Bloody Seoul

Bloody Seoul
Cover of Bloody Seoul
AuthorSonia Patel
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult literature
PublisherCinco Puntos Press
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback)
ISBN978-1-94-762720-8

Bloody Seoul is a young adult novel by Sonia Patel, published July 2, 2019 by Cinco Puntos Press.

Reception

Bloody Seoul was generally well-received by critics.

Booklist called the novel a "powerful story about family, redemption, and finding out who you really are.”[1]

Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Readers who are drawn to the darker side of Korean pop culture will enjoy this archetypal, yet solid, redemption story."[2]

Publishers Weekly provided a mixed review, saying, "Patel ... resents the sights and sounds of Seoul accurately, though Rocky’s inner dialogue is indistinguishable from an American teenager’s, making the Korean setting feel superimposed."[3] They further stated, "Secondary characters exist in broad caricature."[3] However, "Patel’s choppy, terse sentences reflect Rocky’s precarious emotional state and compulsive behavior, which are explored alongside themes of redemption, self-discovery, and generational trauma."[3]

Cleaver Magazine's Kristie Gadson also highlighted how Patel's writing reflects Rocky's experiences and said, "Patel’s writing shines. Her words flow across the page like a poem - descriptive yet succinct, observant of an entire world in so few phrases."[4] Gadson continued, saying the novel "teaches us this lesson through colorful and subtly powerful storytelling, gripping readers from beginning to end."[4]

In 2020, Bloody Seoul was in the top ten for the In the Margins Book Award.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Bloody Seoul". Booklist. May 15, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Bloody Seoul". Kirkus Reviews. April 7, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Children's Book Review: Bloody Seoul by Sonia Patel". Publishers Weekly. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "BLOODY SEOUL by Sonia Patel". Cleaver Magazine. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "2020 ITM Top Ten". In the Margins Book Awards. January 30, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.

See also