Mika in Real Life

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I hoped things would work out, but I had doubts that this was the best way to build an authentic relationship. She is a mess, has no idea what she’s doing or who she is and makes some huge mistakes, but that is part of her charm and what makes her so relatable. I did enjoy the interactions with Penny and her father but the rest of it was impossible to overlook. In this episode, we hear Jean in conversation with WBUR's Celeste Headlee about the book, in which a teen girl – Penny – tries to connect with her birth mother Mika. Mika in Real Life' focuses on identity and the diversity of parental bonds : NPR's Book of the Day Young adult author Emiko Jean is out with her first book for adults – Mika in Real Life.

Having themes on finding identity, of dreams, family dynamics, motherhood and forgiveness—the blurb was so engrossing and I kind of falling in love with the characters later on. However, in the last year, Caroline has passed away, and Penny has started to wonder about her birth mother. The voice on the other end is new to her but familiar to her heart: Penny, the daughter she gave up for adoption 16 years ago when she was only a freshman in college. Like what I looked like, and thinking that the world was at my feet, and I was gonna conquer it and do something really great.Now if only Mika can navigate the complex waters she’s found herself in, and not get caught in her lies.

I loved this aspect of the book so much, as well as the diversity – as well as being of mixed heritage, Hana is an ASL interpreter for rock bands (how cool? An amazing and insightful look into adoption, trauma, culture, friendship and the mother-daughter relationship. Reading Mika’s thoughts can be depressing sometimes but she was so sincere; she gripped my heart and made me fall in love. I thought the book would have been perfect if it solely focused on the exploration of mother-daughter relationships, and Mika’s self-transformation.

Jean's persuasive characters excel in vivacious banter and vulnerable reveals, populating a rewarding narrative about crucial learning and absolute loving. She invents a whole new bright and shiny life to share with Penny, one in which she owns her own home, is in a relationship with gorgeous, brilliant Leif, and has just quit her job to open her own gallery. I loved how relatable she was and how we delved into her guilt, longing, sadness, regret and finding happiness. Mika was of course a great draw - I love how she slowly allows us into her life and close to her heart.