The Ocean Calls

Starred review from May 15, 2020
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* This beautifully illustrated picture book is set on Jeju Island in South Korea, home of the haenyeo, legendary women divers who hunt for deep-sea delicacies. Young Dayeon wants to dive, just like Grandma, but is afraid of getting water up her nose or being eaten by some scary underwater creature. Grandma is patient, and just like her mother taught her, teaches Dayeon breath control and how to stay safe in the ocean as they gradually venture out farther and deeper. A sudden swarm of dolphins is a warning that hungry sharks are headed their way. Grandma and Dayeon swim as fast as they can, and are pulled up to safety by other haenyeo. Dayeon feels protected and at home, just like a mermaid surrounded by ocean treasures. Swirling blues and purples are juxtaposed against brilliant oranges and yellows, depicting rich vistas, and back matter explains the origins of the haenyeo and what their lives are like today. Use this sweet story about family tradition, trust, and confidence to support STEM units on weather and tides, sea life, and ecology (the haenyeo are model conservationists). This engaging story with its alluring illustrations also makes a wonderful choice for a read-aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from June 22, 2020
Grandma is part of an island community of haenyeo—South Korean deep-sea divers. She and her fellow divers, all older women, venture without oxygen deep into the ocean to gather abalone, sea urchins, and other treasures. Dayeon, her granddaughter, wants to be a haenyeo (“You’re like a treasure-hunting mermaid,” she says admiringly), but she’s scared. After an earlier attempt at swimming, “water had filled her ears and nose, burned her eyes, and stung her skin.” Grandma shows patience and faith as she listens to her granddaughter’s anxiety, then responds: “Can’t you hear what the waves are saying? They’re calling to us to come home.” Striking digital artwork by Snow (Black Girl Magic) captures the swirl of the ocean currents, the contrast between the sun’s citrus hues and the ocean’s blues, and the bounty of sea life. In one spread, Snow shows grandmother and granddaughter heading for the beach as the sun casts shadows behind them that look like mermaid’s tails. Sturdy prose by Cho (Rice from Heaven) highlights a segment of Korean society whose women preserve a vibrant tradition of enterprise, stamina, and cooperation, and Grandma shines as a kind of generous real-life superhero. Back matter offers additional information about “Korea’s granny mermaids.” Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Adria Goetz, Martin Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Wendi Gu, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

July 10, 2020

Gr 2-4-The haenyeo are Korean women who dive for shellfish to sell or eat. They dive as deep as 20 meters without breathing apparatus. This fictional look features a grandmother and her granddaughter; they suit up with flippers and a diving belt, and practice holding their breath for a long time. The plot is simple, but the story is abundant with themes of passing down traditions, overcoming fears, and appreciation for what you have. Thoughtful illustrations are a stunning combination of digital and hand-painted art, most of which span two full pages. The women are lovingly depicted, with a familial resemblance between the two protagonists. The remarkable use of lighting allows readers to experience a full day at the ocean, from beautiful reflections of light off the seawater at stunning sunrise to a breathtaking sunset. A variety of perspectives are smartly employed to enhance the emotions on display. In one exceptional scene, the early morning sun casts long shadows resembling mermaid tails behind our characters on their walk toward the ocean. VERDICT This expressive story is a must-have for any collection. As a bonus, the back matter provides extensive history on the haenyeo tradition, along with safety protocols and quotes from divers.-Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
Young Korean girl Dayeon admires her diver grandmother ("You are like a treasure-hunting mermaid") and wants to be like her. Grandma is a haenyeo, one of many elderly women who, as the afterword explains, wear a lead belt, flippers, and a mask to dive deep into the sea and collect treasures that can be sold, saved, or eaten. Dayeon has tried to dive, but after a scary experience the previous summer, she is hesitant. Dressed for the sea, she explores the tide pool, collecting shells and splashing her flippers, then slowly builds up the courage to wade a bit further into the water and finally to dive deep with Grandma. This sweet story of a girl overcoming her fear to experience something wondrous and share in an inherited tradition also offers a slice of life that will be new and fascinating to many readers. Cho's text is accessible and informative. Snow's illustrations carry Dayeon from morning through sunset with cozy home scenes, busy beach and boat scenes, and immersive underwater views; light, shadow, and color evoke all the sensations of the divers' experiences. Details about the haenyeo tradition and history shared in the afterword, including quotes from real-life women in their seventies and eighties, show the depth of the community and family relationships so beautifully portrayed in the story.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2020
Young Korean girl Dayeon admires her diver grandmother ("You are like a treasure-hunting mermaid") and wants to be like her. Grandma is a haenyeo, one of many elderly women who, as the afterword explains, wear a lead belt, flippers, and a mask to dive deep into the sea and collect treasures that can be sold, saved, or eaten. Dayeon has tried to dive, but after a scary experience the previous summer, she is hesitant. Dressed for the sea, she explores the tide pool, collecting shells and splashing her flippers, then slowly builds up the courage to wade a bit further into the water and finally to dive deep with Grandma. This sweet story of a girl overcoming her fear to experience something wondrous and share in an inherited tradition also offers a slice of life that will be new and fascinating to many readers. Cho's text is accessible and informative. Snow's illustrations carry Dayeon from morning through sunset with cozy home scenes, busy beach and boat scenes, and immersive underwater views; light, shadow, an color evoke all the sensations of the divers' experiences. Details about the haenyeo tradition and history shared in the afterword, including quotes from real-life women in their seventies and eighties, show the depth of the community and family relationships so beautifully portrayed in the story. Autumn Allen

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 15, 2020
As the granddaughter of a haenyeo diver, young Dayeon yearns to learn this honorable trade from her grandmother. On Jeju Island, at the southern end of the Korean peninsula, there lives a community of women called haenyeo who dive up to 30 meters underwater to gather shellfish. Without using any oxygen masks, the haenyeo divers harvest abalone, octopuses, and sea urchins by hand. The tradition is considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, and the women who do this work are described as "indigenous marine biologists." Many of them are over 70 years old. Dayeon understands the dangers involved with diving. "What if I can't breathe? What if a shark comes? What if I can't escape?" The familial determination that has been handed down along with diving skills helps her relax and reach the treasures at the bottom of the sea. The vibrant illustrations in cool, deep blue hues, punctuated by ochers and brick reds, capture the beauty of the natural world and lift the work up to near mythic proportions, befitting Dayeon's perception that they are mermaids. The captivating endnotes provide more information on the tradition, with mesmerizing quotes from actual divers. In Cho and Snow's celebration of this fascinating tradition, the risks and rewards are given only to the worthy--which takes practice, courage, and a grandmother's love. The sea, with equal parts danger and thrill, makes an exciting training ground for a young haenyeo diver. (Picture book. 5-9)

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