Paula Yoo

I'm a published book author/novelist, TV drama writer, and musician (violin). I specialize in writing young adult novels and children's picture books. I am represented by The Writers House literary agency for my books, and by CAA for my TV writing.
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CHECK OUT MY OTHER WEBSITES:
Here is my music myspace page:
http://myspace.com/paulayooviolin
And check out this band I played with called Random AOK:
http://myspace.com/randomaofk
Here is my publisher's link to my debut award-winning children's picture book, "SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY" (Lee & Low Books, 2005)
http://www.leeandlow.com/books/sixteen.html
Here is my publisher's website (HarperCollins) for my debut Young Adult novel "GOOD ENOUGH" out in stores this December 2007:
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/

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MY PUBLISHED BOOKS:
- "GOOD ENOUGH" by Paula Yoo (HarperCollins, Winter 2007; Young Adult Novel)
- "SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY" By Paula Yoo and illustrated by Dom Lee (Lee & Low Books, 2005; children's non-fiction picture book)
- "SHOOTING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY" By Paula Yoo, illustrator TBD (Lee & Low Books, 2009; children's non-fiction picture book)
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AWARDS/BOOK REVIEWS FOR "GOOD ENOUGH" (YA Novel, HARPERCOLLINS Feb. 5, 2008):
-- 2009 Nomination for ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults award
- BOOKLIST (Nov. 17, 2007): Yoo follows her picture-book biography Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story (2005), with a funny, contemporary first novel about a high-achieving high-school senior who struggles between her Korean parents’ expectations and her growing desire to shape her own future. Patti, a self-described “B-tier violin prodigy” and class valedictorian, recounts her senior year, in which her first deep crush is a powerful distraction from college applications and her parents’ stringent requirements for a “P.K.D.” (Perfect Korean Daughter). Like the best comic writers, Yoo uses humor to illuminate painful experiences: “Why does Susan get to be called . . . dork or geek but I always get called Jap or Chink or gook?” Patti wonders. “I’d take geek over gook any day.” The frequent lists (“How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy”), SAT questions, and even spam recipes are, like Patti’s convincing narration, filled with laugh-out-loud lines, but it’s the deeper questions about growing up with immigrant parents, confronting racism, and how best to find success and happiness that will stay with readers.— Gillian Engberg
- BOOKLIST Feature story, "Core Collection: Math in Fiction" by Stpehanie Zvirin (Dec. 1, 2007): Whether it’s used to figure out a grade point or a batting average, track the trajectory of a golf swing, or determine how many miles per gallon a car will get, math is everywhere, so it’s surprising that it appears so rarely in fiction for young readers. The titles below are a few exceptions; they present math in a variety of different ways—as annoyance, entertaining pastime, unusual way to think about love, or stability on the rocky ridge of adulthood. With numbers, so clean and precise, there’s usually an answer to be had. Books without grade levels were published as adult titles but are suggested for older teen readers.
- BOOKLIST FEATURE: Good Enough. By Paula Yoo. Feb. 2008. HarperTeen, $16.99 (9780060790851). Gr. 10–12. A brilliant high-school senior getting ready for college, Patti works diligently on solving problems on the math practice tests for the SATs, which her parents want her to ace. But new classmate-musician Ben Wheeler distracts her, and suddenly Patti finds herself applying math formulas to her relationship with him.
- KIRKUS REVIEWS: Patti knows that the only thing harder than calculus, or maybe mastering the cadenza from the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, is being a PKD, a Perfect Korean Daughter. The PKD achieves great grades, shines at extracurriculars and is devoted to her church but never complains or brags. Most important, the PKD never questions her parents' pushing her to get into Harvard, Yale and Princeton and become a doctor or a lawyer. Though witty, linguistically gifted Patti has a number of academic talents, her greatest joy is playing the violin. She knows she's not supposed to rock the Harvard/Yale/Princeton boat but, encouraged by her violin teacher, she applies to Juilliard. Now her dilemma is not her SAT scores or her grades, but how to hide her desire to attend music school from her academically oriented parents. The Clash, a jam session and a new boy at school encourage Patti to break from her PKD shell and see her social life and violin studies in new ways. Teens living through the pressure of college applications and questioning their futures will sympathize with Patti in this enjoyable, funny but not superficial read, which bears many similarities to Alex Flinn's Diva (2006). (Fiction. YA) School Library Journal review Feb. 1, 2008
-- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Feb. 1, 2008): YOO, Paula. Good Enough. 336p. CIP. HarperTeen. Feb. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-079085-1; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-079086-8. LC 2007002985. Gr 7 Up—If Patti Yoon's life were like the multiple-choice SAT questions she studies for, it might look like this: During Patti's senior year she decides to a) Make her Korean parents happy and go to HYP (Harvard, Yale, or Princeton), b) Go behind her parents' backs and apply to Juilliard, c) Quit studying and become infatuated with a trumpet player who listens to The Clash, d) Eat Korean food made with Spam (recipes included) and be the PKD (perfect Korean daughter), or e) All of the above. Patti would pick E, but life isn't a multiple-choice test, so she has to decide among these choices while trying not to stand out as an overachiever (standing out is a no-no for a PKD). Yoo will have teens wondering if Patti can ever measure up, and how she will survive the pressure and heartbreak of her senior year. Short chapters, the teen's funny occasional SAT tips, and her top-10 lists make this a good options for reluctant readers.—Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA
-- KLIATT BOOK REVIEW: Patti Yoon is expecting to be named to the Connecticut All State High School Orchestra first chair All-State Concertmaster for the fourth year in a row when she instead meets Cute Trumpet Guy. Hormones kick in, fluster follows and all she can think about are the green-olive eyes of Cute Trumpet Guy. Although Patti makes the orchestra, she is not first concertmaster as she had hoped or as her parents had expected. She is caught in between expectations--the expectations she sets for herself and the expectations her parents have set for her. She loves music, her father loves math. As she muddles through the year, she keeps lists: lists of how to make her parents happy, study tips for the SAT, how to succeed at college interviews and recipes for her mother's Korean Spam meals. Patti's love of music grows and expands in more diverse ways along with her interest in Cute Trumpet Guy, Ben Wheeler, who turns out to be the new guy in her high school class. Her friendship with him helps Patti develop more independence and confidence. But the friendship also leads her into disobeying her parents by going out with him when she is supposed to be with her church youth group. Caught between cultures, Patti must also learn to navigate her own dreams and aspirations alongside the expectations of others. The author reflects on the hard lessons of adolescence--maneuvering between childhood and adulthood and developing a sense of self--with humor and authenticity. Age Range: Ages 12 to 15. REVIEWER: Janis Flint-Ferguson (Vol. 42, No. 1)
-- FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: Patty's immigrant parents expect her to be a “P.K.D” (perfect Korean daughter), which means that between AP classes, violin, church and Ivy League applications, Patty gets little time—and less encouragement—to figure out what she wants for herself. When she develops a crush on a new boy and forms a friendship with him, her romantic feelings go unrequited but he does show her to think more broadly, encouraging her to take her violin teacher's advice and apply to Juilliard (her parents insist there is “no security in music”). While Patty is full-out nerdy, she has a great sense of humor, shown through interludes in which she posits her dilemmas as SAT questions or lists “how not to be a P.K.D.”: “Instead of translating Vergil's Aeneid you spend two hours talking on the phone with Susan about how cute Ben is.” Yoo (The Sammy Lee Story) writes with particular fluency of Patty's love of music. Readers will appreciate, too, that the author does not demonize Patty's high-pressure parents: they may bark “HarvardYalePrinceton” at her but their love is never in doubt. An overneat ending doesn't significantly detract from a funny story that will hit home for many readers. Ages 12-up. (Feb.)
- A book review from http://slayground.livejournal.com/tag/reviews
Good Enough by Paula Yoo December 25th, 2007 (01:27 pm) Tags: books, reviews Current Mood: silly Current Song: Without a Trace score music 4 Good Enough by Paula Yoo is the fantastic and funny story of Patti, a Korean-American girl dealing with her parents' expectations and restrictions (Get good grades! Don't date boys! Get into HarvardYalePrinceton!) during her senior year of high school.Patti is an impressive student and an honored violinist. If only she could celebrate her musical talent herself, on her own terms. Her parents think it's a just another way to get into college, and that prevents her from considering it a true talent. That is, until she meets a trumpet player who makes her think twice about the life her parents have planned out for her and starts thinking for herself.Good Enough is not about rebelling against your parents, nor breaking the rules. It's about knowing that it's okay to question the rules and to have your own beliefs and dreams.This book is seriously funny. Don't misunderstand me - the book does not rely on jokes and punchlines, and Patti is not a comedienne. The book is funny because it's true. It relates events that are humiliating when they happen but hilarious in retrospect. It takes SAT problems and applies them to Patti's everyday life. There's plenty of math and music humor mixed in with test prep, church meetings, and college applications. The short chapters are supplemented with footnotes, Spam recipes, and quirky chapter titles, such as How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy. I have read passages out loud to customers. The writing is witty and fun without compromising the reality of Patty's situation. Seriously funny.Good Enough will definitely appeal to fans of Michele Jaffe's Bad Kitty, Maureen Johnson's Girl at Sea, and Justina Chen Headley's Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies).As I read the book, I thought of one of my regular customers who has a lot in common with the protagonist. The next day, she came into the store and I read a passage out loud to her. She immediately declared, "It's like the story of my life! What is it?!" I let her borrow the book, and, despite her heavy homeworkload, she read it in two days. It was, indeed, the story of her life. Well, except for the part about the trumpet player, but definitely the school life and home life - even the recipes involving Spam.Good Enough is due out in February 2008.
-- A blogger review by Sarah Park from http://readingspark.blogspot.com/ GOOD ENOUGH - my new favorite YA novel!O. M. G.I feel like I haven't read a really good young adult novel since I took YA Literature last spring with Loretta Gaffney. AHHHHH Paula Yoo's first YA novel, Good Enough, (HarperCollins Feb 2008) totally blew my socks off. Patti is a high school senior with perfect grades and perfect helicopter parents. Although my parents weren't as overbearing as hers, much of the story (including all the SPAM references!) totally resonated with me. My brother and I were expected to perform well in school, be obedient, don't ask questions, be an officer/leader in every club/organization/team, attend church diligently, hang out with good kids, become a doctor and/or lawyer (or marry one, as Patti says), and live happily ever after. Well, neither my brother nor I became a doctor or lawyer (or married one) but I think we're all living happily ever after anyway, and our parents are pretty happy with us too. They tell us (now) that they want us to be happy and be with people who make us happy. And doing just that - being happy - seems like an elusive dream for Patti as she struggles with what is happiness and what is success, and can the two ever be the same? Like a good story, the ending of Good Enough is not neatly tied up but rather leaves open the possibilities for Patti to choose her own path to happiness.
- Advance Reader Reviews from HarperTeen's "First Look" Program at http://www.harperteen.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/boo k_xml.asp?isbn=0060790857
Patti Yoo is an average Korean American teenager with overpowering parents and a gift for music. This amusing book would be great for the nerd-at-heart, the musician, or even the romantic. While not action-packed or thrilling, this book would make a great addition to your library if you're searching for some good natured fun. --Juliana (Greensboro, NC)
Paula Yoo captures the struggle of a sweet, witty, high school girl who only wants to please her parents. While Patti's obedience is commendable—with a full load of AP classes, impeccable test scores, and her college "hook" of violin playing—readers can see that Patti's happiness takes a backseat to making her parents proud. A lot of overachieving high school students are in the same position as Patti, and I think Good Enoughgives readers some perspective on what is really important in life. What's the point of being the best if you are not happy with what you do? Living life with a passion is much more important that being able to brag that you were accepted into “HarvardYalePrinceton”. Patti really grows up over the course of the book, and I am so happy to see her finally stand up for herself and live her life on her own terms. --Amber (Naperville, IL)
Good Enough by Paula Yoo is one of the best young adult fiction books I've read in a long time. Yoo's clear and enjoyable writing combines a mixture of the mathematics, music, and Korean traditions which define who the main character, Patti Yoon, really is. One doesn't have to be Korean (I am not), nor play the violin (I cannot) or understand complicated mathematical equations (of which I certainly do not) to feel empathy for Patti as she struggles to find her own sense of self apart from her peers and her parents. Yoo's story starts at the turning point in Patti's life where the socially awkward, but incredibly talented violinist must make realistic choices about her future and in the process discovers who she really is. My favorite aspect of Patti's character was how at the beginning of the story, she hides her love for the fictional British boy band, Jet Pack. Later, even after Patti has discovered retro-punk music, she still doesn't stop liking Jet Pack. I think its one way Yoo shows that although Patti might grow and accept outside influences, there are certain elements of her character that will always be with her. Good Enough wasn't a teen fairy tale where the ugly duckling turns into a swan and marries the prince. It was better than that—it was a story where the ugly duckling discovers she doesn't need to hide who she really is from anyone in her life. And that is what will make her beautiful in the end. --Jessica (Buffalo, NY)
This book was excellent. It describes another side of a family, like the Koreans. They always want their kids to be the best, just like Patti in the book. Patti plays the violin and is very talented at it and wants to apply to Julliard. However, he parents strive for her to apply to all of the Ivy Leagues. She feels that she is never good enough for her parents and thinks maybe for a change that she wants to do something that makes her happy. This is a very powerful book and sends a good message to kids saying that whatever decisions you make, it should come from your heart. --Lisa (Chicago, IL)
Good Enough is a great book. It's about an average teenage girl with a not so average life. She has to go through all the struggles in a girl's life plus some added on that aren't so average. I think this is a great book that everyone should read. --Emily (Forked River, NJ)
Good Enough is by far one of the best books I've read all year. The main character, Patti Yoon, is immediately likeable, reliable and a fresh voice in teen lit. Paula Yoo writes with a witty, fun voice and I love seeing a smart girl triumph! I look forward to Yoo's next book. --Jessica (Tallahassee, FL)
This book was very easy to relate to! The main character, Patti, was very realistic and had very realistic problems. The recipes in the book added another touch of realism, which was very nice. I would recommend to any high school person who thinks he or she has too much on their plate! --Kylie (Superior, CO)
Good Enough is a wonderful novel highlighting the teenaged Asian American experience. Patti's struggles to balance her parents' expectations, her first love, and her love of music will resonate with anyone who's ever been torn between what's safe and what you truly want. --Vernieda (Springfield, VA)
The minute I read the back of Good Enough, I pushed away my other books and started it. It ended up being the first book in months that I read in one sitting. Maybe the thing about this book that kept me so intrigued was how closely I related to this book. From the bragging parents, to the tiring Chinese cuisine each night, to the pressure to succeed, to playing the violin, to my parents' disapproval in dating, etc. I appreciate so much the reality of Patti's life. She seems so real—every thought that goes through her mind, every revelation. The way that Paula Yoo wrote this book makes me feel like Patti is me, for a little while. It was written so accurately from a Korean teenager's point of view that you can't help but believe that a little part of a real Patti is somewhere hiding between the covers. On top of all that, the humor in the book is subtle but achingly funny, and the hole that she digs for herself is as deep as can be. Now, my brain is exhausted from reading for so long, but if a sequel suddenly popped up beside me, I'd toss everything else aside and dive in. --CHARLOTTE (HOOVER, AL)
I loved this book, and after I read it I re-read it a few more times. It is wound with humor, romance, teen angst and a great story line. Fans of "Gilmore Girls" would love this book because Patti reminds readers so much of Lane Kim. I would recommend this book to anyone, violinists, romantics or people who just want a good laugh. --Carly (St. Petersburg, FL)
Though I expected this book to be a traditional teen angst story, I was surprisingly pleased to find this charming story about a teen just trying to balance who her parents want her to be with her own dreams. Patti is passionate about the violin, but her parents see it as an "in", something to study until she gets into an Ivy League school. After that, the violin is no longer important to them. However, it's everything to Patti, and she wants to at least consider Juilliard as an option. Of course, she can't tell her parents that. They've made so many sacrifices for her already. She can't appear ungrateful. At the same time, Patti has found a guy who shares her passion for music and likes to jam with her. She never expected to be noticed by such a perfect specimen, and yet he seems to seek her out. Should she tell him how she really feels? Between balancing the pressures put on her by her parents, her Korean church, and herself, Patti manages to endear herself to the readers. Yoo's multi-genre approach to storytelling (she weaves recipes and lists into her narrative) adds to this delightful book. Young adults are going to love this one. I sure did. --Melinda (Duluth, GA)
-From Common Sense Media website: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Good-Enough.htm lc
Common Sense NoteParents need to know that there is little to be concerned about in this book. Patty and her family face some racism, but in the end, she is able to confront a character. Even Patty's rebellious behavior is pretty mild: She sneaks out of a church lock-in to go to a concert with her crush, and later in the book, she yells at her parents (and tells readers that this was the first time she had ever "raised my voice" to them. We should all be so lucky!).Families can talk about the pressures facing teens today, especially around getting into colleges. Do parents put too much pressure on their kids to be the best at everything? You could check in with your teen: How much stress are you feeling to succeed -- in school and in other activities? Do you ever feel like you are juggling too much?Common Sense Review Reviewed By: Kate PavaoThe story takes a pretty predictable path: A nerdy girl learns to stop letting her parents dictate her life and becomes her own person. What's special about the story is that protagonist Patty is a really believable character, unlike a lot of today's young adult narrators who are described as pretty, rich, and ruthless. Patty really loves both the violin and academics, she loves her parents, and even the kids in her church group -- and when she finally tells her crush, Ben, her true feelings, he tells her he only likes her as "a friend."Her transformation into a girl who can stand up for herself is equally convincing. Readers will know that she has spunk all the time by her self-deprecating humor and the chapter interludes, such as "Top Ten Ways to Avoid Ben Wheeler at School" or "How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy, Part 4." Readers will appreciate Patty's brave confrontation with her parents, even if it comes at an unlikely moment (right before an important concert performance).Maybe the book will end too neatly for some, but students -- especially overachievers like Patty -- will appreciate her gradual understanding that she has "all the time in the world" to compose a life she loves.From The BookGift? I have a gift? I never thought of my ability to play violin as a gift. It was just something that came easy to me. I hear my mom shouting, "HARVARDYALEPRINCETON," in my head. There's no way that my parents would even let me apply to Julliard or any music school. They would say, "Music is too risky." I politely shake my head, and say, "Juilliard is for serious musicians. I wasn't planning on majoring in music. It's just a hobby."Plot Summary:Patty Yoon's parents pressure her to get into an Ivy League college, and she works hard to meet their expectations. Her life revolves around studying, taking practice SAT tests, practicing the violin, and hanging out with the other overachievers at her Korean church. But an unlikely friendship helps spark something new in her: The idea that she could choose a life of her own.Related Books: Books with Asian Protagonists:Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata American Born Chinese by Gene Yang Fresh Off the Boat by Melissa de la Cruz When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park
-- From Book Chic Club's blog http://www.myspace.com/bookchicclub Friday, February 01, 2008 Book Review- Good Enough by Paula YooPatti Yoon has been trying 110% all her life- in school, at the youth group, with the violin, and also generally avoiding boys (they will distract her from her studies, her parents say). Playing the violin though brings Patti into this new world, where pressure doesn't exist and it's just brilliant music. And after winning the title of assistant concertmaster instead of the actual concertmaster (which she has been for the past 3 years) as well as meeting Cute Trumpet Guy, it all sets off a chain of events that lead Patti into learning that she needs to think about what she wants rather than what other people want from her.In Paula's debut book for the YA audience, she writes extremely effectively about an overworked, pressured girl finding her way in the world. One of the things that really pulled me into the book was the whole music aspect- it was so prominent in this book, and I don't think I've seen any book that puts this much emphasis on it. It was great to read about Paula's passion, and it definitely came through as a big passion. Also adding to the story were occasional footnotes (which is one of my fave things to see in novels), Top 10 lists, and Korean recipes featuring Spam. The characters are all well-drawn and fun to read about, especially Patti, and make this book a real page-turner. This is one book you don't want to miss from an author I'm sure you'll be hearing more from in the future!Good Enough will be in bookstores everywhere on February 5, or you can pre-order from Amazon here.
- From The Public Library of Cinncinati and Hamilton County Spotlight Feature http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/spotlight/feature.asp?id=97 49 : Patti Yoon wants to make her parents happy, she really does. The problem is, her life choices that will make her parents happy are increasingly appearing to be very different from those that are going to make Patti happy. She and her parents agree that it is important for Patti to continue her violin lessons, and to also keep up with her studies, so she can score very well on her S.A.T.s, and get into the right school. Patti thinks she can do this; what she doesn’t know how to do is tell her parents that an Ivy League School may not be right for her. Rather, Patti dreams of getting into the top music school, Juilliard. Patti is losing her heart to her music, and also to her cute musician friend, Ben. How she attempts to tell her parents this without breaking their hearts makes for a warm, funny coming-of-age tale.
-- From: Children's Literature Patti Yoon plays the violin and strives to just get by despite her parents’ expectations that she will score the perfect SAT and get into Harvard, Yale or Princeton. Being distracted by a trumpet player with startling green eyes does not help. Like the hermetically-sealed mandoo (pork, sprouts and egg in wonton skin) Yoo shows us with loving care, Patti’s life is filled with conflicting tensions all wrapped up in parental imperatives that might seem familiar to a generation of immigrants. Orchestra kids are a world unto themselves, and here that world is painted with small touches like a Bartok-Shostakovich CD mix and excess rosin dust. Things get complicated when Cute Trumpet Guy invites Patti to his house to jam, and she enters the alien world of rock music. She is additionally burdened with the guilt of hiding these sessions from her parents. Only the racist bully Eric (and, in fact, the entire racism thread) seems overdone, as if it might belong in an earlier generation of stories. It feels tacked on here. It is not that such characters could not exist today. It is just that there is enough going on in this story without that subplot. Perhaps a lighter touch could have rendered that thread more contextual and less obtrusive. The spam thread, in contrast, is utterly charming. The burn of a home perm, heartbreak, and Patti’s final realization about her own competence and worth in the world--all these earn their place in this book, which is a nice addition to the Asian American immigrant-themed YA novels that have emerged in the last few years. Readers who liked Millicent Min, Girl Genius in the middle grades will be likely to empathize with Patti Yoon in middle school.Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami
-- FROM http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/review-good-e nough-by-paula-yoo/: Good Enough is Paula Yoo’s debut novel, about Patti, a Korean-American girl struggling to live up to her immigrant parents’ expectations. You may think you’ve read this book before, and maybe the plot is a little stereotypical, but Paula Yoo’s novel blows the rest of those books right out of the water! Seriously, it’s fantastic.Patti has been trying all her life to make her parents happy. Immigrants from Korea, they push her to do everything possible to get into HARVARDYALEPRINCETON (which, yes, they say as one word like that), and if she ever slacks off, they tell her how hard they’ve worked to give her a better life in America. Because of their pressures, she studies almost constantly trying to secure her spot as valedictorian, is an accomplished violin player, and is shooting for at a 2300 on her SATs. At Korean church, everything is about bragging to the other Korean parents about how awesome your kid is. Patti doesn’t want to let her parents down, but she’s learning that she’s got to be faithful to what she wants, too. Rock music, a cute new guy friend, and reading teen magazines? Totally not what her parents had in mind. But maybe there’s a balance–making her parents happy, and being true to herself. Or is that too much to ask for?I can relate to Patti, in a way. I am not Korean, and I put most of that 2300-SAT (which I have yet to achieve….2160), straight-A, first-in-my-class pressure on myself, but, still I can relate to being under all that pressure, to the point where you wonder if that’s really what you want. And, what’s more, I’m sure there are lots of other people out there who will be able to relate, too! I really hate it when people classify a book based on the ethnicity of the main character. Who cares if they’re black or Korean or Hispanic of Vietnamese? We’re all human, and a book with a Korean main character is certainly not meant to be read just by Koreans! That’s ridiculous, yet so often I see books classified as, for example, “African-American Fiction,” like white people can’t read and enjoy books about black people, which is just so insane and ridiculous. Hmm. I may have to write another post about this; this is a book review!Anyway, back to GOOD ENOUGH–a book which, being absolutely marvelous, is far more than its title suggests! Patti is a very three-dimensional character, and a great narrator. This book was just so well-written, time slipped away from me while reading it! It’s very absorbing, and pretty much unputdownable. This is a funny, fresh and honest debut from a brilliant writer. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
-- FROMhttp://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/02/14/review-good-e nough-by-paula-yoo/: Dear Ms. Yoo,I love reading young adult novels featuring strong narrative voices. I think it’s one of the key strengths of the genre, and often the place where many fail. It’s difficult finding a voice that sounds authentic and unforced, but I’m pleased to say this novel does not disappoint.Patti Yoon is entering her senior year of high school while struggling to balance appeasing her parents’ wishes and fitting in. Anyone who’s ever attended an American high school can sympathize with that. What sets Patti’s story apart is she has to balance American sensibilities with the expectations of her very traditional Korean parents.I absolutely adored the format you used. Interspersing Patti’s narrative with lists, rules to please her parents, college statistics, and Korean spam recipes was both charming and unique. And the placement of those unorthodox sections was always on point, either bringing a smile to my face or making me cringe along with Patti.One aspect I really enjoyed was Patti’s love of the violin. I don’t play myself but I had many friends in my high school orchestra and I still remember the various fall outs that happened after a successful challenge and a friend lost their seat. What I particularly liked here is how Patti’s struggle between her genuine love of music and the violin and her parents’ view that it was just another hook to look good on her college applications felt real. I think many people can sympathize with having to choose between an occupation that is your dream but may not pay much at all, versus a job that will pay a lot but that you hate with all your heart. It’s a big deal for many people and when you add on the burden of having parents who immigrated to a different country specifically to give you a better life and more opportunity, that’s even harder.I also enjoyed Patti’s relationships in the book. The interactions with her church youth group were hilarious but believable, and her awkward crush on Ben definitely rings true for all those girls who find themselves in the dreaded role of “just a friend” and watching your crush date the hot girl who you don’t particularly like. Patti’s struggle to be friends with Ben while trying to control her feelings was great, though I think I would have liked to have seen more of their improv guitar and violin sessions together.One thing that felt a little tacked on was the racial prejudice introduced at the end. The brief exchanges we saw earlier in the book, set in Patti’s high school, fit in seamlessly, but the exchange in the store between Stephanie’s mother and Patti’s father with both daughters present stuck out. Perhaps it was meant to, but the way it was used in Patti’s final resolution with her parents made it seem like it’d been introduced for that sole purpose. A convenient plot device and nothing more. I think Stephanie’s inability to see Patti’s point of view might have contributed to this feeling.While it’s been several years since I’ve applied to college, the process Patti goes through doesn’t seem much different. I remember the interviews and essays and SATs and how stressful that time can be. This was almost like a walk down memory lane, minus the actual stress and pressure, which I’m glad is far behind me. BMy regards,Jia
-- From http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/03/book-review-good-e nough.html
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Book Review: Good Enough Good Enough by Paula Yoo. (Grades 7+)

Patti Yoon. Straight-A student. Gifted violinist. Perpetual parent pleaser. All she's ever wanted was to get into HarvardYalePrinceton. Nothing less than a 2300 on her SATs is acceptable (2400 is a perfect score... a fact I can't get used to, incidentally). Patti goes to school, practices her violin, does homework, and hangs out with her Korean church youth group.

But from the moment Patti sets eyes on the dreamy, musical Ben at the All-State Orchestra audition, things begin to change. And Patti begins to realize that "her" dream of attending an ivy league school was actually her parents' dream. She starts figuring out that "successful" is not necessarily the same as "happy" and that she'd better think about what she wants for her future. 
Funny! I was bummed out on Sunday night for various reasons and I knew that I needed something light and humorous to read. I was right on the money when I picked up Good Enough. Patti's a great character. I liked her right away. She's a total geek, but she's witty and passionate and kind. Unfortunately, other kids at her school have trouble seeing the good in her when she's, say, in gym losing a field hockey game because she has no coordination.

I had read a post about this title over at The YA YA YAs and when I saw it on our new books cart, I picked it up to thumb through it. Here's the passage that made me laugh out loud at work and check it out right away:

"My Mom's Korean Spam Recipe #1 - Spam Bi Bim Bap

Ingredients:
1 can of Spam
1 jar of kimchee
Daikon radish-style kimchi

...

6. Pour on all the kochu jang sauce you want, mix it up, and eat with a side of kimchi. (Note: I'm assuming you have a local Korean grocery store somewhere in your town where you can buy kimchi, daikon radish, and kochu jang sauce. If you don't, well, the only way to make kimchi is to ferment a bunch of cabbage underground for a few years. Good luck with that.)..." (pp 70-71)

I was hooked. Narrator Patti Yoon sprinkles Spam recipes and top ten lists throughout the book, to the great enjoyment of the reader. I was rooting for her the whole way and being really annoying to my coworker at lunch because I kept looking up and saying things like "Something important is about to happen!!!" and "The boy did not do what he was supposed to do! Ah, well, he still has xx pages to redeem himself..." Obviously everyone needs to read this book so that when I say things like that, they understand what I'm talking about.

The book's about a high school senior. And there's some stuff that older high school kids will probably identify more with (taking SATs, AP classes, college aps, etc.), but there's nothing in here that would be inappropriate for a middle schooler to read. It reminded me of some of Meg Cabot's novels (maybe along the line of Teen Idol or All-American Girl).

Don't miss Paula Yoo's guest post on The YA YA YAs, an interview over at Teen Book Review, and Little Willow's review.Posted by Abby at 7:17 PM Labels: book reviews
VOYA AGE RANGE: Ages 11 to 18. Senior Patti Yoon is stressed. Almost every class period consists of Advanced Placement courses, and her free time is full of practice SAT tests, college application essays, and church youth-group meetings. She is co-valedictorian and has been the concertmaster of the Connecticut All-State Orchestra since her freshman year, even though her parents started her on the violin only because it would look good on her college applications. But this year is different. A cute trumpet player serves as the catalyst for change in Patti's life. She jams with a guitarist, sneaks out of the house for good clean fun, and does not complete bonus assignments. Patti finally grows a backbone and defends her Korean heritage. Patti's parents dream about "HarvardYalePrinceton," but Patti must decide if money equals happiness. What makes this tried-but-true tale of anxious-girl-finding-her-wings stand out is Yoo's interjection of humor and lightheartedness. Who knew that Korean Americans loved Spam? Like a food memoir, Yoo includes three recipes with Spam as the main ingredient. Chapters are interspersed with short comments under the heading "How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy" and finally end with "How to Stop Making Your Korean Parents Happy and Start Making Yourself Happy." Top ten lists, a realistic relationship with Ben, and her Korean American church friends keep the story genuine and appealing. Yoo successfully combines the readability of a chick-lit novel with a fresh coming-of-age story. Reviewer: Sarah Hill April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1)
-- A Blogger review from Los Gatos Teen Reviews:
Good Enough by Paula Yoo - Well told story about Korean-American first generation Patti Yoon, a high school senior. Patti is an exceptionally bright student. Patti strives to achieve her parents’ expectations to be accepted by YaleHarvardPrinceton. Patti also is an exceptional violinist who learns a lot from a new trumpet player in the orchestra. I liked the way the relationship was handled. There’s a warm humor to the book that I really appreciated. The story is about achievement, love, success, happiness. It includes recipes for life and Spam (the canned lunchmeat).
posted by paul at 9:06 pm
-- A Mock Prinze Book Award Blogger review from the Bergen County Cooperative Library System: THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
Mock Printz: Good Enough Title: Good Enough
Author: Paula Yoo
Publisher: HarperTeen: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060790851
*Currently BBYA 2009 Nominated Title* Plot:
High school senior and talented violinist Patti Yoon works hard to achieve her goals and make her parents proud as a P.K.D (Perfect Korean Daughter). Someone who doesn’t settle for second place. A polite and modest existence as non-boat-rocker is something they can subtly brag about at church with all the other competing parents. But the pressure builds and boilers over when Patti makes assistant concertmaster for the All-State Orchestra thanks to some tricky Mendelssohn and distracting Cute Trumpet Guy. Then Patti doesn’t reach the desired 2300 SAT score which causes her parents to panic that her HARVARDYALEPRINCETON career could end before it’s even begun. Between SAT prep tests, violin practice, AP classes, jamming with/crushing on new kid Ben Wheeler (a.k.a Cute Trumpet Guy), dealing with the racist remarks of peers and adults, Youth Group high jinx, teenage subterfuge, parental expectations---Patti takes a stand on her future. One that will make Patti happy without sacrificing who she is and what she loves, like her music. Thoughts:
*spoilers*
Apart from Patti being a relatable protagonist{ a teen feeling the pressure of expectations (outside and her own) and risking her heart}-- Patti is a great narrator with a wonderful sense of humor. Ben’s brief but influential appearance in her life has normally obedient Patti taking some risks and reconsidering her priorities and her reasoning. He’s not perfect. They’re not meant to be. But for a while, they’re in sync and he’s a great friend, if not love, for her. The Youth Group cohorts are an amusing, believable combination of competition and support. As Patti changes, she realizes new things about her friends and her peers (even those she doesn’t like). She finds some commonality but thankfully the book conclusion isn't so trite that Patti ends up friends with everyone. Patti’s parents weren’t portrayed as evil incarnate. They pressured and expected (not exactly unique to fictional parents) but they also stuck by Patti and let her ultimately decide, having her best interests at heart. Good Enough is all about expanding possibilities and stepping outside the box and it’s almost always a good time to see how a character handles change and rebellion. The foot notes, the Korean recipes with Spam, Patti’s lists and “real-life” SAT questions are fun additions. It’s not a tough book to get through. Finished it in a day. Because, like everyone else, I cared about Patti’s future and the book isn’t written to lag (a plus for the reluctant). The ending has a neatly tied resolution in some ways but not in others. A happy medium with a hopeful ending...um..beginning. Posted by Danielle at 4:20 PM
-- A review from ROMANTIC TIMES: GOOD ENOUGH
by Paula Yoo RT Rating: ***
Category: YOUNG ADULT
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: February 2008
Type: Young Adult (12 and up)
Buy Now at Amazon
$16.99 Yoo writes a familiar story about a struggle many teenagers face: how to live up to the expectations of those around you while staying true to yourself. Although not necessarily a page-turner, this is definitely a fun read. Summary: Patti's life is all about making everyone else happy. Her Korean parents expect perfection, and her friends compete over SAT scores. But when boys get involved, things change. Suddenly Patti is listening to rock music as well as Mozart, and sneaking out instead of studying.When her parents find out she's playing jam sessions as well as violin concertos, Patti must figure out how to live up to other people's expectations but also to be true to her own. (HARPERCOLLINS, Feb., 336 pp., $16.99, ISBN: 9780060790851, HC, 12 and Up)
—Raven Haller
-- A review from http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0408-002.html This is a fun and funny YA novel focused on violin recitals, first crushes, SAT-prep anxiety, church youth-group rivalries, and the constant quest to please one’s highly-motivated Korean parents. It's a great laugh and a welcome dose of understanding for teens who feel over-scheduled and pressured to be perfect little overachievers. 
 
Patti Yoon has held the top seat in all-state orchestra for three years running, an achievement her parents see as a great “hook” for her applications to Ivy League schools. But for Patti, playing the violin is actually *more* important than getting into HARVARD-YALE-PRINCETON, or “HYP” as she calls it. Or, at least it was before she crossed paths with Ben, or Cute Trumpet Guy as she calls him. As Patti’s crush on him grows, her clockwork regime of homework, orchestra rehearsal, practice SAT tests, and church-group lock-ins starts missing the beat—and really loses its appeal.
 
“Good Enough” reminds me, happily, of Jenny Han’s charming novel “Shug.” Both books blend comedy with a sharply poignant look at a young woman who’s not considered “the pretty one.” Patti is a whip-smart character who narrates her personal and romantic ups and downs with hilarious insights and very funny wisecracks about her life as a Korean American, a child of immigrants, and something of a violin prodigy. She likes to make lists, and many of the book’s pages are composed as her next-to-impossible “to-do” and “how-to” lists, including:
 
“How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy” (Get into HARVARD-YALE-PRINCETON!)
 
and
 
“Top Ten Reasons You Have a Bad Violin Audition” (Cute Trumpet Guy smiled at you!)
 
Patti’s lists also include recipes for tasty Korean-American canned-ham dishes, concert dates for her secret-favorite bubblegum boy band, and tricks for avoiding Cute Trumpet Guy when it turns out he doesn’t like her back. Over the course of the story, she learns to deceive her high-pressure parents in order to have fun; then she learns how that strategy won’t serve her in the long-term. Patti eventually explains to them how important the violin really is to her, and starts planning a future in music. She may not get Cute Trumpet Guy, but she does set about getting the life she really wants.
 
“Good Enough” is an enjoyable book with a good heart. It’s an absolute must for young musicians and orchestra members, who will certainly dig Patti’s fascinations with Mendelsohn, punk rock, and cheesy bubblegum music.
 
Review by Mark David Bradshaw, April 2, 2008
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MY TV DRAMA SHOW WRITING CREDITS
" " " "
- "A SIDE ORDER OF LIFE" (Lifetime Network): I was Executive Story Editor for this drama series from LIFETIME TV. My episode, "Children and Art" (Written by Paula Yoo) aired in August 2007.

- "HIDDEN PALMS" (aka "Palm Springs", The CW network): I was the Story Editor for this drama series from "Dawson's Creek"/"Scream" creator/writer Kevin Williamson. My episode, "Dangerous Liasons" (Written by Paula Yoo) aired in June 2007.

- "BEYOND THE BREAK" (aka "Boarding School," THE N, a teen cable network): "No Guts, No Glory" by Paula Yoo and Sarah Watson & Bernie Ancheta (aired 2006)
- "TRU CALLING" (FOX): "The Getaway" (Story by Scott Shepherd, Teleplay by Stephanie Williams & Paula Yoo, aired 2004)
- "THE WEST WING" (NBC): "Process Stories" (Story by Paula Yoo & Lauren Schmidt; Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin, aired 2002); "California 47th" (Story by Lauren Schmidt & Paula Yoo; Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin, aired 2003); "Han" (Story by Paula Yoo and Peter Noah & Mark Goffman, Teleplay by Peter Noah, aired 2003)
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MUSIC/VIOLIN EXPERIENCE
I started playing the violin in kindergarten and studied at the Hartt School of Music and at Yale. I do music on a freelance basis and I also enjoy performing chamber music recitals with my awesomely talented friends. I also love Celtic and Old Time fiddling and have played with lots of rock groups including Arthur Lee of Love, Bright Blue Gorilla, Anne McCue, and Bird York, and I'm a member of Random AOK.
Check us out at our myspace page at
http://myspace.com/randomaofk
I now have my own music myspace page now! Check it out at:
http://myspace.com/paulayooviolin
AWARDS/BOOK REVIEWS FOR "SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY" (Children's non-fiction picture book, LEE & LOW BOOKS, May 2005):
- 2003 "New Voices" Lee & Low Award winner - CCBC Choices 2006, COOPERATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTER (CCBC) - 2006 Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College Children's Book Committee - 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, NCSS/CBC - 2006-2007 Texas Bluebonnet Award, Masterlist - 2006 IRA Children's Book Award Notable, International Reading Association (IRA) - 2006 Comstock Book Award Honor, Minnesota State University Moorhead - 2006 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Honor Book in the Children's Picture Book category - 2007 Finalist for the North Dakota Library Association's Flicker Tale Children's Book Award in the Upper Grade Non-Fiction Level category
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- KIRKUS REVIEWS - * Starred Review (March 15, 2005) Handsomely illustrated and compassionately written without sentimentality, this picture book biography exemplifies what this genre should be: humanizing and meaningful. In 1932, 12-year-old Sammy Lee could only swim in the public pool on Wednesdays, the only day open to people of color, and Sammy was Korean American. Torn between his dream of diving and his father's urging him to become a doctor, Sammy managed to achieve both, despite barriers and prejudice, and was the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal. Scratchboard-style, sepia-toned paintings in wax-covered acrylics create a textured effect both visually and contextually. The title refers to the 16 years he trained for the 16 seconds it took to perform his winning dive. This hero's inspirational story demonstrates determination and dedication by a man who never gave up and is still an active athlete today at the age of 84. (author's note) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
- BOOKLIST REVIEWS - * Starred Review (April 4, 2005) In her first picture book, winner of the publisher's New Voices Award, Yoo introduces Sammy Lee, the son of Korean immigrants who overcame formidable odds to become an Olympic diving champion, as well as a doctor. In 1932, at the age of 12, Sammy fell in love with diving, but his local pool was open only once a week to non-whites. He faced opposition at home too; his father wanted him to focus on a 'respectful' profession-medicine. Yoo describes how Sammy found a coach, maintained a grueling balance between academics and training, and finally earned both a medical degree and an Olympic Gold Medal. The minimal, well-shaped language focuses on facts, particularly on the boy's seemingly indestructable determination, his struggles with his father, and the prejudice he faced. Washed in nostalgic, sepia tones, Dom Lee's acrylic-and-wax, textured illustrations are reminiscent of his fine work in Ken Mochizuki's watershed Baseball Saved Us (1993), and like Yoo's understated words, the uncluttered images leave a deep impact; an aerial view of Sammy facing the blue expanse of the Olympic pool is particularly affecting. A page of facts closes this handsome, inspiring biography, which will make both an excellent read-aloud for younger children or a read-alone for confident older ones."
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (April 1, 2005) This inspirational biography recognizes the life of the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal, at the 1948 Games in London. Even though he grew up in California when "people of color were only allowed to use the public swimming pools one day a week, Lee was never discouraged from his dream. In college, he made an agreement with his father that he would keep good enough grades to enter medical school, but continue to enter diving competitions. Yoo brings the biography to a dramatic conclusion with the 16 seconds of a three-and-a-half somersault dive. Lee's painterly illustrations give texture and depth to the full-page spreads. More than a story about discrimmination and unfair treatment, this story shows one young man's determination and resolve toward accomplishing a goal in life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW (April 4, 2005) Yoo debuts with an inspiring tribute to the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1948. The story begins when Sammy is 12 years old in 1932 California and documents his struggle to reach the top of the diving world. The son of Korean immigrants, he is not allowed to swim at the public pool except on Wednesdays, "when people of color were allowed to go inside." The straightforward, somewhat lengthy account chronicles how Sammy trains by diving into a sandpit the other days of the weekwhich leads to a fortuitous decision to enroll in gymnastics to help him with his sand landingsfinds, a coach, and makes peace with his father, who urges Sammy to forgo his Olympic dream in favor of becoming a doctor. Third-person omniscient narration grants readers access to Sammy's thoughts and feelings. As he prepares for his gold-medal dive, "He heard the sound of water lapping against the sides of the pool, the murmuring of the people, the beating of his heart." Lee's (Baseball Saved Us) sepia-tinged textured illustrations, made by scratching images out of wax melted over acrylic paints, lend a graceful, respectful tone to the story. Especially noteworthy are three vertical panels depicting his winning dive (an echo of an early three-panel spread that shows one of Sammy's awkward first diving attempts). Touching on themes of discrimination and determination, this motivational tale concludes with an author's note that provides details about Sammy's post-Olympic life. Ages 6-up. (Apr.)
- THE HORN BOOK GUIDE (July/August 2005) Although people of color were permitted to use the public pool only once a week, Korean-American Sammy Lee (twelve years old in 1932) practiced his beloved diving so diligently that at age eighteen he caught the eye coach. Still unable to use the local pool, Sammy practiced daily with his demanding coach by jumping into a pit filled with sand, developing powerful leg muscles. Meanwhile, Sammy's father was pressuring him to become a doctor instead of a diver, but eventually Sammy achieved both goals: in 1948, at the age of twenty-eight, Dr. Sammy Lee competed in the London Olympics, winning a bronze and a gold medal. With their textured effect, Dom Lee's scratchboard illustrations (using beeswax, acrylic, oil paint, and colored pencil) convey immediacy -- one can feel the prickliness of the sand or the heat of the California sun -- while the brown and gold colors and sepia tones make it clear that these are past events. An author's note gives additional biographical details. Yoo smoothly incorporates the historical context through Sammy's reactions to pervasive racism. She creates a picture of a person who succeeded through determined hard work -- not a larger-than-life hero, but an ordinary person of great achievement. (By S.D.L.)