A Step From Heaven, written by An Na, describes a girl named Young Ju who recently moves to Mi Gook (America) with her family for new job and educational opportunities. This realistic fiction novel is written with small memories that show Young Ju’s path along life, from when she was a little baby to when she was heading to college. Despite Young Ju being top of her class and achieving what her parents wanted her to, she struggled with her father’s constant verbal and physical abuse. Along with that, she struggled to fit into American culture and learn the language. Her mom had to secretly work many jobs to try to help support the family, but they stayed in the same little apartment, until one day her father almost killed her mother.
I loved this book all the way from the plot, to the Korean word sand culture, to the layout. I would definitely recommend this book to any young teenagers. Despite the cover misleading people into thinking the book is mainly for a girl, I would give this book 4/5 stars.