I Am the Subway

PreS-Gr 1--As the train narrating Kim's enthralling book travels both above- and underground, so it reveals passengers' visible and hidden dimensions. It carries "busy hearts" as a father sprints, to maximize time with his daughter; a diving granny who carries seafood to her daughter and granddaughter; a weary and fretful student returning from an afterschool hagwon tutoring; a small-time entrepreneur hawking gloves. Details--like the harried mom politely called "Aunty," the tiny, crammed shoe-repair shop, streetscapes, and station names--ground the book in Seoul. Both sober ink and glorious watercolor washes suggest more than they show, of the place and the people: a kind, unemployed young man adds the only color to a bustling commute; a train aisle looks like green grass; faces are distinct and expressive but soft. Particular to Seoul but also universal, this book carries no tropes or types, just "unique lives of strangers," as the train's rhythmic ba-dum ba-dum comes to sound like a heartbeat. This is the work of an accomplished and prolific illustrator who is an equally gifted writer. VERDICT For transportation fans, and all who love scenes of diversity, Smith's sensitive translation of Kim's poetic text makes this a trip not to be missed, taking every open-eyed, open-hearted reader on board.--Patricia D. Lothrop, formerly St. George's Sch., Newport, RI

A translation by Smith brings Kim's sensitive, closely observed portraits of Seoul's subway passengers to English-speaking readers. The subway itself narrates ("On my travels I meet so many people and things"), its words punctuated with the rails' constant "ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum" and passengers' autobiographical thoughts. Graceful, luminous watercolors convey strength and delicacy; Kim handles with equal skill the workings of the train, the architecture of the stations, and the figures and expressions of the passengers. There's Mr. Wanju, a businessman, dashing for the gate and eager to spend time with his daughter ("I always leave first, / to run home and see her smile"), while Granny takes seafood from the coast to family in the city ("I'm going to cook a feast for my girls!"). Though some of the encounters raise questions that the story itself doesn't address, in this quiet treasure of a tale, every person in the crowd has a story, a family they love, and dreams they cherish. Ages 4-7. (Aug.)

★ A bestselling Korean picture book is translated to bring this entrancing tale of "the unique lives of strangers you might never meet again" to a new audience. Told from the perspective of the Seoul subway, the story peels back layers on the people who board, reminding us that everyone we encounter has a story we don't know. Bewitching. —Foreword, starred review

★ In this beautiful and unusual book, first-person narration by a subway tells us all about the regulars who ride its cars in busy Seoul each day...Perfect for subway enthusiasts, kids who live in the city and think about their fellow train passengers, and for those who don't but wonder what the experience would be like. If a class is studying Korea, this would be a fascinating unit activator. —Youth Services Book Review, starred review

This is a love song, a poem to a means of transportation, an excuse to talk about a beloved city and a true invitation to get to meet the people of Seoul, getting to know their names, their joys, their hopes, and of course, the stations they come to and from. —Geek Dad

[A] celebration of humanity, diversity and people of all walks of life. —Books Grow Minds

Journey through the Seoul subway as it ba-dum, ba-dums across the city and dip into the many lives that rely on it each day. Striking the perfect balance of being a universal story while staying deeply rooted in it's sense of place, any reader who uses public transportation regularly will see echoes of their experiences in the crowded train cars. The illustrations, soft and expressive, are an important layer to the reading experience, adding more details and colors as the individual stories of each passenger unfolds. —Stephanie Heinz, bookseller at Print Bookstore

Having lived in South Korea for a couple years I am so happy to read this beautiful celebration of the small moments that happen everyday all around us in the most mundane yet fantastic of places. —Ryan Kimmett, bookseller at Kismet Books

The subway leads the reader on a journey of the heart, experiencing each new arrival with their story and thus their humanity. Poetic and powerful, this book has led me on not only a journey through Seoul but the experience of moments in the day and a connection to each rider. —Jesica Sweedler-DeHart, librarian at Neill Public Library