Publishers Weekly
04/05/2021
Korean American adoptee Riley Oh, 12 and selfless, is the only saram—“normal, non-gifted person without a lick of magic”—in her family, who are healers and part of the Gom clan. When Riley’s denied the opportunity to take part in a magical initiation ceremony, she, along with her headstrong 12-year-old sister Hattie, also Korean American, protest, conjuring a spell that will split Hattie’s magic with Riley. Their decision sets off a series of events that reveal Riley’s biological parentage and threaten the whole community. And when Hattie’s life hangs in the balance, Riley must find the last fallen star to bring her back. Riley and her biracial best friend, Emmett, a sardonic saram of Korean descent, encounter a slew of Korean mythological characters, including an inmyeonjo, a dokkaebi, and gwisin. As Riley and Emmett travel around L.A.’s Koreatown, readers familiar with Korean culture will appreciate references to staples such as H-Mart and noraebangs. Though overly detailed explanations of magic bog down this otherwise fast-paced adventure, unique clan identities are cleverly imagined, and Riley’s emotional arc and journey to self-acceptance shine through. Ages 8–12. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (May)
From the Publisher
"The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim absolutely shines. Riley Oh's positive voice is infectious and will have readers wanting to follow her adventures long after the last page is turned."—Zoraida Cordova, award-winning author of the Brooklyn Brujas series
"The Last Fallen Star is as thrilling as it is heartwarming. For contemporary and fantasy middle grade readers alike, this one's an absolute must-read! Prepare to be enthralled from the very first page."—J. Elle, NYT best-selling author of Wings of Ebony
"[In this] fast-paced adventure, unique clan identities are cleverly imagined, and Riley's emotional arc and journey to self-acceptance shine through."—Publishers Weekly
"Exploring familial bonds, belonging, and community, this is a fast-paced urban fantasy drawing on Korean mythology. Complications and twists keep the plot engaging and snappy. A fun, new magical world that promises more adventures to come."—Kirkus Reviews
"Full of humor and thrills, this bewitching fantasy blends Korean mythology into an empowering adventure."—School Library Journal
"I wish I could go back in time and hand this book to young Ellen. I would have loved it so much, because this was what I was missing in my life. Thank you, Graci, for writing it!"—Ellen Oh, author of The Dragon Egg Princess and the Spirit Hunters series
"Korean mythology gets a modern twist in this rollicking adventure by debut author Graci Kim. From entering a secret temple by way of the fried chicken counter at H-Mart to summoning a goddess at the Santa Monica Pier, every chapter of this novel delights and surprises. At times laugh-out-loud hilarious, at times heartwarming and poignant, The Last Fallen Star will capture the imaginations of readers for years to come!"—Axie Oh, author of Rebel Seoul and Rogue Heart
"Like a true magician, Graci Kim intertwines Korean mythology with an all-too-relatable sister story in her heart-stopping adventure that's sure to capture the heart of anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. You can't help but root for plucky Riley Oh as she engages on a quest to find belonging and acceptance."—Jessica Kim, author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
"Reading The Last Fallen Star is like taking a course in Korean mythology taught by your favorite teacher ever—while riding a gigantic roller coaster beneath a sky filled with shooting stars! I loved following Riley's thrilling adventure, and pass the bulgogi tacos, please."—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist for A Single Shard
"The elaborate magical community, riddled with tensions, is a lot of fun, and the urgency of saving Hattie drives the pace and Riley's growth into her true self. Best of all is the way the mythology and folklore mix with the modern world and Korean/Korean-American pop culture."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
*"From a compelling and endearing supporting cast to the rich and tantalizing Korean cuisine explored in its pages, this pays homage to traditional Korean magic and mythos while infusing it with a contemporary story line and characters readers will fall in love with in an instant. Riley's unmistakable voice and her relatable search for and exploration of her identity will connect with readers at their cores, offering a truly promising start to a fantastical series."—Booklist (starred review)
"The Last Fallen Star folds Korean culture as well as diaspora feelings into a magical adventure. The way Graci Kim takes traditions and lore and incorporates them into an exciting contemporary fantasy setting makes my heart soar as a Korean reader. This fantastical story is filled with heart and humor. Readers who love magical adventures, complex family relationships, and sisterhood—not to mention food!—should pick up The Last Fallen Star immediately!"—Kat Cho, internationally best-selling author of Vicious Spirits
School Library Journal
04/01/2021
Gr 4–8—This latest installment of "Rick Riordan Presents" features Korean-inspired mythology filled with goddesses, witch clans, ghosts, and fantastical creatures. Despite her family's attempts at inclusion, 12-year-old Riley Oh has always felt invisible, like an outsider. They are Gom, one of six secret clans of gifted witches. Riley's adopted and doesn't possess the magical healing powers they all do. Driven by her need to belong, she hatches a plan with her sister Hattie to cast a spell that would share Hattie's magic with Riley. When the spell backfires, Riley must step up to save Hattie and confront the truth of her heritage. During her quest, Riley learns to challenge her biases and that every story contains more than one perspective. The most important lesson, though, is one of self-acceptance as she finds strength and belonging with those who love her. While most tweens aren't tasked with impossible missions to save the world, many can relate to Riley's feelings of insecurity and need for validation. She is a heroine whose flaws make her relatable in this highly imaginative and original story. Many Korean terms and authentic cultural references enrich the action-packed plot, including crave-inducing food descriptions. VERDICT Full of humor and thrills, this bewitching fantasy blends Korean mythology into an empowering adventure.—Sophie Kenney, Aurora P.L., IL
Kirkus Reviews
2021-02-09
When a spell goes wrong, a girl sets out on a quest to save her sister.
Riley Oh and her sister, Hattie, are typical Korean American girls except for one thing: They know magic is real. When she turns 13 in two days, Hattie will finally become a full member of the Gom clan, able to wield magic on her own. But because Riley is adopted and saram, or nonmagical, the other clans will not allow her to have an initiation ceremony when she turns 13 in a month. Struck by this unfairness, Hattie finds a spell that will share her magic with Riley. Unfortunately, their plan goes spectacularly wrong, fracturing Riley’s community and endangering Hattie. Feeling responsible for the calamity, Riley, along with her best friend, Emmett, will do whatever it takes to make things right, whether that means striking deals with fickle magical beings or considering the help of an ostracized magical clan. Exploring familial bonds, belonging, and community, this is a fast-paced urban fantasy drawing on Korean mythology. Riley and her friends navigate Los Angeles’ Koreatown and run-ins with dokkaebi and inmyeonjo with a frantic, upbeat energy. Complications and twists keep the plot engaging and snappy. Emmett is cued as biracial (his mother was a Gom elder who married a saram with a Western surname; his father’s ethnicity is not specified).
A fun, new magical world that promises more adventures to come. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-13)
