Publishers Weekly
08/28/2023
Sixteen-year-old Soma Kear, a queer Cambodian American poet living in Lowell, Mass., is struggling to deal with significant familial challenges. After decades living in the U.S., Ba has been deported to Phnom Penh, and Ma keeps extending her visit with him without explanation. On top of that, Soma’s much older sister Dahvy, a Lowell High School teacher, is acting as a bossy second mother since moving back home to care for Soma. Communicating with Ba hurts too much, but when he sends an email that strikes a nerve, Soma unloads her frustrations via a free-form poetry video, which she posts—and which goes viral, prompting her Cambo best friend Sophat to convince her to enter the annual Jack Kerouac Poetry Competition. As Soma prepares for the contest, she navigates a contentious relationship with a Cambo peer, crushes on gorgeous Black classmate Britney, and dreads fulfilling her responsibilities as maid of honor at Dahvy’s upcoming wedding. In this smart and edgy debut, Chum, per an author’s note, gives Soma space to be “clumsy, complex, and, yes, contradictory at times,” channeling a protagonist whose uncertainty in the face of her future and the model minority myth feels fresh and radical. Via Soma’s sharp, first-person voice, Chum mixes humorous insights with forthright interrogations of colonialism, immigration, and racism. Ages 13–and up. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Some readers will see themselves reflected in Soma, some readers will learn about the history and culture of girls like Soma, and all readers will be rooting for Soma to realize her voice has power and that history is both a weight and a launchpad. Vichet Chum is a beautiful wordsmith and a fresh, welcome new voice in the YA canon.” — Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Kween is a must-read novel about a young Cambodian American navigating identity, family, and love in the shadows of war and dislocation. Told in a fierce and vulnerable voice, Vichet Chum delivers a fresh perspective in contemporary literature." — Loung Ung, bestselling author of First They Killed My Father
"In this smart and edgy debut, Chum, per an author’s note, gives Soma space to be “clumsy, complex, and, yes, contradictory at times,” channeling a protagonist whose uncertainty in the face of her future and the model minority myth feels fresh and radical. Via Soma’s sharp, first-person voice, Chum mixes humorous insights with forthright interrogations of colonialism, immigration, and racism." — Publishers Weekly
"Reading this close first-person narrative is like being happily nestled inside Soma's brilliant and introspective little head. Chum's writing itself is mesmerizing from the jump with its wit and flow, a stunning prelude to Soma's killer verses. Informative in its depiction of Cambodian foods and customs (both inherited and often hilariously invented) and with smooth dialogue, and a friendship for the ages, Chum's debut is absolutely magnetic." — Booklist (starred review)
"Chum offers readers an education in Cambodian history, the Khmer people, and their Lowell community throughout this heartfelt family drama. His cultural respect and humor amplify the book’s strong sense of place. An empowering coming-of-age story with genuine character growth." — Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
2023-07-26
Sixteen-year-old Soma Kear finds her voice after her father is deported back to Cambodia.
“She’s got those yellow-brown blues / Those Jungle Asian views / Of not feeling right / When you’re always in the fight.” Lowell, Massachusetts, junior Soma attracts attention online when she posts a video of her spoken-word poetry: her way of making sense of everything that’s changing in her life. Her mom is in Cambodia, trying to bring her dad back. Dahvy, Soma’s much older sister, moves back in and thinks she needs to be Ba and Ma combined. She’s gotten a job teaching at Soma’s high school and is engaged to Ruben Diaz, one of Soma’s former teachers. Will Ma return in time for the wedding? On the upside, Britney Roe, Soma’s crush, who is Black, wants to go on a date with her. Reckoning with family, love, and jealousy, Soma channels her anger into art by entering the annual Jack Kerouac Poetry Competition with best friend Sophat’s encouragement. Soma explores religion and spirituality, discusses Octavia Butler with Britney (“God is change”), and writes a poem exploring the question, “What’s God to you?” Yet, despite all her writing, she can’t seem to return any of Ba’s emails. Debut author Chum offers readers an education in Cambodian history, the Khmer people, and their Lowell community throughout this heartfelt family drama. His cultural respect and humor amplify the book’s strong sense of place.
An empowering coming-of-age story with genuine character growth. (Fiction. 13-18)
