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I'm Ok #2
It's Girls Like You, Mickey
Mickey navigates the pitfalls, heartbreaks, and triumphs of seventh grade in this companion to I’m Ok.
For the first time in her confident, bold life, Mickey McDonald is nervous about starting school. Her best friend, Ok, has moved away; her father has probably left town for good; and she can’t afford to go back-to-school shopping. But she’s going to make the most of things because that’s the kind of person Mickey is. Nothing’s going to stand in her way or get her down.
Still, the first few days of school are rough, until she becomes friends with Sun Joo, who has just moved to town. Their connection is instant and strong. But things get complicated when Sydney, the popular (and mean) girl in Mickey’s class, also takes a shine to Sun Joo. Suddenly Mickey is facing her first ever friend breakup, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep her chin up. Luckily, Mickey’s made of tough stuff.
For the first time in her confident, bold life, Mickey McDonald is nervous about starting school. Her best friend, Ok, has moved away; her father has probably left town for good; and she can’t afford to go back-to-school shopping. But she’s going to make the most of things because that’s the kind of person Mickey is. Nothing’s going to stand in her way or get her down.
Still, the first few days of school are rough, until she becomes friends with Sun Joo, who has just moved to town. Their connection is instant and strong. But things get complicated when Sydney, the popular (and mean) girl in Mickey’s class, also takes a shine to Sun Joo. Suddenly Mickey is facing her first ever friend breakup, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep her chin up. Luckily, Mickey’s made of tough stuff.
- GenresMiddle GradeJuvenile
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2020
About the author
Patti Kim
7 books25 followersPatti Kim was born in Busan, Korea, and immigrated to the United States on Christmas of 1974 with her mother, father, and older sister. At the age of five, she thought she was a writer and scribbled gibberish all over the pages of her mother's Korean-English dictionary and got in big trouble for it. Her scribbling eventually paid off. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Maryland. She lives with her husband and two daughters who give her plenty to write about every day.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 14, 2022
3.75 stars, Mickey is a fresh voice. Despite her hardships , Mickey is a confident middle schooler who doesn't let her problems define her. With her heart of gold, you will both cry and cheer for Mickey as she navigates her way through middle school friendships and hierarchy.
December 28, 2020
Mickey misses her friend Ok, and wonders if seventh grade will mean eating alone in the cafeteria again. Many in Mickey’s class ignore her, the “fat poor white girl,” or tease her for her creative approach to life. Interestingly, she can handle the teasing, but not being ignored. We all know that middle school is all about fitting in, and Mickey does not! Then, a new kid starts in her class, and Mickey takes her under her wing. The very shy Korean immigrant Sun Joo and the very boisterous Mickey become unlikely friends. Mickey’s mom works nights and is barely earning enough to make ends meet, so Mickey takes care of her little brother most days. Her family’s poverty and missing her father are very much part of the story. When Sun Joo attracts the attention of the popular girl Sydney, Mickey is at first glad for her. But loneliness sets in – is Sun Joo gone for good?
This is a fun story, the follow-up to Kim’s I’m Ok. Mickey is a force of nature, her motto being “Be your absolute ultimate,” and never does anything halfway. The author plays with language a lot through Mickey, adding humor in the face of home and school tensions, and readers will root for her to make her mark. Although It’s Girls Like You, Mickey is independent from I’m Ok, it made me want to read I’m Ok.
This is a fun story, the follow-up to Kim’s I’m Ok. Mickey is a force of nature, her motto being “Be your absolute ultimate,” and never does anything halfway. The author plays with language a lot through Mickey, adding humor in the face of home and school tensions, and readers will root for her to make her mark. Although It’s Girls Like You, Mickey is independent from I’m Ok, it made me want to read I’m Ok.
April 10, 2020
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It's Girls Like You Mickey by Patti Kim is a book I 100% picked based on the title. I mean, y'all, how could you not dig it? I love a good repurposed song lyric! Beyond that, this is just a good honest story about how middle school can suck sometimes. I love a middle grade novel that talks about the real feels that kids have, and this definitely does that! The story focuses on Mickey who is dreading middle school because her best friend has moved away. She's also struggling because her home life just isn't that great. There is a ray of light when a new girl shows up, and Mickey forms a promising friendship. However, then a friend break-up happens due to a popular mean girl, and that's some tough stuff. Y'all, remember how hard these were as teenagers?!? This really captures that experience so well through Mickey's eyes. Mickey has a great resilience throughout, and I loved her as a character throughout because of her realness. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this planned June 2020 release!
It's Girls Like You Mickey by Patti Kim is a book I 100% picked based on the title. I mean, y'all, how could you not dig it? I love a good repurposed song lyric! Beyond that, this is just a good honest story about how middle school can suck sometimes. I love a middle grade novel that talks about the real feels that kids have, and this definitely does that! The story focuses on Mickey who is dreading middle school because her best friend has moved away. She's also struggling because her home life just isn't that great. There is a ray of light when a new girl shows up, and Mickey forms a promising friendship. However, then a friend break-up happens due to a popular mean girl, and that's some tough stuff. Y'all, remember how hard these were as teenagers?!? This really captures that experience so well through Mickey's eyes. Mickey has a great resilience throughout, and I loved her as a character throughout because of her realness. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this planned June 2020 release!
January 15, 2021
I've been looking for a main character who does not let the bullies get to them. I loathe a story where the main protagonist suffers at the hands of horrible jerks, only to be redeemed at the end of the story. Not the case with Mickey! She dishes it right back and stands up for herself. It's a breathe of fresh air!
October 6, 2020
2.5 stars
This is a sequel to I'm OK. Mickey gets her own story after OK moves. She's facing starting seventh grade without her only friend and without her dad who left the family. Middle school is stressful enough without the additional concerns. She does find a new friend with the expected friendship angst. Mickey also has family issues as they learn to cope with being a family of three.
The pace was painfully slow and I didn't care for the writing style. The story did pick up and add some relatable actions halfway through.
Others will appreciate it. Middle grade readers will see themselves somewhere in the characters.
This is a sequel to I'm OK. Mickey gets her own story after OK moves. She's facing starting seventh grade without her only friend and without her dad who left the family. Middle school is stressful enough without the additional concerns. She does find a new friend with the expected friendship angst. Mickey also has family issues as they learn to cope with being a family of three.
The pace was painfully slow and I didn't care for the writing style. The story did pick up and add some relatable actions halfway through.
Others will appreciate it. Middle grade readers will see themselves somewhere in the characters.
April 23, 2020
Hilarious and moving.
October 23, 2021
This was a cute and touching story! 3.5 stars
July 27, 2020
It’s Girls Like You Mickey was a sweet coming of age story about Michaela McDonald who is trying to forage her own way through middle school while trying to be true to herself. She does have somewhat of a challenging homelife and routinely has to care for her younger brother Benny. When a new student Sun Joo Moon arrives at Landover Hills Middle School, it is fate that she is assigned as Mickey’s science lab partner and they become friends. Their friendship is tested with the typical middle school social catastrophes that happen, but it ends up being a feel good story with a sweet ending. While the story takes place in middle school, it might be more relatable to kids in 5th and 6th grades. Unfortunately, this book is a little immature and lacks the dark sarcasm that my 14 year old daughter appreciates. I love that this book is placed in a timeframe when there is no social media or cell phones. I did have a hard time getting into the beginning of the book, but the story started to build on itself and became cute and enjoyable. Looking forward to more young reader books from Patti Kim.
December 1, 2020
After her only true friend Ok moves out of town, Mickey begins 7th grade by befriending the new kid, Sun Joo, hoping she can show her the ways of their school and town. Mickey is a bold, confident, and unique girl who appears oblivious to social norms and pressures surrounding her, even down to not wanting to hide blood spots on her skirt from starting her first period. She's not afraid to stand up to whatever challenge faces her, whether it's at home or at school. When Mickey and Sun Joo's friendship takes a nosedive, Mickey needs to formulate a plan to save what's important to her. I wish the book had a slightly more complex conflict as opposed to it feeling like a glimpse into Mickey's life. I appreciate her as a character. Like The First Rule of Punk, I wish this cover was different because it reads much more immature than its intended audience.
November 17, 2020
A companion book to “It’s OK,” this follows Ok’s best friend Mickey as she embarks on a new school year with a new friend, Sun Joo. For a middle grade novel, it is very frank about getting a period for the first time — “the big blood booger that just gooped out of my Private Regina is going to streak down my legs, and this ain’t the pop of color I was aiming for.” Korean culture is once again highlighted in language and the Chuseok event.
November 19, 2020
A coming of age story that is a sequel to I'm OK. This is told from Ok's friend Mickey and how she struggles to find a new friend, amongst other battles, after he moves. I enjoy the resiliency of the character and honesty.
*may want to know that the story does go into detail regarding a girl's first menstrual.
*may want to know that the story does go into detail regarding a girl's first menstrual.
May 10, 2020
Great for backyard reading on a sunny Mother’s Day!! If my daughters were still 4th-8th grade, we would use this story as a great conversation starter for discussing middle school woes, as well as reassurance that it’s OK 2 B U!
February 21, 2022
3.5-3.75 stars
May 25, 2022
This was a great book, and I really reccommed it
November 23, 2020
Watch out y'all! Cause Mickey's the leading lady in this one! I think I want Mickey to be my hype woman, she's always telling me to "Be my absolute ultimate!" and "don't let nobody teams away your sparkle!" She's gonna mess up, but when she does she'll be begging her pardon. She's gonna ruin for class president, dress as Gidget for Halloween, and make a new friend. Now most of her shanagins don't usually work out, but not too worry y'all, Mickey's a go getter!
April 24, 2021
This companion novel from Patti Kim's previous middle grade book, "I'm Ok" features Mickey, the loud, boisterous, often uncouth, attention seeking girl who befriended Ok Lee in the previously mentioned title. Mickey's dad has left the family for good, her mom's toll-booth job is being phased out, and Mickey' new friend, Sun Joo, has been swept into popular Sydney's crowd. For all Mickey's faults, readers cannot help but see her large heart, indomitable spirit and and strength to keep her head held high.
Mickey's story not only addresses poverty, but also addresses cultural assimilation through Sun Joo's attempts to fit into the American school. Probably my favorite part of the whole book was the end when Sun Too finally confronted Mickey about being treated like a pet instead of an intelligent young woman. Mickey's strength in character is inspiring as the tween/teen years often invite feelings of self-doubt. Mickey is unabashedly herself, and even at my age, I wish I could be more like her.
Mickey's dialect was jarring at first (think Junie B. Jones but with a tween character) even though it fit her character. For elementary librarians who are considering this purchase, there was also bit of language, and a descriptive chapter portion of Mickey getting her first period at school.
Mickey's story not only addresses poverty, but also addresses cultural assimilation through Sun Joo's attempts to fit into the American school. Probably my favorite part of the whole book was the end when Sun Too finally confronted Mickey about being treated like a pet instead of an intelligent young woman. Mickey's strength in character is inspiring as the tween/teen years often invite feelings of self-doubt. Mickey is unabashedly herself, and even at my age, I wish I could be more like her.
Mickey's dialect was jarring at first (think Junie B. Jones but with a tween character) even though it fit her character. For elementary librarians who are considering this purchase, there was also bit of language, and a descriptive chapter portion of Mickey getting her first period at school.
November 28, 2019
I am so on board for this sequel...this is going to be here soon I just know it
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews