns to instead “air bow” or fake play the viola, and then secretly trying out for the next all-girl kpop group. Her vocal talent is enough to land her a summer training program in Seoul.

Kpop Confidential exposes the true cost of being a superstar from the glamorous exterior to the harsh realities of the competition between young teens who had been in training all their lives.

What is revealed next is the rigorous and intense program of strict diet, dancing and singing training, 4 hours of sleep, bleeding feet, no contact with family, Korean language intensive, and the extreme lengths of transforming and becoming a worldwide sensation.

With the perfect blend of poignant and hilarious, you will fall in love with the story, the culture, and the characters.

Whether you know kpop or not, this is a wonderful novel that will definitely diversify your read, and for sure increase your Korean vocabulary too. I guarantee it!

Daebak! Amazing I really enjoyed this book.

I highly recommend!


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:


Stephan Lee is a YA enthusiast, ardent K-Pop fan and journalist. He currently works as an Associate Director at Bustle after a five-year stretch at Entertainment Weekly. At EW, he wrote features and reviews and once traveled to Seoul to write a feature about Korean entertainment's world domination. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing at The New School and is also working on his debut novel for adults.

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