When My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon

by Frances Park

Marcy idolizes her older sister, Cleo, but when Cleo returns home from college Marcy senses a self-destructiveness about her she hadn't noticed before

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

243 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2001

About the author

I grew up in an era when the U.S. Census Bureau need only come to my family's house to get a total head count of Koreans in my ‘burb. That reality is often reflected in seventeen books – novels, memoirs, children's books – published in seven languages, along with short fiction and personal essays appearing in over fifty magazines.

An identity born of two worlds is me in a nutshell. The theme of losing my dad young also haunts much of my work. In my latest novel "Ahn Love" (Penguin Random SEA), I imagine him today, had he lived to the ripe old age of ninety. It all began with a dream of seeing him break into a silly jig in the middle of a crosswalk, years after he died. “Ahn Love” was released in January 2026 and made quite a splash! It was selected by Elle INDIA as a ‘Must-Read’ for 2026, and Book of the Month by Untitled Book Club in Malaysia.

Recent works include my novel "Blue Rice", a portrayal of a Korean woman who survived the war with no choice but to acclimate to 1960 white America as she senses her husband’s desertion. "The Summer My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon" depicts the spiritual deformity of two Korean American sisters growing up in Washington, DC suburbia in the 1970s. My memoir-in-essays "That Lonely Spell" was praised by Kirkus Reviews as ‘a fresh take on the Korean American memoir by a writer from a generation whose voice has seldom been heard’. Latest accolades include a 2024 Foreword Indies Award and a 2017 Best American Essays Notable.

In addition, my co-author sister Ginger and I are among the pioneers of Asian American children’s literature, earning many awards. Our first picture book "My Freedom Trip: A Child’s Escape from North Korea", the recipient of the 2000 International Reading Award, is taught in schools all over the country. Our latest picture book "My Sister’s Doljabi" paints a sumptuous picture of one of Korea’s most important ceremonies: a Korean’s child’s first birthday. A glowing Kirkus Review summed the story up as ‘A rich and inviting exploration of a Korean celebration’.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story of two Korean-American sisters and their often strained relationship. It switches between present day and 1976, when the protagonist was 14. It is an interesting look at how Asian Americans were viewed in the late 70's and the struggle between sisters and their grief.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender story from the perspective of the younger sister, in her early adolescence, somewhat awkward, self-described plain jane, who lives in the shadow of her worldly, free spirited older sister. Drifted apart after a tragic loss, their paths intersect in adulthood and both sisters come to a crossroads as they rediscover how they perceived each other in their younger days. Quirky, imperfect, characters whom I enjoyed discovering as pieces of their stories and who they were unfolded…

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, I read it back to back multiple times last year. I liked the 70s vibes, but it also hits on grief and sisterhood which I really loved.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole "naive, prudish, younger narrator telling the story of their older, wilder sibling/friend" thing is a trope that's totally overdone in coming-of-age stories, but one I pretty much love every time. But then I'm always disappointed by the "now it's 20 years later and we're Dealing With Our Issues" part of the story. So I loved the 1976 half of this book and was kinda bored with the present-day half.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. A bit too whoodoo and metaphysical nonsense for me, but a decent story of sisters. I really didn't get why Marcy cared so much about Cleo. Cleo seemed to be a selfish jerk and completely unlikeable, and Marcy is milquetoast.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

9 out of 10

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. First read 2/2001.

[Cynthisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for book club. Eh....