Rethinking and Reconstructing Community-Based Literary Spaces: A Case Study of Transnational Korean Mothers’ Book Club

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Critically Exploring Children’s Literature, Cultural Identities, and Languages

Abstract

This two-year longitudinal group case study examines how transnational Korean mothers in the US negotiate and reconstruct their identities through participation in a community-based young adult (YA) literature book club. It investigates how their responses to Korean YA literature reveal their evolving intersectional identities as mothers, daughters, former teenagers, and immigrants. Findings reveal three interrelated themes: the fluidity of identity and rearticulated positionality; the emergence of a new community space extending beyond literary engagement; and the expansion of impact into family literacy. These findings highlight how shared literary practices can serve as powerful tools for personal transformation, cultural dialogue, and the building of solidarity among immigrant mothers.

Authors

• Yoo Kyung Sung, University of New Mexico

• Eunjee Jang, University of Wisconsin - River Falls