[REVIEW] 'What's Eating Jackie Oh?' explores food, family and identity

In an engaging coming-of-age narrative, Patricia Park's "What's Eating Jackie Oh?" takes readers on a flavorful journey through food, family, and identity. The story centers around Jackie, a Korean American teenager living in New York City. Jackie competes on the reality TV cooking show, "Burn Off! High School Edition!" showcasing her culinary skills alongside other high school students from across the United States. This competition is flavored with Gen Z slang, adding a modern touch to the story.

Park introduces Jackie as a girl who is no longer defined by academic pressures or the confines of a hagwon, an after-school school that students attend to excel beyond regular schooling. Jackie keeps her Ivy League-educated, workaholic parents in the dark about her participation in the cooking show. She is burdened by her parents' expectations and the shame of having an older brother in jail. As a coping mechanism, Jackie immerses herself in her culinary passions and retreats to her "mental happy place" - recipe-making.

Jackie's physical sanctuary is Melty's, a deli in midtown Manhattan managed by her grandparents. These grandparents are first-generation immigrants from Korea, and Melty's is where Jackie spends her weekends as early as 5 a.m.