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Mindy Kim #6
Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge
In this sixth novel, Mindy enters a delicious pizza competition!
Mindy Kim loves food—from her beloved Korean staples to pizza! When her school hosts a trivia competition, Mindy can’t believe that the big prize is unlimited pizza for a whole year!
Mindy is confident she and her dad can take the top spot. But Dad is worried he might not understand all the cultural references. And he wants Mindy to know that the most important thing is to always try your best, even if you don’t win. Can Mindy and her Dad have fun together, win or lose?
Mindy Kim loves food—from her beloved Korean staples to pizza! When her school hosts a trivia competition, Mindy can’t believe that the big prize is unlimited pizza for a whole year!
Mindy is confident she and her dad can take the top spot. But Dad is worried he might not understand all the cultural references. And he wants Mindy to know that the most important thing is to always try your best, even if you don’t win. Can Mindy and her Dad have fun together, win or lose?
79 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
About the author
Lyla Lee
24 books870 followersLyla Lee is the bestselling author of books for all ages. Inspired by her Korean heritage and love of pop culture, she writes cute and sometimes swoony stories that have been translated into multiple languages around the world. Originally from South Korea, she’s lived in various cities throughout the United States, worked in Hollywood, and studied Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. She now lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit Lyla at lylaleebooks.com or on social media (Kid lit: @literarylyla and adult romance: @authorlylalee).
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 17, 2021
Another nice story as we follow Mindy, Asian American
October 3, 2021
I read this book with my daughter. We both enjoyed it.
May 3, 2022
Oh gosh. Overwhelmingly heartwarming. I just :heart: this series for young independent readers. I do advise you try to read them in order.
There is one problem. Despite this being all about diverse rep., it fails on behalf of Natives in America. These people do not belong to "tribes." They are members of recognized sovereign *Nations* and this is important for everyone, even 8-9 yo children, to know.
I also wonder about one thing. The teacher, Ms. Harris, is a tall slim black woman. Is that in honor of the teacher in The Great Gilly Hopkins? :)
There is one problem. Despite this being all about diverse rep., it fails on behalf of Natives in America. These people do not belong to "tribes." They are members of recognized sovereign *Nations* and this is important for everyone, even 8-9 yo children, to know.
I also wonder about one thing. The teacher, Ms. Harris, is a tall slim black woman. Is that in honor of the teacher in The Great Gilly Hopkins? :)
January 25, 2023
These just keep getting better. This installment had me tearing up over this sweet family. This series is just so freaking heartwarming.
October 19, 2021
I don't think you understand how much I love these books! Despite being aimed at individuals 20 years younger than myself, they keep my interest the entire time. Mindy and her family seem like real people! The issues they face seem like real issues! I read a good handful of these early chapter books for my job and most of them can get boring for me at times, but not Mindy! I am with her the whole way through!
April 1, 2022
There's a trivia contest at school and the winner gets a year's worth of free pizza! Mindy really wants to win that pizza but more than anything, since it's a trivia game of families, she wants to win to show everyone that her single parent family (her and Appa), is just as good as anyone else's. As an immigrant, Mindy's dad's knowledge of American history or pop culture isn't great. Will they be good enough to win?
There are some good issues addressed in this short book.
- Coming from a single parent home, her dad is a widow, Mindy's family doesn't look like her friends'. I like how the story addresses some of the feelings that come with that, which in reality could be insecurity, inferiority, or just anxiety about being different. Mindy doesn't talk about these but just the fact that she wants to win to prove a point says something.
- There's also the issue of having an immigrant parent whose English is not their first language and knowledge of things American is not vast. In these situations, the child feels like they have to make up for the difference, sometimes covering for their parents. In this case, Mindy and her dad devise a strategy where Mindy will handle the American cultural stuff and her dad will handle the math and science questions, which is such a great approach. In real life, in my generation at least, most of the immigrant parents wouldn't have been able to communicate in English anywhere near the ability of Mindy's dad's level. Understanding the trivia questions alone would have been hard.
There are some good issues addressed in this short book.
- Coming from a single parent home, her dad is a widow, Mindy's family doesn't look like her friends'. I like how the story addresses some of the feelings that come with that, which in reality could be insecurity, inferiority, or just anxiety about being different. Mindy doesn't talk about these but just the fact that she wants to win to prove a point says something.
- There's also the issue of having an immigrant parent whose English is not their first language and knowledge of things American is not vast. In these situations, the child feels like they have to make up for the difference, sometimes covering for their parents. In this case, Mindy and her dad devise a strategy where Mindy will handle the American cultural stuff and her dad will handle the math and science questions, which is such a great approach. In real life, in my generation at least, most of the immigrant parents wouldn't have been able to communicate in English anywhere near the ability of Mindy's dad's level. Understanding the trivia questions alone would have been hard.
March 21, 2022
Mindy hears that the school is hosting a family trivia night with a prize of pizza for a year, and she is eager to join with her Dad. Mindy wants to prove that they are just as good of a family as everyone else, even if it is just the two of them. But the competition is going to be tough and while Dad is really smart, he doesn't know a whole lot about US history or pop culture. On top of the competition, Dad is trying to decide if the time is right to ask Julie to marry him. Can they pull off the perfect proposal?
Mindy has such a fabulous Dad. I love how he responds when he hears her real reasons for wanting to enter the competition, and then how he redirects her goals. Great advice! I also love the marriage proposal bits. The series has been building to this moment with great pacing, and little romantics will be thrilled with the events in this book. Lyla Lee's note of thanks to her parents and other immigrant parents who went the extra mile to help their kids with homework in a language that didn't come naturally is very touching. I absolutely love this series, and love that Lyla Lee keeps 'em coming. Mindy Kim and her adventures are fantastic contemporary stories for lower grade readers, and introduce them to beautiful aspects of Korean American culture. Highly recommended.
No content issues.
Mindy has such a fabulous Dad. I love how he responds when he hears her real reasons for wanting to enter the competition, and then how he redirects her goals. Great advice! I also love the marriage proposal bits. The series has been building to this moment with great pacing, and little romantics will be thrilled with the events in this book. Lyla Lee's note of thanks to her parents and other immigrant parents who went the extra mile to help their kids with homework in a language that didn't come naturally is very touching. I absolutely love this series, and love that Lyla Lee keeps 'em coming. Mindy Kim and her adventures are fantastic contemporary stories for lower grade readers, and introduce them to beautiful aspects of Korean American culture. Highly recommended.
No content issues.
April 24, 2024
The MINDY KIM series never fails to disappoint.
In this cute addition, we get some pretty big events happening in Mindy's life. Not only is she doing trivia, but she's facing the trauma and reality that her family looks a little different than her classmates' families, and the child-of-immigrants worry that our parents might not be able to keep up with native-English speaking parents. Plus other pretty big life events I won't spoil in here. All I will say is that I got teary-eyed.
We also saw the bully in action again--I think there should be a future book dealing with said bully, especially since we know a lot of little readers will be able to relate.
I loved this addition and like always, Lyla Lee has created another memorable MINDY KIM novel!
Happy reading!
In this cute addition, we get some pretty big events happening in Mindy's life. Not only is she doing trivia, but she's facing the trauma and reality that her family looks a little different than her classmates' families, and the child-of-immigrants worry that our parents might not be able to keep up with native-English speaking parents. Plus other pretty big life events I won't spoil in here. All I will say is that I got teary-eyed.
We also saw the bully in action again--I think there should be a future book dealing with said bully, especially since we know a lot of little readers will be able to relate.
I loved this addition and like always, Lyla Lee has created another memorable MINDY KIM novel!
Happy reading!
February 3, 2022
I'm about to say something bold, but this is the best Mindy Kim book yet! I have read and loved them all, and this is certainly a wonderful continuation for readers who've already gotten emotionally attached to Mindy and her family. But this book in particular is really special. I know, I know, I was expecting it to be fun and full of pizza - and it totally is. But I'm a whole grown up and I teared up multiple times in my reading, because Mindy works so hard and shows us the many different ways a family can be. You have to read it!!!
May 14, 2022
Ugh, I will finish the entire series but I really have issues with Mindy Kim being an "adult" concerning her dad's boyfriend/girlfriend relationship and being a complete 8 yr old the rest of the time... especially her lack of emotions over her mother's death, leaving the only home she had known in California all within 1.5 years, the only Korean kid at her new school in FL??{oh really} as well as the Lunar New Year parade also...IT'S A BIT TOO MUCH...
Mindy Kim, I think you'll have some explaining to do...
Maybe Mindy Kim is just that resilient?
Mindy Kim, I think you'll have some explaining to do...
Maybe Mindy Kim is just that resilient?
February 23, 2022
This is really sweet. I enjoyed the interesting perspective on the challenges an immigrant parent would face when trying to support their child in a family trivia competition at school, and the story resolves this issue well. It also ends on an exciting, hopeful note related to Mindy's family, I look forward to reading future installments when they release.
November 29, 2022
Early Chapter Book. And a lot of exclamation points.
Early chapter books can be a little boring. While the story here moves at a quick pace, there is some good characterization going on here; some great explorations of the experience of immigrant families; and an appreciation for hard work and family. I liked it and would be happy to use it for a read aloud.
The pictures are cute and provide a good overview of the storyline.
Early chapter books can be a little boring. While the story here moves at a quick pace, there is some good characterization going on here; some great explorations of the experience of immigrant families; and an appreciation for hard work and family. I liked it and would be happy to use it for a read aloud.
The pictures are cute and provide a good overview of the storyline.
April 16, 2022
This is my first Mindy Kim book, and I will look forward to reading more. It was light, smart, and funny.
I am trying to read more books based on their cover illustrations this year. This one pulled me right in.
Great to read about a single Korean dad and his lovely support network. What a homey story.
I am trying to read more books based on their cover illustrations this year. This one pulled me right in.
Great to read about a single Korean dad and his lovely support network. What a homey story.
February 4, 2024
4 stars
Mindy Kim is excited for a trivia night contest at her school where the winner will receive a year's worth of pizza!! Mindy's dad feels like he might not be so helpful since he doesn't really know a lot of American history. Not to worry! Mindy's friend Sally and her family include Mindy and her dad (and Julie) on their team and they make it to the finals!
Mindy Kim is excited for a trivia night contest at her school where the winner will receive a year's worth of pizza!! Mindy's dad feels like he might not be so helpful since he doesn't really know a lot of American history. Not to worry! Mindy's friend Sally and her family include Mindy and her dad (and Julie) on their team and they make it to the finals!
January 17, 2024
Mindy Kim wholesome fun continues with a family trivia competition and 12 pizzas on the line! Love that BTS is an answer to a question that Dally and Mindy confidently shout out! Plus a romantic ending. Love how illustrator draws the dad.
November 26, 2024
Those that have passed away do not watch over us. Those in Heaven and those on earth have no interactions. So bc of this being said about the mother watching over them, I gave it a 4. Other than that it was very good. CathyR
January 29, 2022
Heartwarming and lovely
February 22, 2022
Mindy Kim is back and she, her friends and family are gearing up for Trivia Night at her school. The prize: a year's worth of free pizza! Mindy learns of the strengths and weaknesses amongst her teammates, and there is a sweet ending to this installment.
March 6, 2022
always love every single Mindy Kim book!
Read
April 22, 2022I adore this series so much, another great installment!
May 26, 2022
If you like this series, you are going to love this one!
April 5, 2023
Oh my goodness, this was so stinking cute. I love mindy. <3
April 15, 2023
Mindy’s school was having a trivia night, and the prize was one free pizza a month for a whole year! Mindy’s team won the trivia night and Mindy’s dad proposed to Julie and she said YES!
March 20, 2024
I loved that Brandon the bully didn’t win! It was so adorable when Mindy’s dad proposed to Julie.
February 11, 2026
This is bittersweet.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews