Your Letter
Hyeon A. Cho
Yen Press
Published July 23, 2024
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About Your Letter
When middle schooler Sori Lee stood up for her friend against their entire class, she never expected to become their new target―but that’s exactly what happens. So, when her friend decides to transfer schools, Sori decides to wipe the slate clean and does the same. Luckily, someone seems to be looking out for her this time, and on her first day, she finds a mysterious letter taped to the bottom of her desk inviting her on a scavenger hunt!
Sori follows the trail of clues to try and uncover the identity of her benefactor, and as she explores all the curious and wonderful people and places around the school, begins to open her heart once more…
My Review
This is such a sweet story. It starts off with a scene that shows kids bullying a student. The main character, Sori, stands up to the bullies and tells them to stop. She then becomes a target herself. I’m not sure how much this happens in real life, but I know it’s the big fear with bullying. I have seen statistics that indicate bullying is more likely to stop if someone speaks up, but more likely doesn’t mean always.
One of the things I like about the illustrations is the way that they call attention to or mute certain details. For example, when Sori feels like other students are whispering about her, their faces are shadowed and drawn blank, except for open mouths. It highlights that feeling of being isolated and alone, of things happening that you can’t do anything about.
When Sori reaches her new school, she finds letters in her new desk that send her on a scavenger hunt and across the path of another lonely person. I liked the way the relationship between the two loners developed. There’s one section that shows a flashback about the other student that was cool.
The letters connect the characters in more ways than their school attendance, too. The story creates a circle, leading back to a relationship that happened before the story began. It’s super sweet.
If you’re looking for an uplifting, cozy story, this one delivers a lot of warm feelings and celebrates friendship and the positive impact we have on one another’s lives.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 12 up.
Representation
Your Letters takes place in Korea. Characters are Korean.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used briefly in one scene.
Romance/Sexual Content
None.
Spiritual Content
While Sori follows directions from an anonymous letter, she is transported to a room with a familiar person in it.
Violent Content
The opening scene shows kids bullying others, making fun of, and laughing at them.
Drug Content
None.
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