Soyung Pak

Biography

I was born in South Korea, but I don't remember much about it. I moved to New Jersey when I was two years old, so I was too young. The memories I do have are random and of everyday moments. Riding on my grandmother's back. Sitting down for lunch in my neighbor's home. Other than that, my memories begin in New Jersey, where I grew up.

I grew up in a very small white house with the biggest backyard on the block. For a long time, it was just my parents and my brother and me. Then, my other baby brother was born and my family was complete. My best friend, Beth, was practically family. She lived across the street and we played together every day. During the winter, we played at her house because she had more games. During the summer, we played at my house because I had a swing set, a big tree, and a backyard that was so long that you could run relay races back and forth. During the evenings, it didn't matter where we were as long as there were stars or fireflies.

Now that I'm a grown-up, I live away from my parents. I've traded the backyards for skylines, and my favorite places to be are big cities. I have lived in New York and Chicago, and have seen many cities around the world. Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Zurich, Mandalay, Bagan, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Hanoi, Saigon, Barcelona. I like to see how people in different parts of the world live. What I like best, however, is to fly back home to my family and friends. It's true what people say — you always return to where your roots are. My roots are with my heart, which is always with the people I love. In that way, I guess I am never away from home!

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Dear Juno

by Soyung Pak and Susan Kathleen Hartung

Juno cannot read the Korean words in the letter from his Grandmother. He can, however, tell that she has a new cat and she's planting a flower garden. When Juno wants to write back, and Grandmother can't read English - he knows just want to do. "A moving story about communicating across distances." - Publishers Weekly

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Paperback Book | Grades K-2

Dear Juno

Grades K-2 $4.95