THE COLLIDING WORLDS OF MINA LEE

When real life and her webcomic merge, a Washington, D.C., teen’s world is turned upside down.

Ever since 17-year-old Mina Lee’s mother’s sudden death, her father has been uninterested in Mina’s art, even though it’s the one way that she still feels connected to her mother. Despite her father’s objections, Korean American Mina needs to convince him to let her go to art school, but she’s too scared to broach the subject. She has a plan, though: If her webcomic becomes popular enough, she can show her father that her art matters. The only problem is that it is, frankly, boring—but when Mina tries to spice the story up, things suddenly get a little too interesting. Somehow, Mina finds herself inside her webcomic, and though she might be the author, she’s no longer completely in control. To make matters worse, Mina’s become part of a love triangle to rival those found in K-dramas, one involving childhood best friend Jin, who died when he was 6. The young woman hero of her webcomic (who’s seeming more like a villain) is interested in Jin too. What’s a girl to do? The fun, light romance is enhanced by the fantastical elements and diverse supporting cast. The story evokes the daydreams of any teenager who’s let their imagination run wild. Both the high school and magical hijinks flow fast and furious, maintaining readers’ interest.

A lighthearted story with touches of romance and fantasy, told with K-drama flair.