Outside Mom, Inside Mom captures the everyday experiences of a Korean American boy and his mother. In their daily lives, they navigate between two selves, the person they truly are and the version shaped by how others see them. Through the contrasting versions of how they act inside and outside the home, this book invites readers to reflect on what it means to be themselves and on how we see and understand others.
On the morning of the first day at a new school, both mother and son carefully choose their outfits, not based on what they like, but on how they might be seen by others. At school, the mother is quiet, reserved and avoids asking questions when speaking with the teachers. But once she returns home, she becomes a completely different person, filled with joy, curiosity and vibrant energy. While she is cautious and quiet in public, she is warm and lively at home. This contrast illustrates the tension between an authentic sense of self and the constant awareness of how one is perceived by others, a dynamic that often shapes how immigrants navigate the struggles and challenges of everyday life.
This book shows how we often form superficial impressions of immigrants without recognizing their full stories. In her public life, the mother is viewed as someone who dislikes change or prefers to keep to herself, but such views overlook the depth of her experience. She has left behind everything familiar and started anew in a place with a different language and culture. She runs her store every single day to support her family, adapting to a world that rarely sees who she is. It reveals that her strength and tender emotions lie behind her stubborn silence, inviting us to look beyond the surface and deepen our understanding of a person’s life.
By showing the mother through the eyes of her child, the story illuminates the tender love between mother and son in an immigrant family. One evening after school, the son opens up about how difficult life at school feels, and that he cannot fully be himself. The mother quietly takes his hand and tells him she feels the same way, still learning how to belong in a world that is not yet home. Owing to their shared experience, they understand each other deeply without many words. Together, they become companions across generations who face challenges side by side and support each other with heartfelt empathy. The final line, “What I love best of all is when I get to see Inside Mom outside!”, gently yet powerfully captures the courage it takes to be one’s true self and the strength that comes from being supported by loved ones.
Jane Park is a former middle school teacher and an acclaimed television writer and producer. She is also the award-winning author of Juna’s Jar, a companion story that offers insight into the Korean American immigrant family. She grew up in Toronto, Canada, and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is always up for a good adventure with her children. Lenny Wen, illustrator, was born in Indonesia and currently lives in Austria. This book makes a perfect addition to a Mother’s Day read for immigrant families.–Recommended by HeeYoung Kim, Assistant Professor, West Texas A&M University
Title: Outside Mom, Inside Mom
Author: Jane Park
Illustrator: Lenny Wen
ISBN: 9781665929509
PubDate: March 11, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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- Themes: HeeYoung Kim, Jane Park, Lenny Wen, Outside Mom Inside Mom
- Descriptors: WOW Recommends