WHAT'S EATING JACKIE OH?

An aspiring teen chef breaks from stereotype to create her unique version of the American dream.

Jackie, a sophomore at competitive Bronx Science in New York City, would rather cook than study, much to the chagrin of her Korean American parents, for whom success is defined by entrance into the Ivy League. Happiness for Jackie is Fridays with her grandparents in Bayside. Together they watch Burn Off!, their favorite cooking show, and she works in their deli, Melty’s, on Saturdays, where she enjoys inventing new dishes. (Fans of Park’s previous outing, 2023’s Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, may recognize the diner.) It’s at Melty’s that Jackie is scouted to audition for a new teen version of Burn Off!. She makes it onto the show, but the judges pigeonhole her, expecting her to cook Asian offerings, not the classical French cuisine she excels at. Can she convince them that she’s more than an ambassador for Korean food and assemble a winning meal representing the real, complicated Jackie Oh? Subtle layers of shame, sorrow, and pride within Jackie’s immigrant family ring true, and Jackie is thoroughly believable; her thoughts and dialogue feel snappy and fresh. A mild romantic interest appears but isn’t central to her story. Other characters, such as Jackie’s older brother, push back against the model minority trope, offering welcome evidence of the diversity of Asian American immigrant experiences.

An engrossing tale full of appealing characters, foodie elements, and heart.