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Pippa Park #1
Pippa Park Raises Her Game
A Contemporary Reimagining of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens for Middle Graders
Life is full of great expectations for Korean American Pippa Park. It seems like everyone, from her family to the other kids at school, has a plan for how her life should look. So when Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to Lakeview Private, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself by following the “Rules of Cool.”
At Lakeview, Pippa juggles old and new friends, an unrequited crush, and the pressure to perform academically and athletically while keeping her past and her family’s laundromat a secret from her elite new classmates. But when Pippa begins to receive a string of hateful, anonymous messages via social media, her carefully built persona is threatened.
As things begin to spiral out of control, Pippa discovers the real reason she was admitted to Lakeview and wonders if she can keep her old and new lives separate, or if she should even try.
Bonus Content
Discussion Questions, Author Q&A, and Korean Language Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
Life is full of great expectations for Korean American Pippa Park. It seems like everyone, from her family to the other kids at school, has a plan for how her life should look. So when Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to Lakeview Private, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself by following the “Rules of Cool.”
At Lakeview, Pippa juggles old and new friends, an unrequited crush, and the pressure to perform academically and athletically while keeping her past and her family’s laundromat a secret from her elite new classmates. But when Pippa begins to receive a string of hateful, anonymous messages via social media, her carefully built persona is threatened.
As things begin to spiral out of control, Pippa discovers the real reason she was admitted to Lakeview and wonders if she can keep her old and new lives separate, or if she should even try.
Bonus Content
Discussion Questions, Author Q&A, and Korean Language Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2020
About the author
Erin Yun
4 books75 followersErin Yun grew up in Frisco, Texas. She received her BA in English from New York University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Creative Writing at Cambridge. Erin is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She developed the Pippa Park Author Program, an interactive writing workshop, which she has conducted in person and virtually at schools, libraries, and bookstores. Yes, she used to play basketball as a middle grader!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
December 11, 2019
When Pippa Park gets a basketball scholarship to a fancy private school, she feels pressured to pretend like she's rich and cool so that she can fit in with her elite classmates. But how long can she keep up the farce, when her Korean family owns a laundromat and Pippa barely has money to buy a slice of pizza at the school cafeteria? With her grades slipping and her relationships in turmoil, Pippa begins to realize that some of her new friends have family secrets of their own.
This retelling of Dicken's "Great Expectations" is utterly brilliant from start to finish!
Instead of "Pip", the main character is Pippa. And most of the main characters found in "Great Expectations" have their counterparts in Pippa's story. Not all of them make an appearance, and many are changed in significant ways, but play similar roles in the plot. Various characters are also gender-swapped, and I loved that! I had so much fun reading along, and suddenly realizing, "Oh! This character is supposed to be so-and-so from Great Expectations!" It's not always obvious from the start who each character represents. Many of the new characters names begin with the same letter as the original characters, like a little clue to their alternate identities.
However, although many plot points and character roles are similar to "Great Expectations", this book has its own voice, its own story, and its own delightful style!
It was especially interesting to see how the author took some basic plot points from Dickens and reimagined them in a modern setting with cell phones, school books, basketball, and the rich Korean-American culture that Pippa enjoys.
Speaking of basketball and Korea, I had a unique experience with this book that affected me very closely from the very first page.
(Personal story time... I was forced to attend a basketball camp for a week when I was in 6th grade, and I hated it. I have never been good at sports, and I spent the entire week just learning how to dribble. The other campers laughed at me because I had no skills at all, and it was one of the most embarrassing situations of my entire life. Needless to say, I hate basketball now, and you might be wondering... Why would I pick up a MG novel about basketball? Surely, the traumatic memories of my childhood would make me hate this book.)
This is where the genius of this book begins to make MAGIC happen!
The very first scene is of Pippa playing hoops by herself in a deserted playground. She describes how she loves playing basketball. She feels at home on the court, like she belongs, like all her problems just melt away when she feels the basketball between her fingertips.
The writing does such a genius job of describing her passion for this sport, and it reminded me of my passion for music. I'm a professional pianist, and when I sit at the piano I feel at home, like I belong, and all the world just melts away.
The writing uses a universal theme of having a passion for an activity, whether it is sports, or music, or art, or anything, so that I can understand that Pippa loves basketball. I can relate to her very closely, even though I don't like the same thing she likes. I understand her as a character because the writing drew me into her world.
The writing does the same thing for Pippa's Korean-American family culture. I don't know the first thing about Korea, but I loved learning about it in this book! And I clearly understood Pippa's feeling different from other people, because her family celebrates different holidays and does things in their own way. We all feel different sometimes, and the author uses that universal theme to bring Pippa's story home to each of us.
That is why classics remain popular for hundreds of years. They touch on universal ideas that transcend time and apply to any reader of any age anywhere. This book does an excellent job of capturing those deep themes and bringing them to life in a modern setting with a fresh voice.
I loved reading this story and seeing which plot points stayed similar to "Great Expectations" and which things were changed. Pippa lives with her sister and brother-in-law, while her mother has stayed in Korea.
One of my favorite characters in "Great Expectations" is Joe. He is so sweet and kind, and I loved seeing him reimagined in the character of Jung-Hwa, Pippa's brother-in-law. He really functions like a father figure in her life, encouraging her and working hard to support the family. Each of these characters are quickly given vibrant life in the first few scenes of book. For instance, Jung-Hwa has a little affectionate ritual that he does with Pippa where he boops her nose with his finger each day. Such a small detail with a world of meaning for this sweet family relationship.
I loved the complexity of Pippa's relationship with her sister, Mina. Mina is tough on Pippa, nagging her about her grades, her chores, and making her work at the laundromat to earn her allowance. The two sisters argue and fight, but obviously love each other very much. They just aren't always the best at expressing that love to one another. Their character development and the growth of their relationship is one of the best things about this book.
Of course, (in true Pip tradition) Pippa gets a crush on some rich boy who barely knows she's alive. The descriptions of how she feels, what she thinks, how she worries about her appearance, and wants to be cool to impress the guy... all these things are so spot on and expressive. We've all had that impossible crush at one time or another.
I was so intrigued to read about the "cool" girls at Pippa's new school, The Royals. They seem to befriend Pippa, but we are always wondering what their agenda must be. Are they going to turn on her when they find out the truth about her being poor? Those girls are a mystery, and I loved reading about them right up to the last page when their true colors are revealed.
I was delighted with how serious, comedic, and wild this plot ended up being. It starts out with some fairly tame school drama, but went into some intense tragedy and redemption near the end.
If you like classics, you will love this Dickens retelling! If you like basketball, Korean-American culture, or just excellent story-telling, you will love this book. It's not just for middle-grade readers either. I'm 37, and I adore everything about Pippa Park!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Master Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This retelling of Dicken's "Great Expectations" is utterly brilliant from start to finish!
Instead of "Pip", the main character is Pippa. And most of the main characters found in "Great Expectations" have their counterparts in Pippa's story. Not all of them make an appearance, and many are changed in significant ways, but play similar roles in the plot. Various characters are also gender-swapped, and I loved that! I had so much fun reading along, and suddenly realizing, "Oh! This character is supposed to be so-and-so from Great Expectations!" It's not always obvious from the start who each character represents. Many of the new characters names begin with the same letter as the original characters, like a little clue to their alternate identities.
However, although many plot points and character roles are similar to "Great Expectations", this book has its own voice, its own story, and its own delightful style!
It was especially interesting to see how the author took some basic plot points from Dickens and reimagined them in a modern setting with cell phones, school books, basketball, and the rich Korean-American culture that Pippa enjoys.
Speaking of basketball and Korea, I had a unique experience with this book that affected me very closely from the very first page.
(Personal story time... I was forced to attend a basketball camp for a week when I was in 6th grade, and I hated it. I have never been good at sports, and I spent the entire week just learning how to dribble. The other campers laughed at me because I had no skills at all, and it was one of the most embarrassing situations of my entire life. Needless to say, I hate basketball now, and you might be wondering... Why would I pick up a MG novel about basketball? Surely, the traumatic memories of my childhood would make me hate this book.)
This is where the genius of this book begins to make MAGIC happen!
The very first scene is of Pippa playing hoops by herself in a deserted playground. She describes how she loves playing basketball. She feels at home on the court, like she belongs, like all her problems just melt away when she feels the basketball between her fingertips.
The writing does such a genius job of describing her passion for this sport, and it reminded me of my passion for music. I'm a professional pianist, and when I sit at the piano I feel at home, like I belong, and all the world just melts away.
The writing uses a universal theme of having a passion for an activity, whether it is sports, or music, or art, or anything, so that I can understand that Pippa loves basketball. I can relate to her very closely, even though I don't like the same thing she likes. I understand her as a character because the writing drew me into her world.
The writing does the same thing for Pippa's Korean-American family culture. I don't know the first thing about Korea, but I loved learning about it in this book! And I clearly understood Pippa's feeling different from other people, because her family celebrates different holidays and does things in their own way. We all feel different sometimes, and the author uses that universal theme to bring Pippa's story home to each of us.
That is why classics remain popular for hundreds of years. They touch on universal ideas that transcend time and apply to any reader of any age anywhere. This book does an excellent job of capturing those deep themes and bringing them to life in a modern setting with a fresh voice.
I loved reading this story and seeing which plot points stayed similar to "Great Expectations" and which things were changed. Pippa lives with her sister and brother-in-law, while her mother has stayed in Korea.
One of my favorite characters in "Great Expectations" is Joe. He is so sweet and kind, and I loved seeing him reimagined in the character of Jung-Hwa, Pippa's brother-in-law. He really functions like a father figure in her life, encouraging her and working hard to support the family. Each of these characters are quickly given vibrant life in the first few scenes of book. For instance, Jung-Hwa has a little affectionate ritual that he does with Pippa where he boops her nose with his finger each day. Such a small detail with a world of meaning for this sweet family relationship.
I loved the complexity of Pippa's relationship with her sister, Mina. Mina is tough on Pippa, nagging her about her grades, her chores, and making her work at the laundromat to earn her allowance. The two sisters argue and fight, but obviously love each other very much. They just aren't always the best at expressing that love to one another. Their character development and the growth of their relationship is one of the best things about this book.
Of course, (in true Pip tradition) Pippa gets a crush on some rich boy who barely knows she's alive. The descriptions of how she feels, what she thinks, how she worries about her appearance, and wants to be cool to impress the guy... all these things are so spot on and expressive. We've all had that impossible crush at one time or another.
I was so intrigued to read about the "cool" girls at Pippa's new school, The Royals. They seem to befriend Pippa, but we are always wondering what their agenda must be. Are they going to turn on her when they find out the truth about her being poor? Those girls are a mystery, and I loved reading about them right up to the last page when their true colors are revealed.
I was delighted with how serious, comedic, and wild this plot ended up being. It starts out with some fairly tame school drama, but went into some intense tragedy and redemption near the end.
If you like classics, you will love this Dickens retelling! If you like basketball, Korean-American culture, or just excellent story-telling, you will love this book. It's not just for middle-grade readers either. I'm 37, and I adore everything about Pippa Park!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Master Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
August 26, 2019
Korean-American seventh grader Pippa Park's is a juggler: living with her older sister and brother-in-law, rather than her Mom, in Korea, she juggles the weight of their expectations; she juggles her responsibilities at home and school, and she juggles schoolwork with her first love, basketball. She receives an unexpected basketball scholarship to an affluent private school, Lakeview Private, and decides to reinvent herself: she doesn't want to stand out as the "scholarship student", especially among the rich kids, and especially among the members of the basketball team - her former middle school's rivals! But reinventing herself comes with a price, and Pippa discovers that she's getting further away from the person she wants to be while trying to keep pace with the Royals, Lakeview's version of Queen Bees/Mean Girls/the In-Crowd. She can't turn to her sister; she can't turn to her best friend, who won't talk to her anymore; and she certainly can't turn to the Royals. When a series of antagonistic social media messages start showing up, threatening to expose Pippa's real life, she really feels lost.
Inspired by Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a relatable middle grade story about a middle schooler dealing with the school stress, family stress, an unrequited crush (with his own family stress), and the stress of keeping her real life secret from her glam friends at school. She's witty and dorky and just wants to do the right thing, but why is the right thing so hard to do? We want Pippa to get it right, because she's us.
Kudos to Erin Yun for making The Royals a complex, smart group of characters, too! They're not vapid Mean Girls, even if some of them - not all, by the way - are straight-up stereotypical. First off, they're not cheerleaders! Let's hear it for breaking the stereotype! They are unapologetically feminine, and they're all business on the basketball court, showing readers that real girls don't always wear pom-poms; sometimes, they slam dunk. There's an interesting subplot with Pippa's tutor-turned-crush, Eliot, and his family's long-standing emotional baggage, which feeds nicely into Pippa's main story.
Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a slam-dunk for middle grade readers. It's smart, funny, and gives readers a heroine they can root for.
Inspired by Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a relatable middle grade story about a middle schooler dealing with the school stress, family stress, an unrequited crush (with his own family stress), and the stress of keeping her real life secret from her glam friends at school. She's witty and dorky and just wants to do the right thing, but why is the right thing so hard to do? We want Pippa to get it right, because she's us.
Kudos to Erin Yun for making The Royals a complex, smart group of characters, too! They're not vapid Mean Girls, even if some of them - not all, by the way - are straight-up stereotypical. First off, they're not cheerleaders! Let's hear it for breaking the stereotype! They are unapologetically feminine, and they're all business on the basketball court, showing readers that real girls don't always wear pom-poms; sometimes, they slam dunk. There's an interesting subplot with Pippa's tutor-turned-crush, Eliot, and his family's long-standing emotional baggage, which feeds nicely into Pippa's main story.
Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a slam-dunk for middle grade readers. It's smart, funny, and gives readers a heroine they can root for.
February 5, 2020
Pippa Park is a plucky heroine and I love having a new middle grade novel with basketball and Korean culture for readers. Pippa is awarded a scholarship to an elite school with the condition that she keep her GPA at 3.0 and above. Immediately she feels the pressure in keeping up with practice, homework, and helping her sister with the family business. On top of that are the difficulties of finding real friends in her new school. She has real concerns about sharing her life with them as she sees them casually dropping large sums of money for mani-pedis and movie marathons. What do you do when your new friends and old friends are side by side in a restaurant? Pippa's struggles are real and authentic. The additional layer of "Great Expectations" retelling was a bit of a stretch and may be confusing to middle grade readers who are still unfamiliar with Dickens. The basketball action and sweet ending will make up for that. Hand this to fans of "Front Desk."
Thank you to Fabled Film Press and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Fabled Film Press and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. It’s an interesting book that looks at what it means to follow your dream when everyone else wants you to live by their dreams
November 28, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Pippa is a likable character, as is her friend Buddy. Her struggles to fit in at a new school are authentic as are the situations she experiences. I liked that some of the students at the expensive private school were portrayed as kind and true friends as well, dispelling the stereotype that all rich kids are spoiled. I am looking forward to sharing this story with my students.
December 29, 2019
Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a very good and entertaining debut novel by author Erin Yun. My wife couldn't put the book down when she began reading it one day last week, and read the entire 262 inviting, easy-reading pages in one night. I was also pulled in once I began reading, curious to remain by Pippa's side to see how her life unfolded at the prestigious Lakeview Private School, after being awarded a scholarship and transferring there from the less esteemed Victoria Middle School.
As anyone who has survived adolescence knows, life in middle school--or as we called it where I was growing up, junior high--can be a time of anxiety, stressful situations, joy and laughter, tears and triumphs. It is the ultimate growing experience. Pippa goes through it all, leaving her familiar and comfortable surroundings and friends at Victoria for Lakeview. She wants to fit in with her new and "upper-income" classmates and basketball teammates, so she shelters her past--and current--life from them, not wanting to expose her modest upbringing and what they might consider her lower station in life. Like most kids of her age, Pippa just wants to fit in and be accepted.
The book flows nicely with a warm tone and a descriptive narrative that is comforting and places you right at home and in school with Pippa. And the small details about her Korean-American upbringing--the family life and expectations, the Korean foods and snacks, and her loveable and kind brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa, bring an additional, savory level of ethnic seasoning to the story.
Pippa is an endearing character that you find yourself feeling for, hurting with, relating to, cheering for, and, ultimately, hoping to celebrate with. The book, geared to young readers, yet entirely enjoyable to an older audience such as this 50-something man and his wife, is sweet and charming, interlaced with life lessons, suspense, drama, and fun. I think Pippa Park is destined for even bigger and better things! I hope we will see much more of her and Ms. Yun in the future.
As anyone who has survived adolescence knows, life in middle school--or as we called it where I was growing up, junior high--can be a time of anxiety, stressful situations, joy and laughter, tears and triumphs. It is the ultimate growing experience. Pippa goes through it all, leaving her familiar and comfortable surroundings and friends at Victoria for Lakeview. She wants to fit in with her new and "upper-income" classmates and basketball teammates, so she shelters her past--and current--life from them, not wanting to expose her modest upbringing and what they might consider her lower station in life. Like most kids of her age, Pippa just wants to fit in and be accepted.
The book flows nicely with a warm tone and a descriptive narrative that is comforting and places you right at home and in school with Pippa. And the small details about her Korean-American upbringing--the family life and expectations, the Korean foods and snacks, and her loveable and kind brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa, bring an additional, savory level of ethnic seasoning to the story.
Pippa is an endearing character that you find yourself feeling for, hurting with, relating to, cheering for, and, ultimately, hoping to celebrate with. The book, geared to young readers, yet entirely enjoyable to an older audience such as this 50-something man and his wife, is sweet and charming, interlaced with life lessons, suspense, drama, and fun. I think Pippa Park is destined for even bigger and better things! I hope we will see much more of her and Ms. Yun in the future.
June 12, 2021
Great story! Geared toward a middle-grade audience, it has a wonderful theme about staying true to oneself and not forgetting where one started out in life. Other reviews have called it a modern twist on Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
I think anyone trying to navigate through life in middle school would really enjoy this one!
I think anyone trying to navigate through life in middle school would really enjoy this one!
May 24, 2020
What a fantastic book! Discussing topics such as socioeconomic status, scholarships, immigration, and loyalty, Pippa Park Raises Her Game makes an incredible statement on what it means to deal with all of these and only be in middle school. Pippa misses her mother dearly, who she hasn't seen since her mother was deported, and now she must deal with her older sister being her caretaker--awkward, right? Her sister wants nothing but the best for Pippa, and wants her to take every opportunity that she never had for herself. But Pippa just wants a normal life where she's allowed to play basketball and get average grades in math. Not a life where she and her sister and sister's husband live in a small apartment, and not a life where she sometimes has to run shifts at their family's laundromat.
But when she's offered a full ride scholarship to the prestigious school on the other side of town, her sister jumps at the opportunity. This induction to a glimpse at a new, richer life enchants Pippa, and she soon forgets her old friends in preference of her new friends who spend Friday afternoons getting manicures and exchanging charms on their bracelets. But how long can she hold up against her own deception? Especially when someone claims to know Pippa's secret...
This book flowed well, made use of the awkwardness it is to be thirteen, and brought back memories of what it was like to buy J-14 and Teen Vogue at the grocery store. I hope that this book helps create the same memories that I have and that I have seen myself represented in. Overall, this book was so endearing and enthusiastic in its characters. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to decolonize their bookshelf and to those who love middle grade dramas about money, boys, and grades.
Review cross-listed here!
But when she's offered a full ride scholarship to the prestigious school on the other side of town, her sister jumps at the opportunity. This induction to a glimpse at a new, richer life enchants Pippa, and she soon forgets her old friends in preference of her new friends who spend Friday afternoons getting manicures and exchanging charms on their bracelets. But how long can she hold up against her own deception? Especially when someone claims to know Pippa's secret...
This book flowed well, made use of the awkwardness it is to be thirteen, and brought back memories of what it was like to buy J-14 and Teen Vogue at the grocery store. I hope that this book helps create the same memories that I have and that I have seen myself represented in. Overall, this book was so endearing and enthusiastic in its characters. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to decolonize their bookshelf and to those who love middle grade dramas about money, boys, and grades.
Review cross-listed here!
August 14, 2019
A play on Great Expectations with some fast-paced moves of its own, Pippa Park Raises her Game is the story of a seventh grade girl from a local public school who receives a mysterious scholarship to the prestigious private school in her town to help the basketball team put one in the win column over their rivals. And the rival just happens to be the school from which Pippa transferred. Wanting to keep her roots as a first generation Korean American who works at her family's laundry a secret from the seemingly perfect private school crowd, Pippa has nothing but challenges on her way to fitting in at her new school, not to mention keeping up her GPA, especially in Algebra. But solving for X becomes only one of Pippa's problems as trouble seems to be guarding her like the defense at the three point line. When it all comes down to the buzzer, Pippa finds a way to take the shot that could put her on the winning team. Erin Yun's debut novel is a slam dunk of a story that takes on major issues like stereotypes, friendship, and fitting in with others. Middle school readers will identify with Pippa's challenges and cheer her on as she learns what it takes to be proud of who you are.
October 1, 2020
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
To sum this book up, it’s Mean Girls for middle graders with the addition of basketball and a big lie that threatens to blow up everything!
I know this is a Great Expectations retelling, but honestly, as I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think of Mean Girls often—it just has that vibe (I guess I’d forgotten most of GA, which I read in my high school days, but that didn’t cut down on my enjoyment of the book). Pippa has just transferred to a private school from the local public school, and she feels like a fish out of water. She wants so much to fit in, but she isn’t really sure how. All of the kids in her class come from money, and they seem to have a bunch of expectations that she has no idea how to live up to. So, she lies. Or, at least, leaves out a whole bunch of details. She doesn’t want them to know that she’s poor or that she came from the public school they seem to despise, so she just leaves those little facts out. Problem is, it gets harder and harder to hide. Plus, she has a crush on the boy that the leader of the Royals also has her eye on—not good—and her relationship with her best friend from her old school ends up becoming very strained.
But I have to say that this story ended up veering from the Mean Girls formula in the end, and I was quite pleased with how everything turned out. Pippa not only learned to be proud of who she is, but she also realized that everyone else may not have been judging her nearly as much as she thought (which is probably true 99% of the time in real life). Pippa messes up in this book—she makes some big mistakes, but she also learns from them. And I fell in love with her and found myself rooting for her the whole time!
Having basketball as a backdrop will appeal to quite a few kids, but they definitely don’t have to be sports fans to enjoy it—the basketball team is really just used to show the dynamics of Pippa’s new friends. But kids who do like sports will be drawn to that—there are a couple of scenes that highlight basketball, and I felt like they were very well written and I could easily imagine what was happening in the games and practices without having to know a whole lot about the sport. The book also features aspects of Korean-American culture, especially the food, which is described wonderfully!
Overall, I think this is a wholly appealing story that will keep kids reading!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
To sum this book up, it’s Mean Girls for middle graders with the addition of basketball and a big lie that threatens to blow up everything!
I know this is a Great Expectations retelling, but honestly, as I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think of Mean Girls often—it just has that vibe (I guess I’d forgotten most of GA, which I read in my high school days, but that didn’t cut down on my enjoyment of the book). Pippa has just transferred to a private school from the local public school, and she feels like a fish out of water. She wants so much to fit in, but she isn’t really sure how. All of the kids in her class come from money, and they seem to have a bunch of expectations that she has no idea how to live up to. So, she lies. Or, at least, leaves out a whole bunch of details. She doesn’t want them to know that she’s poor or that she came from the public school they seem to despise, so she just leaves those little facts out. Problem is, it gets harder and harder to hide. Plus, she has a crush on the boy that the leader of the Royals also has her eye on—not good—and her relationship with her best friend from her old school ends up becoming very strained.
But I have to say that this story ended up veering from the Mean Girls formula in the end, and I was quite pleased with how everything turned out. Pippa not only learned to be proud of who she is, but she also realized that everyone else may not have been judging her nearly as much as she thought (which is probably true 99% of the time in real life). Pippa messes up in this book—she makes some big mistakes, but she also learns from them. And I fell in love with her and found myself rooting for her the whole time!
Having basketball as a backdrop will appeal to quite a few kids, but they definitely don’t have to be sports fans to enjoy it—the basketball team is really just used to show the dynamics of Pippa’s new friends. But kids who do like sports will be drawn to that—there are a couple of scenes that highlight basketball, and I felt like they were very well written and I could easily imagine what was happening in the games and practices without having to know a whole lot about the sport. The book also features aspects of Korean-American culture, especially the food, which is described wonderfully!
Overall, I think this is a wholly appealing story that will keep kids reading!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
January 19, 2020
This book was such an enjoyable read and Pippa Park was such a great protagonist. The novel hit all the marks aimed at the target market in a very modern way. The author brought together an immigrant story with the typical themes of friendship and fitting in at school in a masterful way.
I want to thank Fabled Films Press for sending an advance copy.
I want to thank Fabled Films Press for sending an advance copy.
August 11, 2020
I feel like I've seen some version of this a million times in Young Adult novels, but not in Middle Grade. I was very excited to see what this book had to offer and I wasn't disappointed!
I loved getting to know Pippa. She made a lot of mistakes during the book and it was interesting to be inside her head to see why she did and said the things she did. Throughout the book, she just wants to fit in and be more than she was at her old school. I think we can all relate to that feeling of wanting to fit in, no matter what our age. It's nice to feel wanted and appreciated and missed. I love that the author brought this into the book.
I also really like all the small lessons we learn along the way. It was great to compare some of the things young Pippa was going through with things in my life currently or in the past. Yun did a great job of making me think, even if that wasn't her intention.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable middle-grade novel that I think could be beneficial to children and adults alike. I'll be recommending this one for those who enjoy MG. Also, this cover is fabulous!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I loved getting to know Pippa. She made a lot of mistakes during the book and it was interesting to be inside her head to see why she did and said the things she did. Throughout the book, she just wants to fit in and be more than she was at her old school. I think we can all relate to that feeling of wanting to fit in, no matter what our age. It's nice to feel wanted and appreciated and missed. I love that the author brought this into the book.
I also really like all the small lessons we learn along the way. It was great to compare some of the things young Pippa was going through with things in my life currently or in the past. Yun did a great job of making me think, even if that wasn't her intention.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable middle-grade novel that I think could be beneficial to children and adults alike. I'll be recommending this one for those who enjoy MG. Also, this cover is fabulous!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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April 19, 2021
3.5 LMAO not me just realizing this was a retelling of Great Expectations but I see it now. But this was super cute, I just wished it would’ve focused a little more on the basketball element of the story and we avoided some of the ‘mean girl’ tropes. Also I wish there was more piecing together of the mystery and we got to see a resolution with Pippa and her sister at the end. But I really enjoyed it, would definitely recommend, look forward to whatever this author puts out next.
March 23, 2020
Super cute middle grade retelling of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
January 4, 2021
Three words, Best Book Ever!!!!
May 25, 2020
3.5 Stars. A loose re-telling of Great Expectations, though it’s the original aspects like Pippa’s family where this shone brightest.
There still aren’t that many books that feature female athletes, so it was great to see Pippa participating in this sport she loves, playing basketball with the aggression of a star player yet at the same time being a good teammate.
Since Pippa spends much of the novel pursuing popularity at the expense of friends and family, she makes plenty of choices along the way that will make you cringe, but at the same time, it’s such an identifiable situation, at some point practically everyone has compromised who they are to some degree in an effort to fit in only to regret it later, so you can’t help but feel for Pippa and root for her to see the errors of her ways, to see that despite how others make you feel, there really isn’t any shame in having less money or a different culture.
When it came to the character of Eliot, hewing close to Great Expectations, having him be cold and aloof like Estella, well, it kind of sucked the joy out of experiencing Pippa’s crush alongside her since this boy never ever felt worthy of her admiration, ninety-nine percent of the time he’s rude to her for no reason and I just found myself wishing she would tell him off. Ultimately, I thought Eliot and his family drama didn’t feel all that necessary to telling Pippa’s story, it just kind of seemed like something wedged in to represent that part of Great Expectations, not that it was poorly written, I just felt like I would have rather those pages maybe focused on her friendship with Buddy or something else that was more personal to Pippa than Eliot’s family.
That’s why Pippa’s family scenes were easily my favorites in the book because of how intimate and personal they felt. I loved the dynamics of their family, the sister who has to step in as mom to Pippa, who feels she has to be harder on her than a sister would want to be, the brother-in-law who is the sweetest guy around, I can’t imagine any reader not adoring him, and Pippa, who fights Mina at every turn as kids will do, she is very much their daughter even if it isn’t in the conventional sense. I had such empathy for each of them, for Mina so often having to be the “bad guy,” for Jung forever trying to play peacemaker, and for Pippa, too, who has these painful moments of being ashamed of her family circumstances because the outside world has made her feel that way, there’s something very real about those emotions, their household, in the arguments with the undercurrent of warmth, in comforting with food, in being there for Pippa when she’s messed up and all she expects is their disappointment in her, those are the moments I’ll remember, the reasons I’ll read more from this author.
There still aren’t that many books that feature female athletes, so it was great to see Pippa participating in this sport she loves, playing basketball with the aggression of a star player yet at the same time being a good teammate.
Since Pippa spends much of the novel pursuing popularity at the expense of friends and family, she makes plenty of choices along the way that will make you cringe, but at the same time, it’s such an identifiable situation, at some point practically everyone has compromised who they are to some degree in an effort to fit in only to regret it later, so you can’t help but feel for Pippa and root for her to see the errors of her ways, to see that despite how others make you feel, there really isn’t any shame in having less money or a different culture.
When it came to the character of Eliot, hewing close to Great Expectations, having him be cold and aloof like Estella, well, it kind of sucked the joy out of experiencing Pippa’s crush alongside her since this boy never ever felt worthy of her admiration, ninety-nine percent of the time he’s rude to her for no reason and I just found myself wishing she would tell him off. Ultimately, I thought Eliot and his family drama didn’t feel all that necessary to telling Pippa’s story, it just kind of seemed like something wedged in to represent that part of Great Expectations, not that it was poorly written, I just felt like I would have rather those pages maybe focused on her friendship with Buddy or something else that was more personal to Pippa than Eliot’s family.
That’s why Pippa’s family scenes were easily my favorites in the book because of how intimate and personal they felt. I loved the dynamics of their family, the sister who has to step in as mom to Pippa, who feels she has to be harder on her than a sister would want to be, the brother-in-law who is the sweetest guy around, I can’t imagine any reader not adoring him, and Pippa, who fights Mina at every turn as kids will do, she is very much their daughter even if it isn’t in the conventional sense. I had such empathy for each of them, for Mina so often having to be the “bad guy,” for Jung forever trying to play peacemaker, and for Pippa, too, who has these painful moments of being ashamed of her family circumstances because the outside world has made her feel that way, there’s something very real about those emotions, their household, in the arguments with the undercurrent of warmth, in comforting with food, in being there for Pippa when she’s messed up and all she expects is their disappointment in her, those are the moments I’ll remember, the reasons I’ll read more from this author.
July 19, 2021
This was another one of my fortuitous Korean-American finds at the local used bookstore. I love this ongoing search for good K-A texts to own and share with my kids. This one is a keeper.
The voice is sweet and keeps me going. I felt like I knew Pippa, especially when she was upset. The book had a tinge of Netflix TV for me, which was great, and I was rooting for her. It felt good to read a YA book that wasn't primarily a romance, even if she had a crush on Eliot the entire time. When he was standing in the woods with Matthew, I wondered if he was actually in the closet, but that didn't seem to ring true to the rest of the book, so it felt more natural for them to actually be brothers. I liked Matthew and wished I could get to know him better.
Of course, the opening scene is Chekhov's gun in a way and he returns for sure. It's also pretty clear who Throwaway is, but again, this is a YA book (probably 5th-7th grade?) so that's all forgivable. I liked Win's character and how she defended Pippa and revealed her own truth in the end. It's such a shame that it's a reality that "scholarship kids" can feel "inferior" against their wealthy private school classmates. It's so frustrating that kids deal with such comparisons (as adults do). Of course, wealth doesn't mean a happier life, but so many of us accept the lie because surfaces are easy to see and generalize/assume from. Adolescents care so much about what others think of them. But man. Olive was harsh. That was low.
I didn't realize the parallels to Great Expectations (even with Aunt Evelyn and PIPpa! Goodness. Havisham if ever. And her sister and brother-in-law! All so obvious now) until I read the interview with Yun at the very end. I'm actually glad, since that means I was more engrossed in the story for what it was.
I really appreciated all of the delicious details about Korean food that wasn't just bulgogi and kimchi, and that we got to see the kimchi jigae, spam, and walnut cakes. I love the scene of betting with Pocky sticks during Hwa-to at Chuseok. Yum.
I'm glad that she invited her classmates over to her apartment at the end. I'm glad that she understands how good the warmth and delicious smells in her home are. I hope that my kids can recognize that too rather than getting swept up in fomo and comparisons to glitz and things.
The voice is sweet and keeps me going. I felt like I knew Pippa, especially when she was upset. The book had a tinge of Netflix TV for me, which was great, and I was rooting for her. It felt good to read a YA book that wasn't primarily a romance, even if she had a crush on Eliot the entire time. When he was standing in the woods with Matthew, I wondered if he was actually in the closet, but that didn't seem to ring true to the rest of the book, so it felt more natural for them to actually be brothers. I liked Matthew and wished I could get to know him better.
Of course, the opening scene is Chekhov's gun in a way and he returns for sure. It's also pretty clear who Throwaway is, but again, this is a YA book (probably 5th-7th grade?) so that's all forgivable. I liked Win's character and how she defended Pippa and revealed her own truth in the end. It's such a shame that it's a reality that "scholarship kids" can feel "inferior" against their wealthy private school classmates. It's so frustrating that kids deal with such comparisons (as adults do). Of course, wealth doesn't mean a happier life, but so many of us accept the lie because surfaces are easy to see and generalize/assume from. Adolescents care so much about what others think of them. But man. Olive was harsh. That was low.
I didn't realize the parallels to Great Expectations (even with Aunt Evelyn and PIPpa! Goodness. Havisham if ever. And her sister and brother-in-law! All so obvious now) until I read the interview with Yun at the very end. I'm actually glad, since that means I was more engrossed in the story for what it was.
I really appreciated all of the delicious details about Korean food that wasn't just bulgogi and kimchi, and that we got to see the kimchi jigae, spam, and walnut cakes. I love the scene of betting with Pocky sticks during Hwa-to at Chuseok. Yum.
I'm glad that she invited her classmates over to her apartment at the end. I'm glad that she understands how good the warmth and delicious smells in her home are. I hope that my kids can recognize that too rather than getting swept up in fomo and comparisons to glitz and things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2020
Everyone seemed to have great expectations for Pippa, but she was struggling to live up to them.
Pippa was disappointed, that her sister Mina made her give up her beloved basketball, when her math grade drops. Then fate intervened, and Pippa was offered a basketball scholarship from the local prep school. Not only did they expect her to help them break their losing streak, but she had to maintain a 3.0 GPA, and start over in a new school. Being a "have-not" among the "haves", Pippa hid parts of herself. But, as often happens with secrets and lies, the web of deceit grew and grew, until it collapsed on Pippa, and she was on the verge of losing everything that was important to her - her real friends, her identity, and her sport.
Being the odd man out is tough at any age, and being able to handle yourself in such a situation can be tricky. Therefore, I really felt for Pippa, even if I didn't agree with how she handled it. Despite her poor choices, Pippa was a good person. I knew that for sure, because she was so remorseful about her actions, she learned from her mistakes, and she took action to try and fix the mess she made.
Yun treated us to some really wonderful things in this story, and I loved the role that family and friendship played. Her older sister, Mina, meant well, and I was glad to see those two start to meet in the middle on some things, but the star was her brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa. He was so wonderful! The relationship he shared with Pippa was pretty special, and I couldn't help but adore this tenderhearted guy. I was also a big fan of Buddy, Pippa's long time bestie, and Helen, one of the "Royals" she befriended at Lakeside.
Overall, Pippa won me over as she tried to figure out how to navigate this new world and manage other people's expectations.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Pippa was disappointed, that her sister Mina made her give up her beloved basketball, when her math grade drops. Then fate intervened, and Pippa was offered a basketball scholarship from the local prep school. Not only did they expect her to help them break their losing streak, but she had to maintain a 3.0 GPA, and start over in a new school. Being a "have-not" among the "haves", Pippa hid parts of herself. But, as often happens with secrets and lies, the web of deceit grew and grew, until it collapsed on Pippa, and she was on the verge of losing everything that was important to her - her real friends, her identity, and her sport.
Being the odd man out is tough at any age, and being able to handle yourself in such a situation can be tricky. Therefore, I really felt for Pippa, even if I didn't agree with how she handled it. Despite her poor choices, Pippa was a good person. I knew that for sure, because she was so remorseful about her actions, she learned from her mistakes, and she took action to try and fix the mess she made.
Yun treated us to some really wonderful things in this story, and I loved the role that family and friendship played. Her older sister, Mina, meant well, and I was glad to see those two start to meet in the middle on some things, but the star was her brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa. He was so wonderful! The relationship he shared with Pippa was pretty special, and I couldn't help but adore this tenderhearted guy. I was also a big fan of Buddy, Pippa's long time bestie, and Helen, one of the "Royals" she befriended at Lakeside.
Overall, Pippa won me over as she tried to figure out how to navigate this new world and manage other people's expectations.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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August 12, 2021
Pippa Park gana el partido es la historia de una chica a la que su pasión por el baloncesto le llevará a descubrir un mundo nuevo en un instituto privado. Tendrá que hacer nuevos amigos y esforzarse al máximo para conseguir ser aceptada en su equipo de baloncesto y entre las chicas más populares de Lakeview. Por ello no debe dejar que nadie descubra su verdadera identidad: pertenece a una familia humilde de origen coreano.
La escritora de este libro, también apasionada por el baloncesto, creció en Frisco, Texas; y tras mudarse a Nueva York ha ganado varios premios literarios y ha publicado cientos de críticas.
Con esta novela nos enseña el proceso de madurez de una adolescente que deberá encontrar el equilibrio entre su vida privada y su nueva vida en el instituto. Nos muestra un personaje con sentido del humor y entusiasmado por disfrutar del deporte, y que, además, tiene amistades muy valiosas. El lector descubre en Pippa Park los problemas que surgen de esa inseguridad de cambiar algunos modos de vida y enseña que, pese a todos esos cambios, debemos ser auténticos en todo lo que hagamos. Las amistades que Pippa va encontrando le permiten fortalecer su propia identidad, y sus familiares le impulsan a ser la mejor versión de sí misma.
Este libro tan divertido conduce al lector hacia intrigas que hacen que la lectura tenga un buen ritmo, así como nutrirle de curiosidad debido a todos los detalles que aparecen sobre la cultura coreana.
https://www.troa.es/libro/pippa-park-...
La escritora de este libro, también apasionada por el baloncesto, creció en Frisco, Texas; y tras mudarse a Nueva York ha ganado varios premios literarios y ha publicado cientos de críticas.
Con esta novela nos enseña el proceso de madurez de una adolescente que deberá encontrar el equilibrio entre su vida privada y su nueva vida en el instituto. Nos muestra un personaje con sentido del humor y entusiasmado por disfrutar del deporte, y que, además, tiene amistades muy valiosas. El lector descubre en Pippa Park los problemas que surgen de esa inseguridad de cambiar algunos modos de vida y enseña que, pese a todos esos cambios, debemos ser auténticos en todo lo que hagamos. Las amistades que Pippa va encontrando le permiten fortalecer su propia identidad, y sus familiares le impulsan a ser la mejor versión de sí misma.
Este libro tan divertido conduce al lector hacia intrigas que hacen que la lectura tenga un buen ritmo, así como nutrirle de curiosidad debido a todos los detalles que aparecen sobre la cultura coreana.
https://www.troa.es/libro/pippa-park-...
January 31, 2021
Nice book, I thought it will be super cheesy and cringe but the execution of this book is fun. I like how the main character is normal girl with some flaws here and there, she is not super likable but at the same time, I found her relatable. I also think the book is really spot on, when you start becoming teenager, one of the main issues is how you want to fit in, but at the end, what really matters is find your own crowd where they really care for who you are.
Want to read
August 12, 2019Disclaimer: I got an e-ARC from Edelweiss. This does not affect my review.
April 15, 2020
An homage to GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Charles Dickens, what a feat (!), I just loved this!
I loved the character of Pippa,,,her outlook,,,her amazing basketball skills,,,her love for her Korean family,,,her growth in this book. The lesson is simple, being rich does not guarantee happiness. And conversely, you can seem to have very little and actually have a lot. The adventure to getting to these conclusions involves Pippa getting a scholarship to a swanky school who would like her basketball talents. It is about fitting in at the new school and the somewhat rejection of her old school. And a whole lot more! Very enjoyable! P.S. Absolutely adored the lovable, sweet and encouraging Jung-Hwa (Pippa's brother-in-law).
I loved the character of Pippa,,,her outlook,,,her amazing basketball skills,,,her love for her Korean family,,,her growth in this book. The lesson is simple, being rich does not guarantee happiness. And conversely, you can seem to have very little and actually have a lot. The adventure to getting to these conclusions involves Pippa getting a scholarship to a swanky school who would like her basketball talents. It is about fitting in at the new school and the somewhat rejection of her old school. And a whole lot more! Very enjoyable! P.S. Absolutely adored the lovable, sweet and encouraging Jung-Hwa (Pippa's brother-in-law).
September 7, 2021
It's probably a good thing I didn't know about the Great Expectations angle until after I started reading -- I have terrible memories of that book from 7th grade -- but this book is clever and Pippa is a great character. I'm a big fan of her loving family (even if they have high expectations) and her solid skill with basketball. Friendship drama, some cyberbullying, some poverty shaming. Mother had to return to Korea, Pippa lives in Western Mass with her sister and husband. Very tween coming of age -- making mistakes, learning and taking responsibility. Really well done.
February 23, 2020
I loved this!!! We need more great books with girls as athletes and this fits the bill!! Pippa is so lovable-flawed in such a realistic way. It is engaging right from the beginning. My middle schoolers will love this!
April 29, 2021
Details and info for parents, teachers, librarians, readers at KZ Rochelle dot com.
May 11, 2021
I read this for my middle school book club. It was entertaining.
May 3, 2023
A fine, middle grade novel. Pippa is lively and has good intentions, makes mistakes but owns up to them, too. Realistic fiction. Enjoyed this.
January 16, 2021
I really liked this book! I loved how it was about a girl in 7th grade just like me! I think the story line was very interesting, and I quickly fell into it. I had a hard time putting this book down! I reccomend this to everyone especially young girls!
January 30, 2020
Ugh, Pippa is a brat! And her brattiness is exhausting. Read my full review here: https://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2020/0...
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