KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit!
By M. R. Fournet
New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages.
Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie.
By Julie J. Kim
Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics.
When two Korean children pay a visit to their grandmother and discover she is missing, they follow animal tracks to a window they have never seen before. Through the window, the children discover a fantastical world where the Korean-speaking creatures (translations at the back) guide them onwards to find their halmoni. Steeped in Korean folklore and legends, this comic also features a tiger, though admittedly much less clumsy and harmless than the tiger of the film. The comedic tone of this tale will also amuse readers even when the children are up against ominous opponents.
By Michelle Lam
New York: Alfred A Knopf, 2023. Comics. 294 pages.
Meesh doesn't love being a demon. She is much more interested in watching the fairy Princess Nouna's adventures on her reality tv series, and Meesh desperately wants to visit the fairy's city. When a disaster befalls the demon city where she lives, Meesh realizes that the only place she may be able to turn to for help is the fairy city and their magic, despite their dislike of demons in general. Meesh's efforts grappling with her identity and her longing for friendship and trust echo some of Rumi's struggles throughout the film.
By Jessica Kim
New York: Kokila, 2023. Fiction. 338 pages.
Sunny loves the K-pop band Supreme Beat, and she especially loves dancing to their songs. Best friend Bailey doesn't share Sunny's interest in K-pop, but she decides that the two of them should try out for the school dance team. However, Sunny is the only one who makes the cut. As their relationship turns rocky, Sunny bonds with her new teammates who share her passion for Supreme Beat, while she tries to figure out how to repair her friendship with Bailey. Those interested in the world of K-pop will find more to love in this light exploration into K-pop fandom.
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