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Made in Korea

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About The Book

Frankly in Love meets Shark Tank in this feel-good romantic comedy about two entrepreneurial Korean American teens who butt heads—and maybe fall in love—while running competing Korean beauty businesses at their high school.

There’s nothing Valerie Kwon loves more than making a good sale. Together with her cousin Charlie, they run V&C K-BEAUTY, their school’s most successful student-run enterprise. With each sale, Valerie gets closer to taking her beloved and adventurous halmeoni to her dream city, Paris.

Enter the new kid in class, Wes Jung, who is determined to pursue music after graduation despite his parents’ major disapproval. When his classmates clamor to buy the K-pop branded beauty products his mom gave him to “make new friends,” he sees an opportunity—one that may be the key to help him pay for the music school tuition he knows his parents won’t cover…

​What he doesn’t realize, though, is that he is now V&C K-BEAUTY’s biggest competitor.

Stakes are high as Valerie and Wes try to outsell each other, make the most money, and take the throne for the best business in school—all while trying to resist the undeniable spark that’s crackling between them. From hiring spies to all-or-nothing bets, the competition is much more than either of them bargained for.

But one thing is clear: only one Korean business can come out on top.

About The Author

Sarah Suk

Sarah Suk (pronounced like soup with a K) lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she writes stories and admires mountains. When she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the water, taking film photos, or eating a bowl of bingsu. Made in Korea is her first novel. You can visit Sarah online at SarahSuk.com and on Twitter and Instagram @SarahAeliSuk.

Why We Love It

“My favorite thing about Made in Korea is Valerie and Wes, and the journey they go on as both individuals and as a couple, facing challenges that I found deeply resonant. Valerie and Wes’s relationships with their parents are handled with such care and nuance, perfectly capturing the contradictory desire as a teen to forge your own path while also wanting to make your parents proud.”

—Dainese S., Assistant Editor, on Made in Korea

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 18, 2021)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534474390
  • Ages: 12 - 99
  • Lexile ® HL640L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Awards and Honors

  • Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Selection Title

Resources and Downloads

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