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Troublemaker
An instant New York Times bestselller!
An Indiebound bestseller!
Troublemaker follows the events of the LA Riots through the eyes of 12-year-old Jordan as he navigates school and family. This book will highlight the unique Korean American perspective.
12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point. In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young black teen, Latasha Harlins by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present.
As tensions escalate, Jordan's father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aide, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community.
An Indiebound bestseller!
Troublemaker follows the events of the LA Riots through the eyes of 12-year-old Jordan as he navigates school and family. This book will highlight the unique Korean American perspective.
12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point. In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young black teen, Latasha Harlins by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present.
As tensions escalate, Jordan's father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aide, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2022
85 people are currently reading
3670 people want to read
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June 12, 2022
Troublemaker
By John Cho
I was a young girl when the LA Riot in 1992 took place over six days, and my parents’ small restaurant in Los Angeles was destroyed by the widespread looting that occurred.
Reading Troublemaker By John Cho was important to me, and reading the book through the lens of Jordan Park, a 12 year old Korean American. It felt like reliving what happened all over again, but this time with a keen sense of comprehension and understanding. I was young and lacked full grasp of the situation but I remembered two things – first, that I was scared, and second, that I had to be brave. Troublemaker was told in a course of one day, April 29th, 1992 the day the Rodney King Verdict was read, and the riot erupted all over Los Angeles. His father worried about their business leaves the house to board up their business but loses communication with the family. Jordan worried about his father, takes his father’s hidden gun and decides to find his father, and along the way and the course of the evening runs into lots of trouble including losing the gun and getting into a fight.
Troublemaker was the perfect book for me – I think many people who experienced the civil unrest can definitely relate, as well as, young readers just learning about the uprising in its historical setting, which is the backdrop of this story. At the heart of this novel is about the father son relationship, the brother and sister rivalry and bond, the expectations and disappointments from immigrant Asian parents, and most important of all is the love for family, and the lengths we go through to protect each other.
By John Cho
I was a young girl when the LA Riot in 1992 took place over six days, and my parents’ small restaurant in Los Angeles was destroyed by the widespread looting that occurred.
Reading Troublemaker By John Cho was important to me, and reading the book through the lens of Jordan Park, a 12 year old Korean American. It felt like reliving what happened all over again, but this time with a keen sense of comprehension and understanding. I was young and lacked full grasp of the situation but I remembered two things – first, that I was scared, and second, that I had to be brave. Troublemaker was told in a course of one day, April 29th, 1992 the day the Rodney King Verdict was read, and the riot erupted all over Los Angeles. His father worried about their business leaves the house to board up their business but loses communication with the family. Jordan worried about his father, takes his father’s hidden gun and decides to find his father, and along the way and the course of the evening runs into lots of trouble including losing the gun and getting into a fight.
Troublemaker was the perfect book for me – I think many people who experienced the civil unrest can definitely relate, as well as, young readers just learning about the uprising in its historical setting, which is the backdrop of this story. At the heart of this novel is about the father son relationship, the brother and sister rivalry and bond, the expectations and disappointments from immigrant Asian parents, and most important of all is the love for family, and the lengths we go through to protect each other.
January 9, 2022
This had great pacing, characters, & “lessons”.
**Important to note, however: the entire plot is about a kid who’s hiding a gun in his backpack on a mission to his father’s convenience store during the LA riots in order to provide him protection from looting. Not a light subject or for super young readers.
**Important to note, however: the entire plot is about a kid who’s hiding a gun in his backpack on a mission to his father’s convenience store during the LA riots in order to provide him protection from looting. Not a light subject or for super young readers.
August 18, 2022
4.5 stars
This was not quite what I was expecting. I knew it had to do with the Rodney King Riots in LA and the title definitely made me think of John Lewis' "good trouble". However, as I started the book, I didn't feel all that bad for Jordan because he really did make poor choices. The whole story takes place in a single day, right after the verdict for the Rodney King shooting came down. I was living in LA at the time but I was in Claremont in college and we were pretty isolated from all of that. I didn't watch much tv at the time, so while I heard about it, it didn't really trickle into my consciousness all that much other than that I understood some of why people were so angry. I also didn't remember there being a shooting of a black man by a Korean store owner so I'm glad the author included it in this story as it helped give me more context to everything that was going on at the time.
The loose structure of this novel is that Jordan has apparently gotten into a huge fight with his dad and things are not great between them when the verdict comes out. His father goes to protect their store when he realizes his father has left his gun behind. When he learns that things are really bad out there, he tries redeeming himself by bringing his father's gun to him.
The people he meets along the way, including his best friend who his father calls a "troublemaker", help him face hard truths about family, racism, anger, and himself, but he ends up growing up a lot during this journey. This story was raw and honest and listening to the author read the story and then add his author's note at the end helped me to understand the book even more. In particular, he said he struggled with whether he should include the gun in a middle school book, but ultimately, he and his publisher decided that the reality of today is that kids will be exposed to it no matter what. I liked the discussion Jordan had with his dad at the end as they both finally spoke out loud about what they had kept hidden for so long.
Growing up in Chicago and attending a school that was approximately 70% black and that was <1% Asian, but attending a Taiwanese church in the suburbs, I often felt a disconnect between some of the Asian community's views of black people (especially in the older generation) and my personal experiences with my classmates, many of whom were good friends. But I also experienced teasing/unkindness from some of my classmates for being "Chinese" (the term ignorant folks automatically labeled every Asian when I was young), as well as comparisons between me and others since I was part of the "model minority". These experiences and books like this remind me that those who are in the minority should reach out to each other in support and I wonder how different things would be in this country if that had happened.
I would definitely recommend this for middle school libraries and summer reading lists.
This was not quite what I was expecting. I knew it had to do with the Rodney King Riots in LA and the title definitely made me think of John Lewis' "good trouble". However, as I started the book, I didn't feel all that bad for Jordan because he really did make poor choices. The whole story takes place in a single day, right after the verdict for the Rodney King shooting came down. I was living in LA at the time but I was in Claremont in college and we were pretty isolated from all of that. I didn't watch much tv at the time, so while I heard about it, it didn't really trickle into my consciousness all that much other than that I understood some of why people were so angry. I also didn't remember there being a shooting of a black man by a Korean store owner so I'm glad the author included it in this story as it helped give me more context to everything that was going on at the time.
The loose structure of this novel is that Jordan has apparently gotten into a huge fight with his dad and things are not great between them when the verdict comes out. His father goes to protect their store when he realizes his father has left his gun behind. When he learns that things are really bad out there, he tries redeeming himself by bringing his father's gun to him.
The people he meets along the way, including his best friend who his father calls a "troublemaker", help him face hard truths about family, racism, anger, and himself, but he ends up growing up a lot during this journey. This story was raw and honest and listening to the author read the story and then add his author's note at the end helped me to understand the book even more. In particular, he said he struggled with whether he should include the gun in a middle school book, but ultimately, he and his publisher decided that the reality of today is that kids will be exposed to it no matter what. I liked the discussion Jordan had with his dad at the end as they both finally spoke out loud about what they had kept hidden for so long.
Growing up in Chicago and attending a school that was approximately 70% black and that was <1% Asian, but attending a Taiwanese church in the suburbs, I often felt a disconnect between some of the Asian community's views of black people (especially in the older generation) and my personal experiences with my classmates, many of whom were good friends. But I also experienced teasing/unkindness from some of my classmates for being "Chinese" (the term ignorant folks automatically labeled every Asian when I was young), as well as comparisons between me and others since I was part of the "model minority". These experiences and books like this remind me that those who are in the minority should reach out to each other in support and I wonder how different things would be in this country if that had happened.
I would definitely recommend this for middle school libraries and summer reading lists.
March 20, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Troublemaker
Author: John Cho
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean MC and characters, Black side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, LA riots, police brutality, 1990s
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 10+ (violence, racism, police brutality, gore, religion, vandalism, emotional abuse)
Explanation of Above: As a prelude I want to say that this book is not graphic at all, but I do want to address some of the things that are shown in the book in case parents are restricting what their children are reading. There is a lot of violence mentioned in this book including gun violence. Along with this are police brutality and vandalism, which is also shown in the book. There is one scene where our MC is in a physical fight with his friend and some slight gore is shown with blood. Racism is discussed a bit in the book and there are mentions to religion including prayer and church. There is also a scene where a parent yells at their child that they are the “biggest disappointment” which causes a little bit of emotional damage to the child.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 224
Synopsis: 12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point. In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young black teen, Latasha Harlins by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present.
As tensions escalate, Jordan's father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aide, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community.
Review: I really loved this book! I’m very excited that more books, especially younger set ones, are discussing police brutality and the issues around racism. The book is set in the 90s during the LA riots and I loved viewing the book through the eyes of a Korean child who is just trying to prove himself to his father. The book is NOT graphic at all and it does an excellent job at showing what happened to Koreatown during the LA riots through the perspective of a child. The book has well developed characters and the world building is also well done. The book is amazingly well detailed and if you were a fan of I’m Not Dying With You Tonight or The Black Kids, you’ll love this book.
The only issue I had with the book is that it’s a bit quick and short. I’d love to see more of the aftermath of what happened and how the community came back together afterward.
Verdict: It’s really well done! Highly recommend!
Book: Troublemaker
Author: John Cho
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean MC and characters, Black side characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, LA riots, police brutality, 1990s
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 10+ (violence, racism, police brutality, gore, religion, vandalism, emotional abuse)
Explanation of Above: As a prelude I want to say that this book is not graphic at all, but I do want to address some of the things that are shown in the book in case parents are restricting what their children are reading. There is a lot of violence mentioned in this book including gun violence. Along with this are police brutality and vandalism, which is also shown in the book. There is one scene where our MC is in a physical fight with his friend and some slight gore is shown with blood. Racism is discussed a bit in the book and there are mentions to religion including prayer and church. There is also a scene where a parent yells at their child that they are the “biggest disappointment” which causes a little bit of emotional damage to the child.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 224
Synopsis: 12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point. In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young black teen, Latasha Harlins by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present.
As tensions escalate, Jordan's father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aide, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community.
Review: I really loved this book! I’m very excited that more books, especially younger set ones, are discussing police brutality and the issues around racism. The book is set in the 90s during the LA riots and I loved viewing the book through the eyes of a Korean child who is just trying to prove himself to his father. The book is NOT graphic at all and it does an excellent job at showing what happened to Koreatown during the LA riots through the perspective of a child. The book has well developed characters and the world building is also well done. The book is amazingly well detailed and if you were a fan of I’m Not Dying With You Tonight or The Black Kids, you’ll love this book.
The only issue I had with the book is that it’s a bit quick and short. I’d love to see more of the aftermath of what happened and how the community came back together afterward.
Verdict: It’s really well done! Highly recommend!
March 22, 2022
I need to preface this review with this:
1. I thought this was a graphic novel [it was in the graphic novel section of NG] and I was very surprised to find that it was not. I was ready for a GN and was disappointed when that was not the case.
2. I am absolutely not the target audience for this book. Not even remotely. My rating is not because I liked the book. I will explain below.
My four star rating is not because I liked this book [hint, I didn't not love it. It was okay [again, I am SO not the target audience for this book], but it was also extremely frustrating to read as an adult who has helped raise kids. Kids do dumb things. Adults do dumb things and the conversations around those topics are the ones that resonated with me]. It is because I absolutely recognize the importance of this book [within the Asian/Korean community, with white kids who are totally clueless etc] and the impact it will have on ALL middle-grade readers [and hopefully all those around them as they read and talk about this book]. Jordan and his "trip" to find his father in the midst of the LA Riots is deeply reminiscent of the recent backlash to the Black Lives Matter marches and as someone who remembers the days of the LA Riots as well, this really resonated with me. To know the rest of the story [in regards to what happened in Koreatown] was a learning experience for me. For that alone, I am glad I read this.
Representation is so important and John Cho has written a book that will resonate with many and I will absolutely be recommending this book to people who have middle grade readers.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Cho, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1. I thought this was a graphic novel [it was in the graphic novel section of NG] and I was very surprised to find that it was not. I was ready for a GN and was disappointed when that was not the case.
2. I am absolutely not the target audience for this book. Not even remotely. My rating is not because I liked the book. I will explain below.
My four star rating is not because I liked this book [hint, I didn't not love it. It was okay [again, I am SO not the target audience for this book], but it was also extremely frustrating to read as an adult who has helped raise kids. Kids do dumb things. Adults do dumb things and the conversations around those topics are the ones that resonated with me]. It is because I absolutely recognize the importance of this book [within the Asian/Korean community, with white kids who are totally clueless etc] and the impact it will have on ALL middle-grade readers [and hopefully all those around them as they read and talk about this book]. Jordan and his "trip" to find his father in the midst of the LA Riots is deeply reminiscent of the recent backlash to the Black Lives Matter marches and as someone who remembers the days of the LA Riots as well, this really resonated with me. To know the rest of the story [in regards to what happened in Koreatown] was a learning experience for me. For that alone, I am glad I read this.
Representation is so important and John Cho has written a book that will resonate with many and I will absolutely be recommending this book to people who have middle grade readers.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Cho, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2022
✨ "These protests? This uprising? It's not just about today. It's about all those lifetimes of injustice that have gone unheard."
This is a powerful ownvoices debut by actor John Cho about the 1992 LA riots through the Korean-American perspective of 12-year-old Jordan. I had a sense of foreboding the whole time I was reading this and felt so anxious for the well-intentioned protagonist.
I was initially skeptical about this middle-grade novel, especially since I found Jordan annoying and childish. However, it was all part of great character development and I was won over by the end. My concerns about the book portraying a child having access to a gun were also unfounded, as the author both explored this issue and explained his stance really well.
I love the author's note, in which Cho shares his inspiration for the book and its title. He also says:
Jordan also navigates very relatable themes such as family and expectations as well as school and grades. I highly recommend this engaging, well-written, timeless book that sheds light on important issues such as racism, gun violence and police brutality!
This is a powerful ownvoices debut by actor John Cho about the 1992 LA riots through the Korean-American perspective of 12-year-old Jordan. I had a sense of foreboding the whole time I was reading this and felt so anxious for the well-intentioned protagonist.
I was initially skeptical about this middle-grade novel, especially since I found Jordan annoying and childish. However, it was all part of great character development and I was won over by the end. My concerns about the book portraying a child having access to a gun were also unfounded, as the author both explored this issue and explained his stance really well.
I love the author's note, in which Cho shares his inspiration for the book and its title. He also says:
"Immediately, I struggled with whether a gun should be part of the story, whether it would be irresponsible. And while I was hesitant to write a story for children about a child with a gun, I did think it was unfortunately realistic."
"Finally, I thought of my children, seven and twelve, who had already gone through active shooter drills at their respective schools. I concluded it was naive of me to think I could shield any kids from the reality of guns in America. Tragically, they were already living it."
Jordan also navigates very relatable themes such as family and expectations as well as school and grades. I highly recommend this engaging, well-written, timeless book that sheds light on important issues such as racism, gun violence and police brutality!
May 31, 2022
Yes, Jordan is true “good bad”. Glad I got to know Cho better through the things he worked out in penning his first novel.
Easy read— easy way to introduce younger kids to race relations, to discrimination of Asians against Blacks, and racism in general, through the lens of the ‘92 LA Riots.
That docu/movie on it I saw on Netflix also illuminated the subject. But this book also helped Cho reckon his relationship with appa—- which was personal for me.
PS Cho majored in the same thing at Cal as Chris Pine!
Easy read— easy way to introduce younger kids to race relations, to discrimination of Asians against Blacks, and racism in general, through the lens of the ‘92 LA Riots.
That docu/movie on it I saw on Netflix also illuminated the subject. But this book also helped Cho reckon his relationship with appa—- which was personal for me.
PS Cho majored in the same thing at Cal as Chris Pine!
July 20, 2022
This is something that I typically would have never picked up to read but I borrowed it on a whim only to find that it is THE John Cho who is the author. I'm pretty unfamiliar with the LA riots. I knew they happened, I saw the photos of the damage, but I was severely unaware of the unjust events that lead to the rioting. More specifically, I definitely did not know about Latasha Harlins...
John Cho's approach to speak on racism, police brutality, immigration, gun ownership, and family was real, honest, and heart breaking as it is told from the perspective of a 12-year old boy who is in a time of vulnerability.
John Cho's approach to speak on racism, police brutality, immigration, gun ownership, and family was real, honest, and heart breaking as it is told from the perspective of a 12-year old boy who is in a time of vulnerability.
"I just want to say – you know – can we, can we all get along? Can we, can we get along? Can we stop making it horrible for the older people and the kids?"
- Rodney King, 1992
March 9, 2024
A Maine Student Book Award nominee for 23|24. A story set in the backdrop of the ‘92 riots in response to the Rodney King riots. Jordan’s Korean-American family owns a liquor store in LA. When his father goes to check on the store after the riots begin; he’s forgotten something important. Jordan plans to prove that he’s not a complete failure, and plans to meet his father at the store. But not everything goes according to plan, and Jordan learns a lot about himself and his family in the process.
A really great historical fiction read. I enjoyed this.
A really great historical fiction read. I enjoyed this.
November 12, 2022
This book had a lot of great things to say, and with a fast-paced plot, and family drama, it made for an enjoyable read. I thought the conversations about race and police violence were very relevant, and the discussions about living up to parents' expectations were very well done. I appreciate that the family drama is resolved by the end of the book as well.
My one negative about this book is that Jordan makes SO MANY bad choices throughout this story - many of them putting him and his friend in direct danger, and there are seemingly no consequences for any of them. A large part of the plot revolves around him hiding a gun in his backpack to bring to his father, but not telling anyone about it. This is definitely a book to read WITH your child so you can discuss these things together.
My one negative about this book is that Jordan makes SO MANY bad choices throughout this story - many of them putting him and his friend in direct danger, and there are seemingly no consequences for any of them. A large part of the plot revolves around him hiding a gun in his backpack to bring to his father, but not telling anyone about it. This is definitely a book to read WITH your child so you can discuss these things together.
February 26, 2023
A quick YA read that packs a punch. This book is set during the LA riots in 1992 following Rodney King's murder. A lot of chinatown was affected. The main character in this book is Korean-American and he learns about injustice and protesting and his own family history as he watches the protests unfold and sees his family store endangered.
August 21, 2024
So begins my era of reading YA lit to teach.
This was pretty cool though. An interesting take on retelling the LA Riots.
This was pretty cool though. An interesting take on retelling the LA Riots.
September 16, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Tackling a lot of complicated issues I thought it could be preachy, but John Cho gives the story and his characters such heart, that although there is a lot of food for thought and some lessons along the way, it was anything but preachy. It is important, however, to have stories like this. Especially for young adults. It is an engaging story, but also truthful in its portrayal of those tumultuous teenage years of raw emotion and the complicated dynamics of family and realizing your parents are human too. That’s the center if the story, but then it’s surrounded by the much bigger event of the LA riots of the early 90’s and the parallel to today is uncanny and certainly makes you question if/how things will ever change. There is no magic answer here, instead John Cho ends with a positive and hopeful note on a more personal level that I believe is a great message in and of itself. I think it would be a great book for discussion with a young adult, but it also made me ponder a lot on it too. I really liked the characters and I think that was what really pulled me into the story, as well as the family dynamics. Overall a really excellent book, well worth the read.
May 1, 2022
It wasn't intentional, but my library just happened to fill my hold request so that I read this book over April 29, the 30th anniversary of the LA riots.
The 1992 riots in Los Angeles serve as the backdrop for this story, which unfolds at the intersection of immigration, child-of-immigrant identity, racial injustice, and gun violence. On top of all that, the main character Jordan is trying to navigate strained relationships with both his father and his friend. Jordan's life is complicated, as many children's lives are. In that way, it reminded me of the book Blended, which also has themes of race and gun violence, and also openly addresses the many issues children face in real life. I appreciate these books for providing a framework for kids to process complex issues in age-appropriate ways.
I'm not Korean, but I'm an American-born child of Asian immigrants, and the Park family dynamics were familiar; the portrayal of Korean American experiences felt authentic.
Some parents might like to know that though the title may allude to John Lewis's quote about getting into "good trouble", there is quite a lot of actual "troublemaking" in this book, from cheating in school to stealing from family to hitchhiking with strangers! Every such action is presented with clear disapproval, and it's obvious that the decisions to engage in these activities were poor and reckless. I think the right vs. wrong morality is evident, so kids aren't likely to want to emulate Jordan and Mike. In fact, I actually think it's solid representation to show that yes, sometimes kids make bad decisions. Sometimes those decision come from a place of weakness or curiosity, sometimes they come from a place of desperation or wanting to do good, but no matter the motivation, bad decisions do not make for a "bad kid", and I think that's an important message for all kids to understand.
While Jordan is trying to unpack a lot of big and meaningful questions, the events of the book actually take him on an exciting adventure, making for an engaging and entertaining read even if you're not particularly interested in the social justice issues.
There is no Korean glossary, but there is an Author's Note at the back of the book. I think I might even recommend reading that first, to help frame and set the context for the book.
The 1992 riots in Los Angeles serve as the backdrop for this story, which unfolds at the intersection of immigration, child-of-immigrant identity, racial injustice, and gun violence. On top of all that, the main character Jordan is trying to navigate strained relationships with both his father and his friend. Jordan's life is complicated, as many children's lives are. In that way, it reminded me of the book Blended, which also has themes of race and gun violence, and also openly addresses the many issues children face in real life. I appreciate these books for providing a framework for kids to process complex issues in age-appropriate ways.
I'm not Korean, but I'm an American-born child of Asian immigrants, and the Park family dynamics were familiar; the portrayal of Korean American experiences felt authentic.
Some parents might like to know that though the title may allude to John Lewis's quote about getting into "good trouble", there is quite a lot of actual "troublemaking" in this book, from cheating in school to stealing from family to hitchhiking with strangers! Every such action is presented with clear disapproval, and it's obvious that the decisions to engage in these activities were poor and reckless. I think the right vs. wrong morality is evident, so kids aren't likely to want to emulate Jordan and Mike. In fact, I actually think it's solid representation to show that yes, sometimes kids make bad decisions. Sometimes those decision come from a place of weakness or curiosity, sometimes they come from a place of desperation or wanting to do good, but no matter the motivation, bad decisions do not make for a "bad kid", and I think that's an important message for all kids to understand.
While Jordan is trying to unpack a lot of big and meaningful questions, the events of the book actually take him on an exciting adventure, making for an engaging and entertaining read even if you're not particularly interested in the social justice issues.
There is no Korean glossary, but there is an Author's Note at the back of the book. I think I might even recommend reading that first, to help frame and set the context for the book.
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September 17, 2021I was immediately interested in this book. I was a senior in high school when the LA riots took place. It was the first time that I witnessed racism on a large scale. After nearly thirty years have passed, it's interesting to read the different perspectives. I remember from watching television the reaction of the store owners in the Korean area of LA. Therefore, it is interesting to read a story from that perspective.
Jordan was surprised to find his parents at home when he got home from school. Typically, they were still at the store when he got home. He hoped his mother wouldn't ask about his day because he didn't want to lie to her. Between the Rodney King verdict and the killing of Latasha Harlins, a young black teen a year before, by a Korean store owner, the city was in an uproar. Jordan watched the television as people took to the streets. Some were protesting while others were burning and looting stores. Jordan's parents had decided to close the store up early, and to ensure its safety, Jordan's father goes to board it up before the riots bleed over into that part of town.
His father was supposed to call home once he was at the store, but he never called. Jordan had to prove to his father that he could live up to his expectations. After Jordan enlists his friend Mike, they head out into a city that is out of control. But Jordan is determined to make sure his father is safe. But can he even get to his father in one piece before the whole city is in flames?
This book is a good historical fiction story for middle-grade students.
Jordan was surprised to find his parents at home when he got home from school. Typically, they were still at the store when he got home. He hoped his mother wouldn't ask about his day because he didn't want to lie to her. Between the Rodney King verdict and the killing of Latasha Harlins, a young black teen a year before, by a Korean store owner, the city was in an uproar. Jordan watched the television as people took to the streets. Some were protesting while others were burning and looting stores. Jordan's parents had decided to close the store up early, and to ensure its safety, Jordan's father goes to board it up before the riots bleed over into that part of town.
His father was supposed to call home once he was at the store, but he never called. Jordan had to prove to his father that he could live up to his expectations. After Jordan enlists his friend Mike, they head out into a city that is out of control. But Jordan is determined to make sure his father is safe. But can he even get to his father in one piece before the whole city is in flames?
This book is a good historical fiction story for middle-grade students.
January 31, 2023
Another effort on my part to understand the Korean American experience. Set in Los Angeles in the early 90s, a year after the Rodney King beating and the acquittal of officers involved, it puts the protagonist on the outskirts of south central L.A. as rioting begins, and gives insight into why Korean businesses were also targeted.
March 25, 2022
I really liked Cho's sincere approach to this very sensitive, yet important historical event.
My Japanese review:
https://youshofanclub.com/2022/03/25/...
My Japanese review:
https://youshofanclub.com/2022/03/25/...
April 2, 2022
Excellent children's book. Covers difficult topics without sensationalizing or sugar-coating. I think the author did a great job of capturing the mind-set of a middle schooler.
May 11, 2024
The debut novel of actor John Cho, Troublemaker takes place during the 1992 LA Riots. It's been nine years since Jordan's family had moved from Korea to Los Angeles. Jordan feels like he could not live up to his parents' expectations, knowing that he recently got suspended for cheating on his tests, and a month before got into a very big argument with his dad. When news of the upcoming riots were heading towards Koreatown, Jordan overhears his parents arguing about what to do if their shop would be a target of the protestors. It leads to his dad going to check on the shop, but when he doesn't return after some time, Jordan grows worried as the news update predicted violence will be likely. Hoping to make amends for his own failures, Jordan sets out to get his dad's shop to provide him the gun that was left behind. But his plans may never go the way it should have.
For a middle grade, it is not gritty, but it also doesn't shy away from the realities of gun violence & racism. Jordan is the lead is a relatable protagonist in wanting to make up for the wrongs he had done, however misguided his attempts were. The overall plot is rather straightforward & simple: trying reach the shop on time while revealing what the situation is like. The LA Riots takes more of a background to the story, but is consistently brought up ever few pages. And yet, there is a strong connection between the protestors' riots and the moral of family obligations. How much are you willing to do for your family? is a question that gets brought up more near the last third as it reveals the reasons why Jordan's dad left without his gun. Considering the heavy discussions of racism, gun violence, and protection that becomes a more apparent occurrence since the 90s, Troublemaker comes out as both an almost, literary fiction, as well as speaks about how sometimes trouble can come out from misguided attempts of doing good.
For a middle grade, it is not gritty, but it also doesn't shy away from the realities of gun violence & racism. Jordan is the lead is a relatable protagonist in wanting to make up for the wrongs he had done, however misguided his attempts were. The overall plot is rather straightforward & simple: trying reach the shop on time while revealing what the situation is like. The LA Riots takes more of a background to the story, but is consistently brought up ever few pages. And yet, there is a strong connection between the protestors' riots and the moral of family obligations. How much are you willing to do for your family? is a question that gets brought up more near the last third as it reveals the reasons why Jordan's dad left without his gun. Considering the heavy discussions of racism, gun violence, and protection that becomes a more apparent occurrence since the 90s, Troublemaker comes out as both an almost, literary fiction, as well as speaks about how sometimes trouble can come out from misguided attempts of doing good.
March 27, 2022
This book is about the LA Riots through the eyes of a 12-year-old Korean American. Jordan Park is a bit of a troublemaker. After getting suspended from school, he goes home to find his parents already home. It's April 29th, 1992, the day the Rodney King verdict was read. Jordan's parents talk about closing up the store in South Central LA in case there are riots. Things escalate when his dad leaves, so his family gets worried about him. Jordan decides to find his dad's gun and take it to him for protection during the LA riots. This story is about Jordan trying to make his way across LA on the worst night of their family's life.
This middle-grade novel is about a boy facing horrible circumstances as he tries to reach his father during the riots. Jordan faces danger and racism in his community. I loved how the author opened with a breaking mirror in the kitchen at the story's beginning. The mirror was a foreshadow of everything to come. Even though this book is set during a pivotal political event, it's really just a love story between a father and a son as well as an honest portrait of a Korean American family and the struggles they face.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/joh...
This middle-grade novel is about a boy facing horrible circumstances as he tries to reach his father during the riots. Jordan faces danger and racism in his community. I loved how the author opened with a breaking mirror in the kitchen at the story's beginning. The mirror was a foreshadow of everything to come. Even though this book is set during a pivotal political event, it's really just a love story between a father and a son as well as an honest portrait of a Korean American family and the struggles they face.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/joh...
March 24, 2022
Content Warning: Guns, Violence, Mentions of rioting, police brutality, murder, and arson - Anything related to Rodney King, Latasha Harlins, and the LA Riots.
This book has very heavy themes about police brutality, injustice, and the pressures that family can unintentionally put on a child. Most of all, this story is about a Korean family who has come to America in search of a new life, and the stress and struggles that come along with feeling like a failure and it all being for nothing.
The entirety of the book happens during one night: the first night of the LA riots. Jordan's father has to go to their store to board up the windows, just in case, but after he leaves, Jordan wants to prove that he can help. He takes his father's gun down from the shelf in the closet, puts it in his backpack, sneaks out of his house, and is determined to bring the gun to the store so that his father has a way to protect himself.
As you can imagine, a lot happens throughout the book that holds up Jordan's journey and the underlying tension inside of him makes this book hard to put down. It's a quick read (for an adult like me, anyway) at just over two hundred pages. I absolutely enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to anyone interested. It deals with a lot of hard topics, especially surrounding race and police, and definitely has its insightful moments.
This book has very heavy themes about police brutality, injustice, and the pressures that family can unintentionally put on a child. Most of all, this story is about a Korean family who has come to America in search of a new life, and the stress and struggles that come along with feeling like a failure and it all being for nothing.
The entirety of the book happens during one night: the first night of the LA riots. Jordan's father has to go to their store to board up the windows, just in case, but after he leaves, Jordan wants to prove that he can help. He takes his father's gun down from the shelf in the closet, puts it in his backpack, sneaks out of his house, and is determined to bring the gun to the store so that his father has a way to protect himself.
As you can imagine, a lot happens throughout the book that holds up Jordan's journey and the underlying tension inside of him makes this book hard to put down. It's a quick read (for an adult like me, anyway) at just over two hundred pages. I absolutely enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to anyone interested. It deals with a lot of hard topics, especially surrounding race and police, and definitely has its insightful moments.
July 23, 2023
An interesting look at the L.A. Riots from the perspective of a Korean-American child. This narrative also provides a look into how lack of communication and a lack of understanding can cause undesired emotions within family and friends. The Author's Note at the end puts everything into a new perspective, which is something more Middle Grade books need.
If the author decides to write another book, then I would not hesitate to read it.
If the author decides to write another book, then I would not hesitate to read it.
April 12, 2022
I really learned a lot reading this book. I definitely suggest this as a middle school read.
July 19, 2022
Excellent story. Now more kids can read about characters who look like them.
July 26, 2022
Wow. This was such a good book. The author’s note is especially powerful. Highly recommend!!!
August 27, 2022
A great audio. Don't skip the authors note on this one.
September 1, 2022
I read this and Steph Cha’s Your House Will Pay after hearing the authors on Code Switch. Both focus on Korean families, and in Cha’s book a black family, around the events of the LA riots after the Rodney King beating. I learned a lot about the history of the tension between these groups.
I appreciate and recommend both of these books. If you are thinking of sharing this book with kids, read some of the other reviews to see if it’s the right fit.
I appreciate and recommend both of these books. If you are thinking of sharing this book with kids, read some of the other reviews to see if it’s the right fit.
December 29, 2023
I loved this book! It was short but extremely powerful, and even though I was a little worried it would try to do too much, it did just enough. Definitely one to add to the rotation for my students!
March 27, 2024
A little slow to start but I loved messages of forgiveness and challenges everyone of all ages face - there are no right answers and we’re all doing the best we can.
July 14, 2022
Reading the account of the beating of Rodney King made me unbelievably sad that we haven't made any progress in this country. Will we ever?
Thought-provoking story of the LA riots after the Rodney King verdict told from the perspective of a different marginalized community.
Thought-provoking story of the LA riots after the Rodney King verdict told from the perspective of a different marginalized community.
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