Kinda Korean

In this courageous memoir of parental love, intergenerational trauma, and perseverance, Joan Sung breaks the generational silence that curses her family. By intentionally overcoming the stereotype that all Asians are quiet, Sung tells her stories of coming-of-age with a Tiger Mom who did not understand American society.

Torn between her two identities as a Korean woman and a first generation American, Sung bares her struggles in an honest and bare confessional. Sifting through her experiences with microaggressions to the over fetishization of Asian women, Sung connects the COVID pandemic with the decades of violence and racism experienced by Asian American communities.

Author: Joan Sung

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

Categories: Memoir, Spring 2025

Description
About the Author

Description

“[Sung’s] is a universal voice of children of immigrant parents. As a Latina who grew up in the USA with Honduran immigrant parents, I deeply connected with [Sung’s] personal struggles, and I’ve never felt more seen while reading a book. From feeling ashamed of my father’s heavy accent to not speaking perfect Spanish, I found myself nodding along to each chapter . . . Whether you’re the parent or child in an immigrant household, there are parts of you blended in these pages. I recommend this book to anyone, but if you’ve ever felt stuck between two cultures, you must read this book.”

—Marie Garcia, Memoir Magazine Book Review

About the Author

Joan Sung is a national cultural competency conference presenter and consultant and has a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a Doctorate in Education. Her articles regarding Asian American voices have been published in TinyBeans.com, Mochi Magazine, Memoir Magazine, and Writerly Magazine. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, her son, and two dogs.