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103rd out of 154 books
—
52 voters
Girls for Breakfast
by
David Yoo (Goodreads Author)
Nick Park loves girls.
Drumstick legs, cherry-colored lips, dumpling cheeks . . . everything about them he wants to eat up. But he’s dateless and has been since he discovered girls in the third grade, and he’s convinced himself that this is solely based on the fact that he’s the only Korean American teenager in Renfield—the fifth richest (and WASPiest) town in Connecticut....more
Drumstick legs, cherry-colored lips, dumpling cheeks . . . everything about them he wants to eat up. But he’s dateless and has been since he discovered girls in the third grade, and he’s convinced himself that this is solely based on the fact that he’s the only Korean American teenager in Renfield—the fifth richest (and WASPiest) town in Connecticut....more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
May 24th 2005
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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This book was seriously, 100% laugh out loud funny. I have this habit of carrying my books around with me and reading them while I'm walking around on campus, to and from classes, but I couldn't do this with Girls for Breakfast because I was making a fool of myself laughing too hard. Here's an excerpt to give you a taste: "What confused me about involuntarily visualizing Miss Hamilton with no clothes on was that she wasn’t even pretty. Her nose was pointy and her frizzy hair always looked sweaty...more
From School Library Journal:
Grade 9 Up–"I'd descended into social Siberia sometime during the first week of middle school and had no idea how I'd gotten there. This is, apparently, the question of my life." Nick Park, a Korean American, describes himself as "the only non-Anglo-Saxon student in suburban Connecticut," and blames his Korean looks for his lack of popularity and girlfriends. Readers, however, will understand that his problem is due to his desperate bids for attention. This edgy and w...more
Grade 9 Up–"I'd descended into social Siberia sometime during the first week of middle school and had no idea how I'd gotten there. This is, apparently, the question of my life." Nick Park, a Korean American, describes himself as "the only non-Anglo-Saxon student in suburban Connecticut," and blames his Korean looks for his lack of popularity and girlfriends. Readers, however, will understand that his problem is due to his desperate bids for attention. This edgy and w...more
Oh dude, David Yoo is a funny, funny guy. I could not stop giggling out loud as I read this book. The humor is silly, self-deprecating and positively ludicrous at points, but so convincing I couldn't stop grinning the whole way through. And luckily, because Nick Park (the protagonist), the young, girl-obsessed, Korean-American kid in this book, is a total asshole. I kid you not. From the beginning of the book (where he's in 3rd grade) to the end (when he's graduating from high school), he's a se...more
Once again, David Yoo writes another book through an Asian's small eyes. No offense, but i think it's okay, considering that i'm asian myself. Just saying. So, the thing with a book with an Asian protaganist, and more importantly, in 1st person perspective, is very surprising, but yet...right. It's about time...ASIANS REPRESENT! Also, i found myself very, very, very similar with the protagonist. We have lots alike. It's basicaly about an Asian chasing after girls. Or something like that... He's...more
before i write anything else, i just wanted to share this from the book that almost made me blow chai tea latte out my nose: "...now that's what i call true love. doinking each other's brains out even as the pyroclastic flow vaporizes their genitalia...."
here's the synopsis from the author's website:
"On his graduation day from Renfield High, Nick Park is determined to figure out if his heritage is the cause of his abysmal luck with girls.
Beginning the novel as an unreliable and unknowingly comic...more
here's the synopsis from the author's website:
"On his graduation day from Renfield High, Nick Park is determined to figure out if his heritage is the cause of his abysmal luck with girls.
Beginning the novel as an unreliable and unknowingly comic...more
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I'm supposed to like the hero of this young adult novel, while being amused and relating to his many flaws. Unfortunately, the author spent all his time showing the flaws, and forgot to give me anything to like. Couldn't finish it.
I started reading GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST on the half-hour bus ride home, and I smirked all the way there. There's so much wicked humor in this book. I'm not Korean and I'm certainly not a guy, but I totally identified with Nick Park. He's both flawed and sympathetic. I laughed hard at his childhood memories of teaching fake martial arts to his friends, his mom's horrible cooking, and his incredibly embarrassing moments around girls and pretty much everyone else. Many times I was smiling and sighing...more
Gah. Unlikable, self-loathing hero, pointless story, cardboard supporting characters.
a fast, funny, and enjoyable read about the awkwardness and longing of the later primary school years, that also delves quite well into issues of racism and just how painful it is to be a teenager, even if you aren't "different" from everyone else around you.
i was actually surprised that this is a young adult book, for a couple of reasons, but not least of which is that it seems to take place in the late '80s, and having come out in 2005, would put most of its intended readers as not even born y...more
i was actually surprised that this is a young adult book, for a couple of reasons, but not least of which is that it seems to take place in the late '80s, and having come out in 2005, would put most of its intended readers as not even born y...more
I thought this book was a disappointment in my opinion. From the outside the book looks like a good witty book. I thought it would be a fun and easy read. In reality the book is so boring it was so hard for me to finish. There were some witty and humorous part in the book. This book is about Nick who is the only Korean boy in an all white school. He embarrasses himself infront of the whole school the day before prom so he decided to figure out what happened. He finds out that he was never really...more
Jan 28, 2010
Hannah Goodman
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE
Recommended to Hannah by:
school
I loved this book. David has created a character that you hate and love all in the same moment. His protagonist, ultimately, is a a kind of hero though. His self deprecation isn't just for effect, and as the novel progresses it turns into self awareness and insight. It's a kind of epic novel following the main character from 3rd grade to senior year graduation. This is a book not only about race and identity but really about being a boy. I would subtitle this "The secret life of boys" and wish I...more
This book was recommended to me by a friend, she let me borrow it and its really funny! It's about an Asian boy growing up in a WASP-y, wealthy Connecticut town where they are the only Korean family. The main character is really self deprecating and funny, and it was fun to read something from a boy's perspective because I don't read a lot of books that are from a boy's point of view. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, light read!
Wonderful first novel for Mr. Yoo about a Korean teenager growing up in Connecticut being the only Asian in the school system. The main character is dealing with adolescents and the experiences of girls and sex. Very amusing and engaging coming of age story about racial relationships.
I'm sure if I was a teen guy struggling to deal with the undertones of racism and dealing with being an Asian American, I would have connected well with this book. But since I am not, I instead had to connect with the plot, characters, and overall storytelling, but alas, there was little for me to connect with!
Meh. Was in the house, read it. Meh. If you are curious as to how aimless, listless guys _can_ think, he does a fair job - but I just can't handle aimless, listless guys - we've got enough of them in the world.
I decided to read this book because I read the author's bio/interview from a publisher. I was looking forward to it, but as I got into the book, the more I felt like it was a chore for me to read. I didn't finish it, although it was a good glance into the mind of a teen boy.
It started off reading a bit too much like a children's book, but by the end, I was very much relating to the main character. The story really got me reliving my childhood a bit.
YA novel giving insight into a sex-crazed teenage male mind. Little too ridiculous for me, but it was for class.
I honestly never read this book, but it sounds NASTY!!!!
Gak.
An interesting read about a Korean boy brought up in an all white town in the 80's. Never realizing he was different, or rather in denial that he's different, until he's a social outcast and forced to. Light and funny. Seemingly realistic insight of the mind of a hormonal teenager. Kept me captivated throughout.
Untold stories of the Asian-American adolescence.
Asian characters in YA lit are rare, and I loved the title. [return][return]Despite the fact that most teens have insecurities about themselves, Nick Park is certain that his insecurity--not being able to get a date is due to him being the only Korean American in town--is valid and so begins the process of looking into the matter in order to finalize his assessment once and for all.
Despite the many differences between the author's upbringing and mine, I was able to relate to his internalized racial oppression a.k.a. racial self-hatred. Very funny and engaging writing. My only complaint is the content devoted to his understanding of racism; it feels too rushed and cursory.
this book is about a kid who's the only Asian in his school. He is unpopular and wonders if it is true that his race is what's keeping him from getting girls. So i think this book is reccommended for every teenager. After reading it, you'll never look at an Asian guy the same way again
Beautiful writing. Can't wait for the new book to come out.
pretty good
May 07, 2013
Padi Patt
marked it as to-read
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David Yoo's first collection of essays, The Choke Artist: Confessions of a Chronic Underachiever (Grand Central) is out June 19, 2012. He is a graduate from Skidmore College with an MA from the University of Colorado-Boulder. His first novel, Girls For Breakfast (Delacorte) was a Booksense Pick, an NYPL Books For the Teen Age selection, and a Reading Rants Top Ten Books for Teens choice. He lives...more
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