Finding My Hat (First Person Fiction)

In a semi-autobiographical debut novel that is at turns poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, John Son conveys the uniqueness and universality of a Korean-American childhood. Jin-Han Park's story opens with his first memory: losing his hat to a sudden gust of wind. He never gets it back. But his Uhmmah buys him many more hats, and Jin-Han discovers that he can reinvent himself with a change of headgear, be it a bright red cowboy hat or a cap with earflaps. So he tries on hat after hat, searching for his place in America while clinging to his Korean culture and traditions, keeping them from the wind. Being different isn't always easy. But somewhere between kimchee and corn dogs, Jin-Han will make a place for himself . . .

John H. Son is the author of Finding My Hat, a NYPL Best Book for the Teen Age about his adventures growing up in Texas as a boy of Korean descent. He is also the author of If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower, as well as the True Books Relaxation and Yoga, Asia, and Elections: Why They Matter to You. He lives with his wife and son in Brooklyn, New York.