Lore Isle

• A wondrous fantasy crafted by author Jiin Kim, whose journey spans from Seoul to Toronto, and finally to Newfoundland at the edge of the Atlantic.
• The story of a young boy, Peter, who sets out in search of gold for his ailing mother—a chronicle of courage, wolves, and fairies.
• Discover a new possibility for our literature, expanding the territory of imagination far beyond conventional immigrant narratives.

Let’s unfold a map of Canada. Look past Toronto and Vancouver, where our Korean communities are heavily concentrated, to the far eastern edge—to Newfoundland, an island battered by the roaring waves of the Atlantic. Did you know that amidst its harsh winds and dense fog lives a writer who shares our roots? This is the story of author Jiin Kim. Born in Seoul and raised in Toronto, she majored in Fine Arts at the University of Toronto. Now, she resides in St. John’s, raising two children and building a universe entirely her own. Her debut Young Adult fantasy novel, Lore Isle, is a proud testament that Korean immigrant literature is no longer confined to tales of "settling down" or "identity crises," but is branching out into the realm of infinite imagination.

Author Jiin Kim’s own background reads like a fairy tale. She joyfully balances two seemingly incongruous professions: a librarian and a group fitness instructor. Moreover, at home, she is a quirky and warm-hearted architect, building cardboard villages for her two rescue rabbits. This unique and multi-dimensional approach to life is seamlessly woven into her novel, Lore Isle. This is not the typical immigrant novel we are accustomed to. Rather, like Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia, it is an authentic fantasy adventure that blurs the boundaries between reality and illusion.

The novel is set in Newfoundland, where the author currently resides. The story opens with a highly intriguing premise: "Everyone knows there are no wolves in Newfoundland." This "fact," which protagonist Peter's grandfather hammered into his ears, is shattered when Peter spots a wolf-like creature in the woods. Following his grandfather’s death, a suspicious man named Mr. Doyle appears, offering a tempting proposition. To save his mother, Peter follows Mr. Doyle and embarks on a journey to the mysterious 'Lore Isle.'

What we must pay attention to here is the reason behind Peter’s adventure. Peter's mother suffers from severe panic attacks and cannot leave the house. To secure a home where his mother won't be evicted, Peter throws himself into this perilous journey. This setup subtly resonates with the sentiments of our Korean families. It reflects the image of a child in an unfamiliar land and harsh environment, willingly sacrificing themselves and gathering courage to protect their family and parents. Though the genre is fantasy, the underlying currents of 'familial love' and 'sense of responsibility' deeply connect with the emotional bonds shared by our 1.5 and second-generation immigrants.

The 'Lore Isle' Peter arrives at is truly a bizarre and extraordinary place. Veiled, uncanny Mummers roam about, fairies flutter in the air, and man-eating Venus flytraps lie in wait. True to her Fine Arts background, author Jiin Kim brings this fantastic world to life not only through her prose but also through her own dark, whimsical illustrations. Readers imagine through the text and thrill at the artwork. On this island where nothing is as it seems, Peter begins to question the truths he once believed and learns a new kind of courage.

The sense of pride this book instills in us living in Canada—especially in our growing youth and their parents—is profound. We often wish for our children to cling strictly to "Korean themes" or "practical paths to success." However, Jiin Kim proves otherwise. She shows that a novel written by a Korean-Canadian author doesn't necessarily have to smell like kimchi or be about a convenience store. She proves that our children are beings with infinite potential, capable of rewriting the legends of a wolf-less Newfoundland or conjuring up entirely new magical islands.

Furthermore, Jiin Kim’s life serves as a refreshing inspiration for the parent generation. Organizing books at the library, sweating it out at the gym, playing with rabbits at home, and spending nights writing novels and drawing—in a world that often forces us down a single path, she embodies the joy of having a "multi-persona." The reason her novel has received critical acclaim from mainstream review outlets like Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly is not simply because she is a minority author. It is because the sheer power of her storytelling and the overwhelming fun of her imagination have captivated a universal audience.

Lore Isle is both Peter’s coming-of-age story and author Jiin Kim’s personal declaration. It exudes a confidence that says: "I may come from Korea, but I can take the fog, the wind, and even the legends of this land, Newfoundland, and make them the ingredients of my own story."

If you ever spot the name Jiin Kim in the Juvenile Fiction section of a Canadian bookstore, I highly recommend you pick it up without hesitation. And tell your children: "The person who created this wonderful, magical world is an author who shares our roots." The pride instilled by that single sentence will be more powerful than any biography of a historical figure. Just as Peter ventured to 'Lore Isle' to save his mother, our children will gain the courage to embark on their own adventures through this book. Can you hear the howl of the Newfoundland wolves? It is not a sound of fear, but our powerful battle cry as we step forward into a new world.