SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: The Turtle Ship
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://helenakrhee.com/
CITY: Los Angeles
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
EDUCATION:Attended Yale University; University of California, Berkeley, law degree; University of Southern California, M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Works at a movie studio in Los Angeles, CA. Previously, worked as a lawyer in San Francisco, CA.
AVOCATIONS:Traveling.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Children’s Bookwatch, August, 2018, review of The Turtle Ship; October, 2018, review of The Turtle Ship.
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2018, review of The Turtle Ship.
Publishers Weekly, May 7, 2018, review of The Turtle Ship, p. 67.
School Library Journal, June, 2018, Margaret Kennelly, review of The Turtle Ship, p. 68.
ONLINE
Angry Asian Man, http://blog.angryasianman.com/ (June 15, 2018), author interview.
Helena Ku Rhee website, http://helenakrhee.com/ (January 15, 2019).
Kite Tales, https://scbwikitetales.wordpress.com/ (May 17, 2017), Erlina Vasconcellos, author interview.
National Picture Book Writing Week, https://napibowriwee.com/ (May 1, 2018), article mentioning author.
Short Bio
Helena Ku Rhee grew up in Los Angeles, but has also lived in various parts of the U.S., Asia and Europe. She has a soft spot for small, stout animals and loves to travel far and wide across this beautiful planet, counting among her favorite journeys a camping trip in the Sahara Desert, a swim with elephants in Thailand and a horseback-riding tour of Easter Island. She currently lives in Los Angeles, and draws story ideas from her travels.
Christopher Seid Photography
Longer Bio
Helena Ku Rhee grew up in Los Angeles, and moved around the country and around the world in her late teens and twenties. In her thirties, she landed back in the City of Angels and loves it more than she ever thought she would.
Helena’s debut picture book “The Turtle Ship” was published on June 5, 2018 by Lee & Low, the largest publisher of multicultural/diverse books in the United States. Based in New York City, Lee & Low has a wonderful and important mission, to publish diverse stories that all children can enjoy.
Her second picture book “The Paper Kingdom” will be published in 2019/2020 by Penguin Random House, the company that has published so many of her all-time favorite books.
As a college student at Yale, she majored in English (no surprise), and then went on to U.C. Berkeley for law school (again, no surprise, since so many English majors end up in law school). Afterwards, she worked at a firm in San Francisco, and though she enjoyed her time there and met some brilliant people, she quickly realized she wanted to work in a creative industry.
And that’s how she landed back in her hometown, to work in the movie industry and to be closer to family. Working for a storytelling organization has been the perfect alignment of her creative interests with her professional training. During her first few years back in L.A., Helena attended U.S.C. as a part-time evening student and received her MFA in creative writing through a joint program between U.S.C. and the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Currently, Helena works at a movie studio by day and as a writer by night and weekends. Thanks for visiting!
FAQs about Writing
ADid you always want to be a writer?
Yes! I’ve always loved books and stories. I have a gazillion ideas, but the hard part is writing those ideas in a way that will make people want to read. I majored in English in college, but the funny thing is, I explored other “more practical majors” such as econ (yikes!) because I thought reading novels all day seemed too decadent a way to spend a college career. But you always turn back to what you love, and I’ve always loved books and stories.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
The best training is to read, read, read. If you’re a bookworm, you already have a head start on everyone else who wants to publish their projects. Also, read not just the classics, but read also what’s being published today. Plot, pacing and characterization is so much snappier in books being published today than, say, fifty years ago. So if you want to be published the traditional way (with an agent and traditional publisher like Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Lee & Low, etc.), you have to keep abreast of the marketplace. That said, don’t focus too much on the market, trends, what others are up to, etc. You want to keep laser focused on your projects and not let the noise distract you too much. And one more thing: rejection is all part of the process, and it’ll make you stronger. During the years when agents and publishers rejected my work, it would sting for a while, but then I became even more determined to make my next project better. And even when you’re a published author, rejection is still part of the game.
Where do you write?
I usually write at my dining table or in my upstairs home office. It’s got big windows, so I like looking at the sky every once in a while to watch the birds swoop by. Sometimes, a group of small, green parrots flies by – boy, are they noisy! Their chatter makes me laugh. They like to gossip while they fly.
Where do you get your ideas?
My ideas come from everywhere: while having a conversation, watching the news, traveling, walking our dog — see the photo below…isn’t he TOO CUTE???
Anyway, if you pay attention to the world around you (even the most mundane details), a story idea may pop up. I also find it helpful to explore other art forms — visit a museum, go to a play, listen to music. That’ll help the creative juices flow. It’s also great to have a creative buddy or critique partner who will ask tough, intelligent questions about your characters, plot, etc. A fellow artist/writer is your best bet, or at least someone with a very strong artistic sensibility (you don’t want to buddy up with someone who thinks books are dull or who finds reading your work to be a tedious chore). My husband produces and writes for the movie industry, and is actually the first reader and editor of all my writing projects. He’s very helpful with plotting/pacing because his taste is much more commercial than mine. It’s awesome to have my early drafts analyzed by someone who loves stories as much as I do. And of course, it’s great to have a dog who will think you are perfect no matter how terrible your first draft.
Do you have a writing schedule?
The short answer is no, I don’t have a writing schedule. I used to feel very guilty about not being able to write everyday, but I’ve come to realize that I’m okay with writing in productive bursts, rather than steady, regular hours each day. Since I work at a movie studio during the day, I usually write during the evenings and weekends. I’ve had to trim out a lot of social activities because I want to devote as much of my free time as I can to writing projects. At first, I felt really bad about turning down this, that and the other, but then I realized that I felt even worse when I didn’t have time to write. In fact, I get really cranky and antsy when I can’t write for a while. You can often find me grumbling in the corner when social events run too long. In other words, I’m an introvert and I’m passionately in love with being at home, so the life of a writer suits me perfectly.
Will you read my manuscript and/or introduce me to your agent and/or meet with me so I can get publishing advice?
I would love to help…but I can’t. I used to say yes to these types of requests on occasion, but that opened up a floodgate of requests that I couldn’t manage. Due to legal reasons and time constraints (my full-time job, writing schedule and family/other obligations), I can’t keep up with these requests any more, as much as I wish for your success. And if it makes you feel better, those times I have reviewed someone’s manuscript and/or introduced someone to a rep and/or met up to chat about publishing was not at all like me handing over a key — in fact, quite the opposite was true, as there was a LOT more work to do.
So if you’d like feedback on your manuscript, I suggest either forming a critique group or reaching out to a freelance editor who will review your work for a fee (if you’re writing kidlit, joining the SCBWI will lead you in the right direction). As for meeting agents, joining the SCBWI and attending writing conferences are a great way to network with professionals in the publishing industry. You’ll also learn the proper way to query agents, which is what 99% of authors have had to do — effectively pitching your own work is a great skill to have in your toolbox! And one of the reasons I maintain this website is to answer questions about writing and publishing for those who’d like to know (you will find exactly what I would say to you in person or on the phone right here on this site — in my posts and articles/interviews).
The road to getting traditionally published is a tough one, often filled with rejection letters and years of hard work, so you’re not alone (I can’t speak to self-publishing because I’ve never tried it). The best advice I can give is to build a community of creatives and to keep going even when you feel like giving up. On days when it seems like everything you’re doing is worthless, pick up one of your favorite books to get re-inspired. I like to go for a walk and get away from my project(s) for a while to get some perspective. Persistence (and some talent/ability) is truly the key. Wishing you much success!
FAQs about Random Stuff
AWhat’s your favorite book?
Oh boy, how many hours do you have? Actually, do you have a week?? So many good books, so little time! As a kid, I absolutely loved Roald Dahl’s books. Seems like he had so much naughty fun writing his stories. I also loved The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and any book about curious, adventurous kids – Ramona Quimby, Encyclopedia Brown and Harriet the Spy come to mind. I absolutely love picture books by Amy Krause Rosenthal, (such as Duck, Rabbit) and by Doreen Cronin – Diary of a Worm and Click Clack Moo are brilliant. Linda Sue Park is so good for middle grade! As for young adult novels, omg I love Matt de la Pena. And John Green. And E. Lockhart and Stephanie Perkins. I recently discovered Leigh Bardugo’s The Language of Thorns…brilliant. In the adult realm, so many, from Stephen King (when I want to be afraid of my own house), Paul Theroux (when I want to travel far and wide with a cranky guide) and Jhumpa Lahiri, Geoff Dyer and Chang Rae Lee (when I want to marvel at gorgeous writing and brilliant thinking). Harlan Coben and Haruki Murakami are both so entertaining. M.G. Lord was a writing professor of mine and is a masterful writer and hilarious speaker. Judith Freeman and Janet Fitch are also amazingly skilled writers. And there are the classics—I will always love Marguerite Duras, Paul Bowles, Arthur Miller and on and on… Did I put you to sleep? Because I could spend a week on this topic. When I’m near an author I admire, I have to remind myself to breathe.
What’s your favorite movie?
I love everything from super goofy humor (Coming to America, Bridesmaids) to epic dramas (Lawrence of Arabia, Casablanca) and recent releases like La La Land and Get Out. My favorite Pixar animation is The Incredibles. Don’t you love that moment when Dash finds out he can use his legs to make his mother/raft a speedboat?? It was so thrilling. In the movie Paris Je T’aime, I love the chapter directed by Alexander Payne – it’s at once hilarious and lovely. I love Sideways by Alexander Payne as well. And Mad Max: Fury Road – WOW. And boy, Kathryn Bigelow is amazing. The movies Contact with Jodie Foster and Arrival with Amy Adams fill me with hope and wonder. I think I was the only person in the theater who was bawling after watching The Road with Viggo Mortensen…it’s a stunning movie I never want to watch again because it makes me so sad. I could spend the entire next week listing all the movies I love. Many movies I love are based on books (The Road, Arrival, etc.). And as a kid, I loved the TV series The Twilight Zone. I would watch entire marathon weekends until my mom would yell at me to turn off the TV. Then I would grab a book and go outside.
Where’s your favorite place to travel?
Our world is full of fabulous destinations. We’re so blessed to be earthlings. I’ll always remember my camping trip through the Sahara Desert, how the night sky was dusted with stars. I would love to go back to Tanzania — the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater are so WOW. I loved meeting baby elephant Boon in Thailand. I am obsessed with Bora Bora in French Polynesia because of its stunning sealife (been there three times and counting!). My favorite European city is Paris. I lived there for two years, and it will always ignite my imagination. And if I could have a pied-a-terre somewhere in the world, it’d probably be in Provence, the South of France. Likely in Aix, where life seems to have a musical quality to it, a perfect little song.
For more thoughts about travel, please visit my travel-related blog posts here.
What’s your favorite color?
Hmmm, I’d say it’s a tie between blue and green. If you go to the lagoon of Bora Bora, you will see blues and greens that will electrify your senses.
Debut Author Helena Ku Rhee: How She Scored a Book Deal Without an Agent
17 Wednesday May 2017
Posted by Erlina Vasconcellos in Author's Perspective ≈ 3 Comments
Tagsagents, authors, Bill Contardi, Colleen Kong-Savage, contracts, Helena Ku Rhee, illustrators, picture books, publishers, publishing, The Turtle Ship
Jessica Echeverria (editor, Lee & Low), Helena, and Colleen Kong-Savage (illustrator)
Helena Ku Rhee is the author of The Turtle Ship, a forthcoming picture book by Lee & Low (Fall 2018). Helena, trained as a lawyer, followed an uncommon path by negotiating her own book deal. She tells Kite Tales about her debut and navigating publishing without an agent.
Erlina Vasconcellos: Tell us about your book and the process of getting to a finished manuscript.
Helena Ku Rhee: The Turtle Ship is about a boy who saves his embattled country by designing a battleship shaped like his pet turtle. The idea came from stories my parents told me about South Korea, the country where they were born. It’s a fictionalized take on historical facts about Admiral Yi Sunsin and his turtle ship, which was the first ironclad ship in the world. I wrote the first draft a decade ago, and put it aside. While I sensed the seed of a good story, it didn’t feel quite right. So I let it germinate and kind of forgot about it. Fast forward to 2014, I dug up the story, and realized very quickly that I was telling it from the wrong character’s perspective. In the old draft, the story was told from the king’s perspective, and I changed it to be from the perspective of a little boy.
EV: How do picture books fit in with your career as a lawyer?
HKR: I’ve been writing ever since I could string words together on paper and won my first fiction contest in the third grade when my school district held a story competition. I even incorporated pencil drawings, so I guess I’ve always been interested in picture books! In college, I majored in English and wrote short stories for campus magazines. I dreamt about becoming a professional writer, but my practical side (AKA my mother’s voice) won out and I attended law school. I’ve been fortunate to have had a really great career as a lawyer, and now I work in business affairs at a movie studio. But at my core, I’m a writer, so I can’t help but write stories whenever I can.
Lee & Low Offices
EV: What made you decide to sell the book without an agent?
HKR: I actually had an agent a few years ago who shopped around a middle grade novel I’d written. Though some editors had nice things to say, that book didn’t sell. It was really heartbreaking because I felt so passionate about the book, and like many people, I made the mistake of believing that securing a good agent at a well-known agency would be a slam-dunk entry into the publishing world…In 2015, I sent The Turtle Ship to Lee & Low as an unagented submission. When I returned from a trip to southeast Asia in early 2016, I was thrilled to find the nicest letter waiting for me from Lee & Low.
EV: Do you think someone who isn’t a lawyer could represent themselves?
HKR: It’s possible to do, but I think it could be pretty hairy. Someone used to reading contracts can quickly pinpoint the key business terms versus the legal boilerplate, so it was actually fun for me to apply my professional skills to my publishing contract. A savvy and careful reader could definitely understand the nuances of a publishing contract, but even sharp non-lawyer friends have invariably asked questions like, “What does this part mean?” So I would definitely caution non-lawyers to seek advice from an agent or lawyer who works on publishing deals.
EV: Are you open to signing with an agent in the future?
HKR: Yes! I definitely want to find representation for my next project, mainly because I want to be viewed as the nice author throughout the entire process, rather than the tough negotiator who’s playing hardball for better contractual terms. I’m going to attend the SCBWI conference this summer in L.A. and I hope to meet an agent or two there. [Update 5-22-17: Helena recently signed on to be represented by Bill Contardi of Brandt & Hochman for her future projects.]
EV: Can you tell us about the illustration process?
HKR: The selection of the illustrator, Colleen Kong-Savage, was nothing short of miraculous, and I’m not exaggerating! After I received my publishing contract with Lee & Low, I attended the portfolio showcase at SCBWI during the summer of 2016 to see what was there. I saw Colleen’s portfolio and kept going back to it, again and again. Her illustrations really stood out to me, among the hundreds of brilliant portfolios I saw that day! So I took one of her postcards and looked up her website. I sent her a fan email, and told her I’d written a book about a boy and his pet turtle, and would love to introduce her to my editor. I had no idea that months beforehand, Jessica (my editor) had already pinpointed Colleen as a potential illustrator for The Turtle Ship.
EV: What was it like meeting Colleen and your editor, Jessica Echeverria, in New York last April?
HKR: It was so cool to visit Lee & Low in NYC and meet them in person. What a treat to speak about the characters and scenes with people who are as invested in the book as I am, and who handle the story with such passion and respect! I got to meet some of the staff at Lee & Low, and their dedication to publishing multicultural/diverse books is so impressive. Looking at their bookshelves really moved me.
To follow Helena’s work, visit helenakrhee.com, and follow her on Twitter now: @HelenaRhee.
6.15.2018
ANGRY READER OF THE WEEK: HELENA KU RHEE
"I write books for kids and the young at heart."
Greetings, good people of the internet. It's that time again. Allow me to introduce you to the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Helena Ku Rhee.
Who are you?
Hello! I'm Helena Ku Rhee.
What are you?
An author of children's books. A Korean American who cannot go a week without having some delicious Korean food. A lover of stout yet athletic animals, such as the black rhino and the guy pictured above (my dog Sherwin... though it's more accurate to say I'm his human Helena).
Where are you?
I'm in Los Angeles. I used to hate L.A. while growing up here (The traffic! It's dirty! The smog!). I dreamed of living in S.F. or the East Coast or Paris. Well, I later lived in those places, and realized that I really do love L.A. (The food! The people! The arts! The beaches! The hiking trails! The list goes on and on.)
Where are you from?
My story begins in a humble seaside village in South Korea, where I was born.
What do you do?
I write books for kids and the young at heart. My debut picture book, The Turtle Ship, launched on June 5. It's loosely based on Korean history and it's about dreaming BIG. It's about a boy who is inspired by his pet turtle to enter a national contest, which leads to the creation of Korea's amazing turtle ship, the first ironclad ship in the world. I've always loved picture books as an art form -- the synergy between the text and artwork is fascinating. My book is illustrated entirely with paper collage by artist Colleen Kong-Savage. I can't imagine how many hours Colleen spent to fashion the teeny tiny leaves and clothing details. If you're in NYC on June 24, join us at our book launch party! Details are here: http://helenakrhee.com/books/
I also work full-time at a movie studio, and what's really cool is that about 90% of my coworkers have a passion they're pursuing on top of their day job -- whether it's writing or performing or teaching surf on the weekends.
What are you all about?
I'm all about stories and adventure and travel. Traveling ignites my imagination, so I often get book ideas while on the move. My favorite journeys include a camping trip in the Sahara Desert, a swim with elephants in Thailand and a horseback-riding tour of Easter Island. The Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania is incredible, as is the lagoon of Bora Bora in French Polynesia -- both are teeming with colorful wildlife. And of course, the usual suspects are famous because they deserve to be: Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu and the Nazca lines in Peru. We're very, very lucky to be earthlings because this planet is full of beauty. Let's keep it that way!
People ask how I manage to travel to all these places, and it's truly about what you prioritize. Traveling is one of my passions, so I make it a top priority and it's been a priority of mine for a long time. Travel doesn't have to be expensive, especially if you choose a location off the beaten path.
What makes you angry?
Right at this moment, the loss of Anthony Bourdain makes me angry. Angry and very, very sad. I lost one of my high school best friends to depression and suicide, so Bourdain's death triggered all kinds of emotions. Like many, I considered him a friend though I'd never met him. Bourdain singlehandedly influenced me and my husband to go to Vietnam several years ago, where we rode scooters in Hanoi and ate street food and toasted to Bourdain's influential powers. Let's all carry on his legacy of adventurousness, curiosity and indignation at injustice.
And throughout my life, what has always boiled my blood is the exploitation of children and cruelty to animals.
I don't want to end on a negative tone, so one fun tidbit is that I included Sherwin in the photo above because he looks angrier than I do. But he's a total clown.
2018 NAPIBOWRIWEE DAY 1 – Meet Guest Author Helena Ku Rhee!
MAY 1, 2018 146 COMMENTS
Helena Ku Rhee
WELCOME TO DAY ONE OF THE 2018 NATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING WEEK EVENT!
Hello, my NAPIBOWRIWEE participants! Welcome back! I hope you are excited for this year’s event where we will attempt to write 7 picture books in 7 days! Can you believe this is our TENTH ANNIVERSARY? Woo hoo! 🙂
NUTS & BOLTS: This is a quick list describing how this week works!
Goal: To write 7 picture books in 7 days. All drafts must be COMPLETELY FINISHED. Half-finished or work-in-progress drafts do NOT count.
Caveat: If you cannot write 7 picture books in 7 days, don’t despair! I will be happy if you can complete at least ONE FULL DRAFT! Come on, you can do it! (Cue: Rocky theme music!) 🙂 (NOTE: We do the Honor System, so please do NOT send me your drafts as proof. I believe you!)
How to Participate: Please post a comment in our COMMENTS section about your writing day, your experience, and any comments or questions you might have! Please read each day’s Guest Author Q&A for inspiration and writing tips!
Blogs: I will post a daily blog featuring words of wisdom from our Guest Authors/Artists every day from May 1-7, 2018 at 9:00 AM EST (6:00 AM PST). There will also be two extra blogs on May 8, 2018 announcing the contest winner and information on our next 2019 event on May 9, 2018.
History: This event was created in 2009 as a fun way to battle procrastination, and has since gone viral and become an annual event. To find out more, visit this link about the History of NAPIBOWRIWEE: https://napibowriwee.com/about/
Archives: If you are curious about past Guest Authors, please visit the BLOG link for the 2016 events up through the present. If you want to explore the NAPIBOWRIWEE Archives of 2009-2015, please go to our ARCHIVES link.
CONTEST: Everyone who posts a comment in this week’s blogs will be included in a random contest drawing for prizes including autographed books by our Guest Authors and myself, plus souvenirs from our NAPIBOWRIWEE STORE! I will announce the contest winners on the last day – May 7, 2018.
STORE: If you want to wear your NAPIBOWRIWEE shirt while you drink coffee or tea from your NAPIBOWRIWEE mug and jot down your ideas in your NAPIBOWRIWEE journal, go to our store here: https://www.cafepress.com/paulayoonapibowriweeclassic
Because this is our 10th Anniversary of NAPIBOWRIWEE, I’m going to post a daily “Greatest Hits” blast from the past from NaPiBoWriWee events. So let’s get into the NAPIBOWRIWEE Time Machine and go all the way back to… 2009!
NAPIBOWRIWEE FLASHBACK POST FROM MAY 5, 2009:
Prolific children’s book author and poet Lisa Wheeler took time out of her busy schedule to write this lovely picture book describing her journey to becoming a published picture book writer. This is a huge honor to receive an original poem by Lisa for our 2009 NaPiBoWriWee week, so thank you Lisa!!!!
For more info on Lisa, please check out her website here:
http://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/
RHEE, Helena Ku. The Turtle Ship
Margaret Kennelly
School Library Journal. 64.6 (June 2018): p68.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
* RHEE, Helena Ku. The Turtle Ship, illus. by Colleen Kong-Savage. 32p. Lee & Low/Shen's Bks. Jun. 2018. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781885008909.
PreS-Gr 2--Rhee tells the legend of Sun-sin and his best friend, a turtle named Gobugi, and how they came to invent the Turtle Ship. After hearing that the Emperor is holding a contest for the best battleship design, Sunsin presents Gobugi as inspiration for a great vessel, having witnessed the turtle's smart physical design. At first the Emperor rejects the idea, but after seeing Gobugi survive an encounter with a cat, he declares Sun-sin the winner, making history. The plot is loosely based on a true story, but reads like a delightful folktale that skillfully incorporates moral lessons about strength and appearances. The vocabulary is simple enough for the audience, and the text is well formatted on the page. There is one battle scene, though nothing too heavy or graphic is depicted. KongSavage's collage illustrations bring the story to life through almost 3-D imagery and are beautiful to look at. The use of muted colors to depict the home of Sun-sin contrasts nicely with the brighter colors of the Emperor's palace, creating an excellent source of tension. The illustrators and the narrative work together wonderfully to tell this fascinating episode in Korean naval history. VERDICT A great mix of myth and history for most picture book collections.--Margaret Kennelly, iSchool at Urbana-Champaign, IL
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | e eBook original | BL Bilingual | POP Popular Picks
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kennelly, Margaret. "RHEE, Helena Ku. The Turtle Ship." School Library Journal, June 2018, p. 68. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540902880/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7ffb9676. Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A540902880
11/14/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1542240107342 1/4
Print Marked Items
The Turtle Ship
Publishers Weekly.
265.19 (May 7, 2018): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Turtle Ship
Helena Ku Rhee, illus. by Colleen Kong-Savage. Shen's Books, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-88500-890-9
In this original tale loosely based on Korean history, a boy wins a national engineering challenge with
inspiration from his pet. Sun-sin dreams of seeing the world beyond his seaside village, so he's thrilled
when the king issues a new battleship design competition: the winner will receive riches and, best of all, a
role with the royal navy. After several failed attempts, Sun-sin hits on the perfect prototype: his turtle,
Gobugi, who "is strong and steady and never sinks." He's mocked at court when he presents the idea, but a
sudden attack from a royal cat gives Gobugi a chance to demonstrate his superior defensive skills, and the
king is convinced that a turtle ship is the winning plan. Rhee's smoothly paced story arc will read aloud
well, while Kong-Savage's striking, precise paper-collage scenes are equally effective in conveying the
sweeping drama of ocean views and the personality and warmth in close-ups of Gobugi's small, green face.
An afterword about the story's historical roots closes this engaging tale with a strong STEM focus from two
debut creators. Ages 5-7. June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Turtle Ship." Publishers Weekly, 7 May 2018, p. 67. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A538858751/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=1f3debb3.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A538858751
11/14/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1542240107342 2/4
The Turtle Ship
Helena Ku Rhee
Children's Bookwatch.
(Aug. 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Full Text:
The Turtle Ship receives warm drawings by Colleen Kong-Savage and requires good reading skills of
youngsters with an affinity for multicultural folk tales as it tells of Korean boy Sun-sin, who dreams of
traversing the world with his pet turtle. This seems very unlikely: his turtle is poor and his dream is too big.
When the king announces a contest to design a new battleship, with a trip rewarding the winner, Sun-sin
becomes determined to win against all odds. Can he learn an important lesson from his turtle companion?
Based on a true story, this pairs Korean culture and history with an inviting tale of perseverance and lessons
about the sea.
Helena Ku Rhee
Shen's Books
c/o Lee and Low
www.leeandlow.com
9781885008909 $17.95
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Rhee, Helena Ku. "The Turtle Ship." Children's Bookwatch, Aug. 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A554042281/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6fb678b1.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A554042281
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Rhee, Helena Ku: THE TURTLE SHIP
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 1, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Rhee, Helena Ku THE TURTLE SHIP Shen's Books/Lee & Low (Children's Fiction) $17.95 6, 5 ISBN:
978-1-88500-890-9
Loosely based on the life of Yi Sun-Sin, a Korean admiral in the 1500s, the story of an inquisitive boy who
takes inspiration from his pet turtle to design an iconic battle ship.
Sun-Sin and his pet turtle, Gobugi, are introduced with somewhat copious use of their names: "Sun-sin and
Gobugi relaxed in the garden. Gobugi snacked on lettuce while Sun-sin watched ships sail across the sea.
Sun-sin would tell Gobugi how he wished to explore the world and visit different lands." Thankfully both
the plot and choice of pronouns quickly diversify when the king announces an open contest to design a new
battleship, with a rich prize and a naval commission for the winner. Rhee economically narrates Sun-sin's
many trials and errors until the boy finally realizes the advantages of Gobugi's natural adaptations and
presents his ideas to court. Despite initial resistance and mockery, the royal court witness Gobugi's natural
defenses in action against a cat and commissions the titular Turtle Ship. The splendor of Kong-Savage's
paper collages adds to the storytelling with rich overlapping compositions and patterns. The subsequent
successes of Adm. Yi Sun-Sin and his Turtle Ships are rendered beautifully in thoughtfully composed landand
seascapes.
Despite a repetitive start, this debut packs a double punch modeling the experimental process while
spotlighting an intriguing historical figure and his warcraft. (afterword, author's note, illustrator's note)
(Picture book. 6-9)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Rhee, Helena Ku: THE TURTLE SHIP." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540723293/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=15489554.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.
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The Turtle Ship
Helena Ku Rhee
Children's Bookwatch.
(Oct. 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Full Text:
The Turtle Ship
Helena Ku Rhee, author
Colleen Kong-Savage, illustrator
Shens Books & Supplies
c/o Lee & Low Books
95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.leeandlow.com
9781885008909, $17.95, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com
Long ago in Korea, a young boy named Sun-sin spent his days playing with his pet turtle Gobugi and
dreaming of sailing around the world. As a poor villager, though, his dream to travel seemed impossible.
Then one day, the king's court announced a contest to find the best design for a new battleship to defend the
land from invaders. The winner would sail the ocean with the royal navy. Determined to win, Sun-sin
attempts to build an indestructible battleship with a few found items. Each attempt fails miserably against
the powerful sea, and with it Sun-sin's dream also sinks to the bottom. Turning to Gobugi for comfort, Sunsin
notices how his pet turtle is small but mighty, slow but steady, and impossible to sink. Suddenly, Sun-sin
has a great idea. Loosely based on the true story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his Turtle Ship, this delightful
picture book by debut author Helena Ku Rhee and debut illustrator Colleen Kong-Savage introduces young
readers ages 6 to 12 to a fascinating episode in Korean history and naval engineering. An engagingly
entertaining read from cover to cover, "The Turtle Ship" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Rhee, Helena Ku. "The Turtle Ship." Children's Bookwatch, Oct. 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A562049994/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=1716aa41.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A562049994