Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park
The award-winning author of Re Jane makes her young adult debut in a humorous and heartfelt novel about a teen caught between two worlds: Quaker Oats Prep, with its performative wokeness and identity politics; and Jackson Heights, Queens: a working class neighborhood where acting “PC” means you’re fake. Ale’s just trying to get through the day without feeling like an imposter in either of her worlds.
Genre: Young Adult/Adult Literary Crossover. Ages 13+. No graphic content. Some curse words. Brief mention of possible suicide that happened before novel begins.
Praise:
★NPR’s Best YA Books of the Year★
★Gotham Book Prize Finalist★
★Kirkus Best YA Books of the Year★
★AMAZON Best YA Books of the Month Pick★
★Starred Reviews in KIRKUS REVIEWS & SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL★
★NPR Interview with Patricia Park
★ Children’s Book Council “Hot Off the Press” Feature★
★SELECTION 2024 TAYSHAS Reading List★
★ “Park’s work paints an educational but entertaining portrait of what it is like to be a person of color in today’s world…. [A] fantastic read.” —School Library Journal, starred review
★ “[An] entertaining, well-paced story…. Ale is a thoroughly appealing protagonist.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“This humor-infused tale poignantly captures one teenager’s experience learning to stand up for what she believes in.” —Publishers Weekly
“This is a powerful debut YA novel.” –Buzzfeed News
“Hilarious, whip-smart, and refreshingly honest—this novel is simply brilliant.”
—Brendan Kiely, coauthor of the New York Times bestselling All American Boys
“Simply brilliant!” —David Yoon, New York Times best-selling author of FRANKLY IN LOVE
“Scathingly funny.” —Gayle Forman, New York Times best-selling author of IF I STAY
“An authentically funny, honest, and real portrayal of the fight to be seen. Magnificent.”
—Ellen Oh, award-winning author of Finding Junie Kim
“Will give readers the courage to truly define ‘imposter’ and to smash those definitions that no longer serve us.”
—Jennifer de Leon, author of Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From
“Imposter Syndrome is funny and moving, wonderfully earnest and slyly satirical, and an absolute pleasure to read.”
–Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author of Dreyer’s English
Summary:
Alejandra Kim doesn’t feel like she belongs anywhere. At her wealthy Manhattan high school, her súper Spanish name and súper Korean face do not compute to her mostly white “woke” classmates and teachers. In her Jackson Heights neighborhood, she’s not Latinx enough. Even at home, Ale feels unwelcome. And things at home have only gotten worse since Papi’s body was discovered on the subway tracks.
Ale wants nothing more than to escape the city for the wide-open spaces of the prestigious Wyder College. But when a microaggression at school thrusts Ale into the spotlight—and into a discussion she didn’t ask for—Ale must discover what is means to carve out a space for yourself to belong.
Patricia Park’s coming-of-age novel about a multicultural teen caught between worlds, and the future she is building for herself, is an incisive, laugh-out-loud, provocative read.
Teachers’ Guide:
Penguin Random House Discussion Questions here.
Themes: Imposter Syndrome, Identity, Culture, Class, Friendship, Social Justice, Social Issues, Justice & Equality, Friendship, Fairness, Performative “Wokeness.”