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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Dreamslinger
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WEBSITE: https://www.gracikim.com/
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COUNTRY: New Zealand
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PERSONAL
Married; children: daughter.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Diplomat, cooking show host, businesswoman, author.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
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Graci Kim is a Korean New Zealander former diplomat turned New York Times best-selling author of middle grade books who weaves Korean mythology into modern children’s fantasy tales. Kim desires to create literature that resonates with individuals from diverse backgrounds. In an interview with Kim Hyun-bin at Korea Times, Kim explained: “We all deserve to be able to pick up a book and be completely transported into someone else’s shoes.” She stressed the importance of human connection and the ability of storytelling to unite people across cultures and experiences.
Her debut book, The Last Fallen Star, launched the “Gifted Clans” series, part of the Rick Riordan Presents series. In the story, Korean American Hattie Oh is about to turn 13 and will officially be a member of the magical witch Gom clan. She’s upset that her 12-year-old adopted sister Riley is saram, a non-magical person. Hattie devises a spell that allows her to share her magic with Riley, but it goes terribly wrong and Hattie collapses. That sets Riley off on a quest, with her best friend Emmet, another saram, to find a fallen star that can revive Hattie. The book incorporates many Korean mythological characters, such as an inmyeonjo, a dokkaebi, and gwisin, as well as locations in Los Angeles familiar to Korean Americans.
Despite overly detailed explanations of magic, the “fast-paced adventure, [and] unique clan identities are cleverly imagined, and Riley’s emotional arc and journey to self-acceptance shine through,” according to a Publishers Weekly contributor. Horn Book reviewer Anita L. Burkam noted: “mythological monsters menace modern-day kids, who must learn to use their powers while contending with the gods/goddesses to prevent certain catastrophe.” “Complications and twists keep the plot engaging and snappy,” declared a Kirkus Reviews critic.
The second book in the series, The Last Fallen Moon, Riley has saved her sister Hattie but in the process has killed the Cave Bear Goddess, causing the demise of their Gom clan’s healing abilities. Riley, who learned that she comes from the sky and is a fallen star, wants to get her clan’s magic back. She joins up with Hattie and the mysterious Dahl, who claims to be a heaven-born boy, to sneak into the Spiritrealm’s underworld to save the land of the dead. If they can’t, the Mortalrealm, the land of the living, will be in danger. “With dry humor and rough-and-tumble theatrics, Riley’s story continues as she grapples with guilt, belonging, and her own identity and self-confidence,” reported a contributor to Kirkus Reviews.
The Last Fallen Realm, the last book in the trilogy, finds the barriers between the Godrealm, Spiritrealm, and Mortalrealm weakening and at odd with one another. The Godrealm’s goddesses are seeking revenge on Riley for killing the Cave Bear Goddess, Hattie decides to stay in the Spiritrealm, and witches from around the Mortalrealm are preparing for war. Hattie discovers that Riley and her divine soul-twin, Dahl, are destined to lead the world into the Age of the Final Eclipse. In Kirkus Reviews a writer said that with high stakes, “even more creatures from Korean mythology, and plot points from earlier installments finally addressed, this is an intense, satisfying series finale.”
Launching Kim’s “Dreamslinger” series is the 2025 Dreamslinger. Fourteen-year-old Korean American Aria Loveridge is a dreamslinger, a mutant human who can manifest magical powers through dreams. After a magical outburst killed many people 10 years ago, dreamslingers are now pariahs. Aria’s father gathers dreamslingers to Resthaven, a home that protects them and trains them to restrain their abilities. Unafraid of dreamslingers, the secretive island nation Kingdom of Royal Hanguk holds the Annual Royal Slinger Trials in which dreamslinger teenagers can compete to join the Dreamslinger League. Sent as a spy to determine if the kingdom is a threat, Aria instead makes friends and uncovers Royal Hanguk secrets. Ultimately, Aria must decide where her loyalties lie.
“Strong world building, an inventive magic system, and rich Korean cultural elements conjure a truly wondrous world of high-stakes competition and fierce friendship,” wrote Emily Graham in Booklist. “This deftly executed work successfully addresses serious coming-of-age themes with optimism. An intriguing series opener that explores emotional themes through a magical lens,” according to a Kirkus Reviews critic. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that Kim “capably deploys Aria’s sassy third-person narration to present an imaginative series opener.”
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BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, January 2025, Emily Graham, review of Dreamslinger, p. 76.
Horn Book, July-August 2021, Anita L. Burkam, review of The Last Fallen Star, p. 116.
Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2021, review of The Last Fallen Star; April 1, 2022, review of The Last Fallen Moon; April 15, 2023, review of The Last Fallen Realm; February 1, 2025, review of Dreamslinger.
ONLINE
Korea Times, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ (Mar 25, 2024), Kim Hyun-bin, “New Zealand Ambassador Aims to Bolster Ties with Korea Through Literary Connections.”
Publishers Weekly, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (May 2021), review of The Last Fallen Star; (April 2025), review of Dreamslinger.
Graci Kim
Graci Kim is a Korean-Kiwi diplomat turned author who writes about the magic she wants to see in the world. The Last Fallen Star is her middle grade debut. In a previous life she used to be a cooking show host, and she once ran a business that turned children's drawings into plushies. When she's not lost in her imagination, you'll find Graci drinking flat whites, eating ramyeon, and most likely hugging a dog (or ideally, many). She lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Twitter @gracikim and Instagram @gracikimwrites.
Genres: Children's Fiction
New and upcoming books
April 2025
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Dreamslinger
(Slinger, book 1)
Series
Gifted Clans
1. The Last Fallen Star (2021)
2. The Last Fallen Moon (2022)
3. The Last Fallen Realm (2023)
thumbthumbthumb
Slinger
1. Dreamslinger (2025)
Graci Kim is a diplomat turned award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of children’s fantasy books
Graci Kim is the diplomat turned award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Last Fallen Star, The Last Fallen Moon, and The Last Fallen Realm, aka the Gifted Clans series. Featured in TIME Magazine for Kids, and dubbed a “sparkling yarn” by Entertainment Weekly, the Korean mythology-inspired trilogy is being translated into multiple languages.
The Last Fallen Star was named a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Children’s Book, an Amazon Best Book, an Indigo Best Book, a Barnes & Noble Young Reader Pick, and a Whitcoulls’ Kids Top 50. In 2022, Graci was awarded the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent.
The first book in her new series, Dreamslinger, will be released in April 2025.
In a previous life, Graci was a New Zealand diplomat, a cooking show host, and once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. She now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand with her husband and daughter. You can join her newsletter, follow her on Instagram, or write her a letter at gracikim.com.
The many talents of Graci Kim: diplomat, toy maker, children's author
1 November 2022
Ingenio, Alumni, Faculty of Arts and Education, Facing racism
Bestselling children’s fantasy author Graci Kim is full of surprises. She talks to Janet McAllister.
Graci Kim loves it when children get in touch with her about her books.
Graci Kim loves it when children get in touch with her about her books. Photo: Billy Wong
Of all Graci Kim’s fabulous real-life adventures, this might be the best: she (briefly) ran away with the circus at 16. She had been given front-row tickets for her birthday.
“We watched beautiful Colombian men daredevil-dance on a tightrope. Then in the interval, the very, very good-looking one came down and talked to me in Spanish, and I fell in love with him. I still to this day don’t know what he said!”
The results: an enjoyable stint of circus ushering; longer-lasting ‘obsessions’ with salsa and Spanish; and a University of Auckland arts degree including Latin American studies – a swerve from her initial enrolment in law. This was thanks to her university revelation, “realising you can pursue something you have a real passion for and carve a path out for yourself that wasn’t packaged for you already”.
Following her own passion, carving her own path, has been the Aucklander’s life philosophy ever since – as a Cuban-band member, diplomat in Beijing, and maker of plushie-dreams-come-true. Graci’s company, My Thingymabob, turned kids’ drawings into toys, endearingly faithful to the sketches: “That was so much fun! Our minds can create entire worlds.”
And now her “let’s make it happen!” drive has propelled her onto the New York Times bestseller list for tweens, with The Last Fallen Star. Her appealing, lively debut features secret magic, witch clans, feisty heroines, serious dilemmas, karaoke and people saying “amazeballs”. It – and the two books that follow in Graci’s Gifted Clans trilogy – is inspired by the Korean mythology of her childhood: her halmeoni (grandmother) would tell her and her two sisters folktales, cuddled up in bed.
Sometimes you feel you’re displaced, like you don’t belong anywhere.
Graci Kim, arts alumna
Children's fantasy author
Graci’s trilogy is set in Los Angeles, home to a large Korean community. As diaspora, says Graci, “sometimes you feel you’re displaced, like you don’t belong anywhere” and she wants to write books for the child she was. She loved The Baby-Sitters Club novel series, featuring Japanese-American Claudia: “The only Asian character I had ever read in a book that wasn’t a National Geographic.”
At the same time as being invisible in books, Graci says she and her family were racially harassed while she was growing up in Auckland. For children, “it’s easy to target someone different,” says Graci.
Her dad’s response was to “kill people with love”, so Graci invited one of her biggest bullies to her party and, after that, the same kid stood up for her when other children were mean. She thinks it would be useful to teach kids to intervene, even in just a low-key way, when they see overt racism.
“The hardest thing is when you feel like you’re alone. If everybody played that small part of clearly stating ‘that’s not appropriate’, that would help.”
Graci’s second book, The Last Fallen Moon, has been published in the US, complete with tie-in online quiz. The secret to success? It’s clear Graci works hard and smart, and, where others might see setbacks, she sees lessons.
“My first writing effort failed – everyone told me the book was crap.”
But inviting criticism was the whole point: learning her craft meant learning to apply relevant feedback. Cue training montage – redrafting, mentoring, emailing agents, pitching – before one particular editor, at Disney-Hyperion no less, gave her 16 pages of daunting feedback. Graci worked through it …
And?
“It was wild! I was literally getting my belly scanned – we were just finding out we were having a baby – and I got the call to say the book was being published!”
Skye, Graci’s baby with husband Neil, is now aged two.
My first writing effort failed – everyone told me the book was crap.
Graci Kim, author of the Gifted Clans trilogy
BA(Hons) Spanish, University of Auckland
Graci has had a side hustle creating children's soft toys from their drawings.
Graci has had a side hustle creating children's soft toys from their drawings.
Disney is publishing all three Gifted Clans books, and has also optioned them for a potential live-action TV series. The only professional cloud on Graci’s horizon is Covid – which cancelled planned in-person US celebrations two years running.
“That sucked,” says Graci. “It’s so disappointing. I haven’t met my agent and editor; I feel I’m living some kind of dream I might wake from.”
But fortunately, “the writing is the part I love the most. And when kids get in touch, that’s the best part of the job.”
After an hour in Graci’s effervescent, engaging company – not long enough – it’s clear that’s true.
And that this whole fabulous real-life adventure has many exciting twists ahead.
'To those who feel they don't belong': Author Graci Kim on diaspora and Korean mythology
Published: 26 Mar. 2024, 15:44
Updated: 26 Mar. 2024, 15:58
기자 사진
LIM JEONG-WON
lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr
The New York Times best-selling author Graci Kim, behind the Korean mythology-inspired ″Gifted Clans″ trilogy, speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the New Zealand Embassy in Jung District, central Seoul, on March 22, 2024. [PARK SANG-MOON]
The New York Times best-selling author Graci Kim, behind the Korean mythology-inspired ″Gifted Clans″ trilogy, speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the New Zealand Embassy in Jung District, central Seoul, on March 22, 2024. [PARK SANG-MOON]
If all the immigrant, third-culture and diaspora people formed a country of their own, it would be one of the largest in the world, according to various statistics. Graci Kim, a former Kiwi diplomat who is now a New York Times best-selling author of children's fantasy books, creates stories for this population as she is a member of it herself.
Taking inspiration from Korean mythology but giving it a “modern twist,” Kim dedicated her “Gifted Clans” trilogy, which follows a magical clan of Korean diaspora, to “those who have felt like they don’t belong.”
“In this globalized world, I think it is ever more important to find your roots and realize that you don’t have to choose whether you are one nationality and culture or another,” said Kim during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily last Friday.
The "Gifted Clans" trilogy was introduced to the world with the blessing of the creator of the "Percy Jackson" series as part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint and is currently optioned by Disney for a television series.
Kim discussed the Korean mythology that inspired her stories, themes of family bonds and loyalty and how her experience as a diplomat influenced her literary work.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Author Graci Kim with a copy of ″The Last Fallen Star,″ the first installment of the ″Gifted Clans″ trilogy, during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the New Zealand Embassy in Jung District, central Seoul, on March 22, 2024. [PARK SANG-MOON]
Author Graci Kim with a copy of ″The Last Fallen Star,″ the first installment of the ″Gifted Clans″ trilogy, during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the New Zealand Embassy in Jung District, central Seoul, on March 22, 2024. [PARK SANG-MOON]
Q: Your novels incorporate Korean mythology, making use of the concept of "gi," mythical creatures like the gumiho and imugi and animals like the Korean tiger. How did you first come to dive deeply into Korean mythology and what made it appealing as a resource for children's novels?
A: I grew up with stories on Korean mythology — my parents and grandmother would tell me things like if you don’t behave, the dokkaebi [mythological creature resembling a goblin] will come and get you. But it wasn’t until I was much older that I rediscovered these stories and wondered why they weren’t being told apart from in a family setting. I delved into online research, learned rich Korean folklore and decided to put a modern twist to them. It’s very exciting and such an honor to be able to be one of the first people to tell these stories based on Korean mythology in English.
In the acknowledgments for "The Last Fallen Star," you wrote that the book is for "all the adoptees, the diaspora kids, the misfits, to anyone who's ever felt invisible or felt like they don't belong." Please tell us more about how your books are for such readers.
I think the main character Riley’s journey was based subconsciously on my own experiences growing up feeling like I didn’t really belong anywhere. Growing up in New Zealand from a Korean background, I felt like often I wasn’t Kiwi enough but when I came to Korea I felt that I wasn’t Korean enough either. I think it’s such a universal feeling. Ultimately, if you can’t accept yourself first, no one else can either. And it’s not some kind of math equation where we have to be 50 percent something and 50 percent another identity. We can be whatever we want, if we so embrace it.
Many reviewers of your novels have commented on the strong family love and "family feels" depicted in them. Would you say that family bonds and love is especially important as a message in children's novels?
One of the messages of my books is that family is found. It’s not necessarily who you’re born to — you can also have really strong and beautiful family bonds with people you choose to become family with. I do think that this message is an important element of my books. My own close bond with my two younger sisters inspired the bond between the main character Riley and her adoptive sister Hattie.
Forgiveness, acceptance and loyalty also seem to be very important themes in your books. Could you tell us about these themes and how you incorporated them into your novels?
On forgiveness, I tried to make the villains of the story very multilayered. They are who they are for a reason, and in the book Riley has a line of dialogue where she says, “Compassion is not just for your friends, it’s for your enemies too.” My message on that was that people make mistakes and come with their own history and baggage, and people need to be redeemed. Acceptance, as we mentioned before, has to start with accepting oneself first. Lastly, I feel that loyalty is a very Korean concept. It is everywhere, but I felt like my parents and family held loyalty to a much higher standard.
How did your experience of working as a diplomat influence your literary work?
In content, there wasn’t much influence, but the diplomatic life led me to have so many great experiences that I can draw from, in the places that I lived and the people I met. In that sense, my former career has definitely inspired me in a literary way. One thing that diplomacy really helped me with in becoming an author was that it made me not scared of feedback. In diplomacy, you write reports back to the capital, and there is a big cycle of feedback. You can’t be precious about your work because it will always be torn apart, and I think that prepared me for my career as an author.
What advice would you give to diaspora or third-culture kids growing up reading your books?
That we do not need to split ourselves between different things. We can be entirely 100 percent of all the identities we want. I think it’s a false question that we need to choose to be one thing. Belonging to your family, like the main character in my books, Riley, is most important at a young age, and then comes belonging in friend groups or in society. And really, there are so many of us diaspora people, so we may feel that we are alone, but that isn’t true.
BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
New Zealand ambassador aims to bolster ties with Korea through literary connections
New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet speaks during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet speaks during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Published Mar 25, 2024 8:42 AM KST
Updated Mar 26, 2024 9:38 AM KST
Ambassador of New Zealand to Korea, Dawn Bennet, expressed her aspirations to bolster bilateral relations through literary connections during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the ambassador's residence in Seoul on Thursday.
Bennet also conveyed her delight at hosting the event and introducing children's fantasy author Graci Kim. She described Kim not only as a New York Times best-selling author but also as a former diplomatic colleague and a cherished friend. Kim transitioned from a career diplomat to become a writer.
Honoring the author's professional success, Bennet emphasized the significance of Kim's work as a bridge between the two countries, noting the writer's Korean origins and her ability to weave Korean mythology into modern children's fantasy tales.
"Graci is a Korean New Zealander who has harnessed her creative talents to write children's fantasy stories inspired by Korean mythology," the ambassador said. "She has successfully captured the essence of traditional Korean stories while staying true to her experiences in New Zealand."
Kim's acclaimed "Gifted Clans" trilogy has garnered widespread acclaim, appearing on numerous bestseller lists and being translated into multiple languages, including Korean.
Graci Kim speaks of her personal journey transitioning from a career in diplomacy to becoming a writer, during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the residence of New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
Graci Kim speaks of her personal journey transitioning from a career in diplomacy to becoming a writer, during the Korea-New Zealand Creative Sector Reception held at the residence of New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
"Graci's upcoming book, 'Dream Slayer,' promises to continue her legacy of captivating storytelling," Bennet said. "As a permanent expat, I appreciate how Graci 's stories, rooted in Korean mythology, transcend borders and remind us that our culture travels with us wherever we go."
Kim explored reflections on life, love, and the pursuit of meaning. One of the striking revelations Kim shared was the realization of the fleeting nature of time spent with loved ones.
"By the time we finish high school, we have already spent 90 percent of the time we will ever spend with our parents," Kim said, emphasizing the importance of cherishing moments with children before they embark on their own life journeys.
Kim's personal journey took a significant turn as she transitioned from a career in diplomacy to becoming a writer.
"Maybe it's not about fitting more into my life, but fitting more meaning into my life," she said, reflecting on her decision to pursue writing. This stemmed from a desire to create literature that resonates with individuals from diverse backgrounds, allowing them to perceive themselves as "heroes" in their own stories, Kim added.
"We all deserve to be able to pick up a book and be completely transported into someone else's shoes," Kim said stressing the importance of human connection and the power of storytelling to unite people across cultures and experiences.
'Korean mythology is just as wonderful as Greek and Roman'
Apr 15, 2024
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New Zealand-based writer Graci Kim on March 20 explains in a Korea.net interview at the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul how Korean folktales and mythology inspired her Gifted Clans trilogy.
New Zealand-based writer Graci Kim on March 20 explains in a Korea.net interview at the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul how Korean folktales and mythology inspired her Gifted Clans trilogy.
By Yoon Sojung with contribution from Kim Jaeyeon
Photos = Jeon Han
Video = Jeon Han and Lee Jun Young
Dangun, the central character in the myth of the founding of the Korean nation, features a bear who achieves her dream of becoming human after enduring 100 days living in a dark cave. But what about the tiger who tried the same thing as the bear but gave up and left?
This question starts the magic-infused fantasy trilogy Gifted Clans, which is popular abroad.
The brainchild of Korean New Zealander author Graci Kim, the series saw its conclusion in 2021 with the release of "The Last Fallen Realm," the final installment after "The Last Fallen Star" and "The Last Fallen Moon." The trilogy features mystical creatures and stories from Korean mythology and lore such as clans originating from the bear and the tiger in the Dangun myth, dokkaebi (goblin), inmyeonjo (human-faced bird), haetae (lion-like creature) and samjoko (three-legged crow).
The New York Times bestseller has been so popular that the Disney Channel has optioned it for a live-action drama.
For the first time in six years, Kim visited Korea at the invitation of the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul as the guest of honor in creative cooperation between both countries.
"I strongly believe that Korean mythology, folktales and stories of gwisin (ghost) are as amazing as Greek and Roman ones and therefore can be loved so much in the world," she said in a March 20 interview with Korea.net at the embassy.
"When I was little, my grandmother told me those stories and I loved them so much," she added. "These stories have been passed down only orally in Korea, so people find them new and fresh."
"Gifted Clans" depicts the adventures of Riley Oh, a teen adopted by a Korean American family who possesses magical powers and sets out to save her sister from danger. Riley eventually discovers her true identity and the value of familial love in the course of her journey through a tightly woven storyline.
Mythical creatures from Korean folktales appear throughout the story to help Riley in difficult situations, inviting readers to the world of Korean mythology. Reviews on popular book sites like Amazon or Good Reads have been favorable such as "This fast-paced fantasy had me flipping the pages as quickly as possible!" and "Why didn’t somebody tell me about this stuff sooner?"
Choosing the Dangun myth as her favorite, Kim said, "All my stories began with one single question: What happened to (the tiger) after (it was) left alone in the cave?"
To build and develop the characters and plot of the story, she emphasized the importance of asking "what if" to create new characters and stories. Such questions include whether Koreans are the descendants of the bear clan, what happened to the tiger in the Dangun myth and what would it be like if the descendants of both animals live today's world as immigrants.
A diplomat turned writer, Kim immigrated to New Zealand with her family as a child, grew up there and worked overseas as a diplomat for over 10 years. One day on a road in Taipei, she witnessed a child being killed in a car accident, something that changed her attitude toward life 180 degrees.
Later in Beijing, China, she suddenly faced the risk of going blind. After receiving emergency eye surgery, she decided to pursue writing as a career, saying, "I must do something meaningful in my life from now on."
She has since written books featuring youngsters who grow up as immigrants and suffer from the issues of identity and a sense of belonging based on her experience in New Zealand. "The story of Riley Oh reflects my own experience of confusion of identity and sense of belonging when I was growing up as an immigrant," she said.
Author Graci Kim on March 20 announces the release of her new series
Author Graci Kim on March 20 announces the release of her new series "Dreamslinger" and the Korean-language edition of the "Gifted Clans" trilogy next year at an interview with Korea.net hosted by the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul's Jung-gu District.
Kim also announced the release next year of "Dreamslingers," her new series about mutated people able to enter the dream world who search for magical creatures to obtain magical powers in the real world. They all gather at Dreamsling, a secret place in Seoul's Yeouido neighborhood, with the protagonist being the teenage girl Aria from Texas.
She also said "Dreamslinger" was also inspired by traditional Korean culture and folklore based on questions such as what if Professor X from the X-men was king of Korea, if he had magical powers and if places in dreams exist in the real world.
Kim also announced the release of the Korean-language edition of "Gifted Clans" next year in the summer.
"My parents will be able to read the Korean copies of the book when it comes out," she said with high expectations. "This whole trip to Korea is like magic as I was invited as an embodiment of Korean and New Zealand creative cooperation with cultural understanding from both sides."
In a concluding message to Korea.net readers around the globe, she added, "I would love to share with you one message that I hold just so dear, which is no matter how old we are, no matter how jaded or tired we've become, let's just remember that magic is all around us."
Graci Kim completes middle grade trilogy with ‘The Last Fallen Realm’
Australian Writers' Centre Team
February 21, 2025
Graci Kim has worked as a diplomat, cooking show host and even made kids' toys – but it was when she sat down to reread her favourite childhood novels that she discovered her passion.
“It hit me – none of the books I read and treasured as a child had people like me in them. All the books I’d loved were about white people. I had been invisible on the page my whole life,” Graci says. She signed up for a course at the Australian Writers' Centre and started writing books about Korean diaspora kids having magical adventures.
Graci’s debut middle-grade novel, The Last Fallen Star, was published in 2021 and she has since gone on to release two more books to complete the trilogy – The Last Fallen Moon and The Last Fallen Realm respectively. All three books are published by Disney Hyperion (Rick Riordan Presents) and the trilogy has been optioned by the Disney Channel for a live action television series.
Connecting with the writing community
Graci had just returned home to New Zealand after a decade abroad and felt like she wanted to try something new.
“And that’s when I realised I needed to write. I needed to write to fill the gap, so that Asian (and specifically Korean) diaspora kids who looked like me could see themselves alive and thriving on the page – seeking magic, going on adventures, and being the heroines of their stories,” Graci says. “I needed to write because we had a voice too; and that our stories also held value that demanded to be shared with all people.”
But first she had to learn how to write! As a longtime listener of the So you want to be a writer podcast, Graci had heard of the AWC’s courses. She enrolled in Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques (now called Novel Writing Essentials) and started on her writing path.
“The most useful part of the course was the community with whom I got to share the learning journey,” Graci says. “A small group of us stayed in touch following the course, and became critique partners for one another. At the early stages when the obstacles to writing were greater than the milestones, having a community of fellow writers was invaluable, and probably one of the main reasons I didn’t throw in the towel!”
From Tweet to publication
Graci’s first manuscript was a YA contemporary novel with speculative elements, which she used to query agents. Although she wasn’t successful with that manuscript, she learned a lot about the publishing industry. She then started on a new manuscript and pitched it in a Twitter contest for historically marginalised writers. Her pitch tweet was a huge success, garnering 200 likes from people in the publishing industry.
“From there, I made a shortlist of agents from that group to query with my new manuscript. Three weeks later, following a partial Revise & Resubmit request, I ended up signing with Carrie Pestritto from Laura Dail Literary Agency [based in New York],” Graci says.
Working with Carrie, Graci started submitting her manuscript to various publishers before it was picked up by Rick Riordan Presents, Disney Hyperion. It was an extraordinary moment for Graci, who was having a prenatal appointment at the time!
“I had just gotten my blood taken that day, and was already feeling a little faint. But then to be lying on a clinic bed getting a 12-week scan on my pregnant belly when the message came through that my manuscript was going to be a real book… and one edited and presented by Rick Riordan no less… What can I say? It was a rather emotional moment!!”
The Percy Jackson author is glowing in his praise. “Graci Kim does such an amazing job of blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information,” Rick Riordan says of Graci’s debut. He even appeared at one of her launch events in Houston, Texas.
The Last Fallen Star is a mythology-inspired middle grade adventure about Korean witches in LA, forbidden spells and one adopted girl – Riley Oh – and her search for belonging. It is the first in the Gifted Clans trilogy, with second book The Last Fallen Moon continuing Riley's adventure as she comes to terms with her new role and gathers a squad to face new challenges. In the final instalment, The Last Fallen Realm (released in 2023), the witches of the world prepare for war, but something bigger and stranger lures Riley – with the fate of the world in her hands!
Graci is quick to point out how valuable her AWC course was in her journey to date. “Doing the course, learning the tools, and having an experienced teacher guide me through the foundations made me realise that despite there being a mountain ahead of me, it was one I could navigate if I just put in the work,” Graci says. “It made me realise my dreams were perhaps not as impossible as I once had thought.”
With the trilogy now behind her, the future looks equally bright – with a new book, Dreamslinger, due for publication later in 2025.
April 30, 2025
‘I am not giving up on my American readers’: Graci Kim’s books confessional
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A photograph of Graci Kim with book covers collage in the background.
Graci Kim is author of new fantasy novel, Dreamslinger.
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Graci Kim, author of new middle grade novel, Dreamslinger.
On 7 April Graci Kim announced on her social media channels that she wasn’t going to be touring the US to launch her latest novel, Dreamslinger (published in America by Rick Riordan Presents). We’ve added an extra question to address this.
What it’s like to be an Aotearoa author of Korean heritage with strong ties to the US market
There have been some unexpected challenges trying to release a new book into the US recently. I had originally planned to do a two-week book tour for the launch of Dreamslinger, visiting schools across the country. It was something I was very excited about, since I’ve always received nothing but warmth and welcome from my American readership.
But unfortunately, I wasn’t able to secure a tour this time around for a few reasons – one of which was that some schools are worried about the repercussions of having an author like me (ie. of Korean heritage) who writes books inspired by Korean culture and mythology. The teachers who reached out to me explained that my visit could be seen as a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiative, which could attract scrutiny from their schools and authorities.
It’s disappointing of course, to say the least, but I mostly just feel for the teachers and librarians who are having to navigate these strange waters. As for me, I am trying to keep my chin up, because I’m not going to stop writing, nor am I giving up on my American readers.
Lucky for me, my Korean heritage has gifted me grit and perseverance, while my Kiwi upbringing has gifted me optimism and a can-do attitude. This is but a blip in my journey, and I’m excited to continue sharing Dreamslinger with my wonderful readers in Aotearoa, in the US, and in all other corners of the world!
The book I wish I’d written
There are so many books I wish I’d written, but in terms of books I’ve read in recent years that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about – it would have to be the Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. The concept is that humanity has conquered death, and only Scythes can end life. It explores morality and control, and what could possibly go wrong in a world where everyone can live forever. I am convinced Neal Shusterman can’t be human, or at least, full human. I don’t condone theft, but with all transparency, if I could steal his brain, you bet I would.
Everyone should read
A book I read recently that was just the perfect mix of hilarious, feel-good, and heart-wobbly goodness was The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood. You think it’s just going to be this fun rom-com romp, and then it wipes you off your feet with its hefty emotional slap. The characters are so delicious and sticky, they stay with you long after the last page is turned. I recommended it to my sister, and my claim to fame is that she got so engrossed in it she almost forgot she had a baby she had to feed (sorry, niece!), and then we both separately slid into Kirsty’s DMs to confess our love for her brain.
The book I want to be buried with
I want to be buried with the gazillion “books” that my kid “wrote” as a pre-schooler. I say “books” in inverted commas because they range from 5–10 pages in length, and I say “wrote” in inverted commas because she made a grown-up write the words while she dictated them. One of my favourites is about a mysterious unicorn who laid apples, whose dream was to open a supermarket. Oh, and another about a land called Mysteria, where seven good queens and seven bad queens live. On one day a year, it rains, and special magical powers are bestowed upon those who get wet. Unfortunately, that’s when the seven bad queens turn everyone into chickens. Womp womp. She used to watch me struggle through my drafts and ask me, in a quizzical tone, “Mummy, how come it takes you sooo long to write a book? It only takes me one Bluey to write one! But that’s OK, you’re still learning.”
The first book I remember reading by myself
This was not the first book I read by myself, per se, but I distinctly remember discovering The Babysitter’s Club series and feeling like my brain had been lit on fire. It was the first time I felt inspired to apply something from a book into my real life. Of course, in a wholly unoriginal plot twist, I also set up a babysitting club with my friends — although ours had a Spice Girls flavour to it, where we each had a special alias (I was “Midnight Black”), and we performed pop concerts when we weren’t busy babysitting…
Three book covers.
From left to right: the book Kim wishes she’d written; the book she thinks we should all read; and the first book she remembers reading by herself.
The book that made me cry
I absolutely love it when a book can make me cry, and the first time it ever happened, I was in primary school and I had just read The Day After Forever by Erin Skiffington. Despite not being able to tell you much about the plot or characters, I will tell you I bawled like a baby as I closed that book, and felt like I’d entered some kind of new world. I remember being stunned into silence at the power of words — and how reading about imaginary characters could make me feel such an intense torrent of emotion. I was hooked. Then I found out the author (also a Kiwi) was only 14 when she wrote the book. It absolutely blew my mind!
The book I never admit I’ve read
So I read this question wrong, and thought it was asking about a book I admit I have never read. I now realise the question is the opposite of that, but since I’ve already thought of an answer, I will pretend my first reading of the question was correct.
The book I admit I’ve never read is the Harry Potter series, which my husband thinks is wild since I write children’s fantasy novels. The thing is, I loved reading for pleasure as a kid, but then I went through a whole chapter of life from high school until my late 20s where I lost touch with books. I read textbooks (against my will) and the occasional self-help book (to further my will), but there seemed no time for reading for the sake of enjoyment and escape. School, and then work, took too much of my time for such indulgence. But then when I temporarily went blind (that’s a story for another day), I suddenly remembered about the existence of stories again. And I’ve never looked back — well, except for Harry Potter. Does it count if I watched (most of) the movies?
From left to right: the book that made Graci Kim cry; her favourite Aotearoa novel; and her latest book.
Greatest New Zealand book
This is a terribly unfair question (how can you whittle so many greats into one favourite?!), but right at this moment, I am reflecting on how much I adored Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox. For a theatre arts kid who is obsessed with dreams (there’s a reason my new upcoming book is called Dreamslinger), this book grabbed me and never quite let me go. Imagine having the special gift of catching larger-than-life dreams, then relaying them for audiences in a magnificent dream palace called the Rainbow Opera. I want to go to a live dream performance! Add a heaping of politics, danger, and intrigue, and you have yourself a great New Zealand book.
Greatest New Zealand writer
This is also a terribly unfair question to ask, because it’s too difficult to choose just one. Can I say it depends on the weather and my mood? You know what, I’ll just go rogue and tell you some of the writers I’ve recently read and adored (but know this is far from an exhaustive list): the aforementioned Elizabeth Knox, Sherryl Jordan, Nalini Singh, Rose Carlyle, Claire Mabey, Rachael King, Rose Lu, Joanna Cho, Allegra Hall, Shilo Kino, Kyle Mewburn, Leonie Agnew, and so so so many more…
More Reading
‘It’s about a man who turns into a shark’: Georgia Lines on the book that made her cry
‘Like swimming in a sea of legendary writers’: Tina Makereti’s books confessional
‘There’s no book I wish I’d written’: Matariki Bennett’s favourite poems
Best place to read
So recently, I’ve been dreaming about a retreat in a beautiful location, with like-minded bookish folks, cute huggable dogs and/or cats, where they cook delicious meals for you, and all you do is relax, read, hug animals, and then talk about books. Can someone create this so I can go??
What are you reading right now
I haven’t gotten into it yet, but I just picked up The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, set in the near future, where a disaffected civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering “expats” from across history to test the limits of time-travel. The Sunday Times called it “the most talked-about debut of 2024” and it was even a Barack Obama reading pick, so I’m curious to see what I discover within its pages.
Dreamslinger by Graci Kim ($24, Penguin NZ) is available to purchase through Unity Books.
The Spinoff Books section is proudly brought to you by Unity Books and Creative New Zealand. Visit Unity Books online today.
Kim, Graci THE LAST FALLEN STAR Rick Riordan Presents/Disney (Children's None) $16.99 5, 4 ISBN: 978-1-368-05963-3
When a spell goes wrong, a girl sets out on a quest to save her sister.
Riley Oh and her sister, Hattie, are typical Korean American girls except for one thing: They know magic is real. When she turns 13 in two days, Hattie will finally become a full member of the Gom clan, able to wield magic on her own. But because Riley is adopted and saram, or nonmagical, the other clans will not allow her to have an initiation ceremony when she turns 13 in a month. Struck by this unfairness, Hattie finds a spell that will share her magic with Riley. Unfortunately, their plan goes spectacularly wrong, fracturing Riley’s community and endangering Hattie. Feeling responsible for the calamity, Riley, along with her best friend, Emmett, will do whatever it takes to make things right, whether that means striking deals with fickle magical beings or considering the help of an ostracized magical clan. Exploring familial bonds, belonging, and community, this is a fast-paced urban fantasy drawing on Korean mythology. Riley and her friends navigate Los Angeles’ Koreatown and run-ins with dokkaebi and inmyeonjo with a frantic, upbeat energy. Complications and twists keep the plot engaging and snappy. Emmett is cued as biracial (his mother was a Gom elder who married a saram with a Western surname; his father’s ethnicity is not specified).
A fun, new magical world that promises more adventures to come. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Kim, Graci: THE LAST FALLEN STAR." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A653125635/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=76ff11ca. Accessed 17 June 2025.
The Last Fallen Star [Gifted Clans]
by Graci Kim
Intermediate, Middle School Riordan/Disney-Hyperion 336 pp. g
5/21 978-1-368-05963-3 $16.99
Paper ed. 978-1-368-06127-8 $7.99
e-book ed. 978-1-368-06128-5 $10.99
As an adopted member of the Gom, the Korean healing-witch clan, Riley wishes she had magic like her sister Hattie so she could finally fit in. Hattie's spell to give Riley half of her magic is preempted by some shocking news, though--Riley isn't actually saram, a non-magical person, but instead is a member of the Horangi, the clan expelled for attempting to steal the goddesses' power for themselves. Undeterred, Hattie determines to summon Mago Halmi, the mother of all creation, to ask that Riley be transformed into a Gom, but the spell overtaxes her, and she collapses. Riley agrees to go on a quest to locate the "last fallen star" in order to save her sister. Kim has crafted her adventure from Korean myths, and the Riordan imprint's winning formula informs its construction: mythological monsters menace modern-day kids, who must learn to use their powers while contending with the gods/goddesses to prevent certain catastrophe. Riley is helped on her quest by her best friend Emmett, whose steadfast if unsentimental companionship offers a contrast to the reversals and layers of intrigue they encounter while tracking down the fallen star. The ending hints at possible sequels to this warm, well-plotted fantasy.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Burkam, Anita L. "The Last Fallen Star [Gifted Clans]." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 97, no. 4, July-Aug. 2021, p. 116. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A817106140/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a51292b3. Accessed 17 June 2025.
Kim, Graci THE LAST FALLEN MOON Rick Riordan Presents/Disney (Children's None) $16.99 6, 7 ISBN: 978-1-368-07314-1
Riley Oh sets out on another quest--this time into the afterlife--determined to fix all the problems she's caused.
Thirteen-year-old Riley succeeded in saving her sister, Hattie, and her magical clan from their vindictive goddess, but not without a price. Her clan has lost their magic, and, though Hattie is back, she's still weak, and she's not getting better. Feeling as though she's let everyone down, Riley decides to track down a new patron for her clan in order to restore their magic. The only problems: She'll have to go to the Korean Spiritrealm to find him, and she doesn't want to endanger anyone else she cares about. Along with the mysterious Dahl, Riley explores the underworld, which oddly resembles New York City and in which spirits are given tour guides and sentenced to vacations instead of trials. Despite the restructuring, something isn't right in the Spiritrealm, and fixing it will have consequences in the land of the living. With dry humor and rough-and-tumble theatrics, Riley's story continues as she grapples with guilt, belonging, and her own identity and self-confidence (Riley is Korean American and was adopted by her Korean family). The novel deftly balances the fun and the serious. The stakes are high, though Riley simply wants to do the right thing for her family and her community.
A nonstop, Korean-inspired fantasy adventure that also tackles darker emotions. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Kim, Graci: THE LAST FALLEN MOON." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A698655994/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=292c2b28. Accessed 17 June 2025.
Kim, Graci THE LAST FALLEN REALM Rick Riordan Presents/Disney (Children's None) $16.99 6, 6 ISBN: 9781368073165
The worlds-shattering conclusion to the Gifted Clans trilogy.
Thirteen-year-old Riley Oh's world has turned upside down. Hattie, her adoptive sister, has opted to stay in the Spiritrealm to better understand her problems in the Mortalrealm; her parents have adopted Dahl, her soul twin from back when they lived in the sky; and to top it all off, she and Dahl are supposed to save the world and somehow defeat the Godrealm's vengeful goddesses, which is causing her more than a little anxiety. Luckily, Riley has the support of her friends from both the Spiritrealm and the witch clans, and she's going to need it, because the barriers between the Mortalrealm, the Spiritrealm, and the Godrealm are starting to thin--and even nonwitches have noticed. Nonstop action, a dash of humor, and a world of technology and Korean magic combine once again in the ways that make this series special. In this installment, Riley truly grows and changes ("compassion isn't only for your friends--it's for your enemies, too"), but the themes of family and friendship remain ever present, no matter how far into the Godrealm she may stray. With higher stakes, even more creatures from Korean mythology, and plot points from earlier installments finally addressed, this is an intense, satisfying series finale.
Funny and heartfelt; a compelling tale featuring a sympathetic cast of characters. (author's note, glossary) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Kim, Graci: THE LAST FALLEN REALM." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A745234838/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c6bb50f0. Accessed 17 June 2025.
* Dreamslinger.
By Graci Kim.
Apr. 2025. 304p. Disney/Hyperion, $17.99 (9781368104777).
Gr. 4-8.
Ever since her genetic mutation revealed itself on her thirteenth birthday, Aria Loveridge has abided by Resthaven Home's motto: restrain, contain, maintain. If she doesn't manage her dream-induced powers, they may cause a deadly magical outburst like the one that killed her mother 10 years ago. Society mistrusts the powerful Dreamslingers, but one royal kingdom, situated in Seoul, promotes the harnessing of those powers rather than their suppression. Aria holds that kingdom's ambassadors responsible for her mother's death, so when a rare training invitation is extended, Aria finds herself headed to Korea to infiltrate their ranks and find a way to dismantle the murderous league. But the deeper she delves into the Dreamslinger world, the more Aria suspects that she might not have the whole story, and what she uncovers will change her own fate--and that of the world--forever. This thrilling series opener takes familiar components (a magical school, untapped powers, found family) and blends them into something both fresh and unforgettable. Strong world building, an inventive magic system, and rich Korean cultural elements conjure a truly wondrous world of high-stakes competition and fierce friendship. The delightfully diverse cast, including Korean American Aria and Maori teenager Tui, is a treasure, and overarching themes of prejudice and power are thoughtfully presented. Startling but satisfying final twists will have readers dreaming of the sequel to this fantastic first installment.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Graham, Emily. "Dreamslinger." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 9-10, Jan. 2025, p. 76. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A829739541/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=05392995. Accessed 17 June 2025.
Kim, Graci DREAMSLINGER Disney-Hyperion (Children's None) $17.99 4, 29 ISBN: 9781368104777
An American teen's powers make her dangerous--to some, anyway.
Ever since the Great Outburst 10 years ago that killed Aria Loveridge's mother, the world has known that dreamslingers are a threat. Fourteen-year-old Aria has learned to control her dreamslinger powers by keeping her emotions in check, demonstrating her father's argument that those who share this genetic mutation might be dangerous but are "patients who [deserve] society's care." When the secretive Kingdom of Royal Hanguk, located on an island in Seoul, announces that its Annual Royal Slinger Trials will for the first time be open to teenagers from every nation, Aria, who's cued Korean and white, agrees to participate. She's on a secret assignment for the governor of Texas, who wants her to find out what threats Royal Hanguk might be planning to unleash on the world. But when she arrives, Aria finds a place that accepts dreamslingers, and she begins to make friends. As she learns about her abilities, she discovers more about her past and what it means to be a dreamslinger, secrets that tie her both to her father's philosophies and to Royal Hanguk. As she becomes more invested in the training, Aria must decide where her loyalties lie. The worldbuilding is fun but contains emotional depth, and the perennially appealing magic school setting contains a healthy dash of familial and political drama. This deftly executed work successfully addresses serious coming-of-age themes with optimism.
An intriguing series opener that explores emotional themes through a magical lens.(Fantasy. 10-14)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Kim, Graci: DREAMSLINGER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A825128229/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4fc65a60. Accessed 17 June 2025.
The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans #1)
Graci Kim. Disney/Riordan, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-368-05963-3
Korean American adoptee Riley Oh, 12 and selfless, is the only saram—“normal, non-gifted person without a lick of magic”—in her family, who are healers and part of the Gom clan. When Riley’s denied the opportunity to take part in a magical initiation ceremony, she, along with her headstrong 12-year-old sister Hattie, also Korean American, protest, conjuring a spell that will split Hattie’s magic with Riley. Their decision sets off a series of events that reveal Riley’s biological parentage and threaten the whole community. And when Hattie’s life hangs in the balance, Riley must find the last fallen star to bring her back. Riley and her biracial best friend, Emmett, a sardonic saram of Korean descent, encounter a slew of Korean mythological characters, including an inmyeonjo, a dokkaebi, and gwisin. As Riley and Emmett travel around L.A.’s Koreatown, readers familiar with Korean culture will appreciate references to staples such as H-Mart and noraebangs. Though overly detailed explanations of magic bog down this otherwise fast-paced adventure, unique clan identities are cleverly imagined, and Riley’s emotional arc and journey to self-acceptance shine through. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (May) [/em]
Dreamslinger (Slinger #1)
Graci Kim. Disney Hyperion, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-368-10477-7
Dreamslingers—carriers of a genetic mutation that allows them to manifest magical abilities from dreams—have become increasingly oppressed following the Great Outburst, an event 10 years ago that resulted in thousands of fatalities. In fictional Almiro, Tex., 14-year-old dreamslinger Aria Loveridge attends Resthaven, a dreamslinger school where her activist father teaches students to “restrain, contain, maintain” their emotions to safely exist in society as slingers. After a PR disaster jeopardizes Resthaven, Aria enters the Royal Slinger Trials to spy on the secluded kingdom of Royal Hanguk, the only country where dreamslingers develop and train their abilities rather than hide them. There, Aria is drawn to the hitherto hidden joys of dreamslinging and befriends fellow Trial competitors Tui and Lion. But as she uncovers Royal Hanguk secrets, Aria must decide where her allegiances lie. Exploration of heavy themes surrounding political indoctrination and radicalization occasionally clash with the novel’s lighthearted tone. Nevertheless, Kim (The Last Fallen Moon) capably deploys Aria’s sassy third-person narration to present an imaginative series opener that infuses Korean culture and folklore with whimsical dream technology. Aria is half Korean and half white. Ages 10–14. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Apr.)