If not for the title and the prologue, the reader would think that YOUNGHO AND CHADORI: The Door to the Spirit World was realistic middle grade fiction– this is both the book’s best strength and, possibly, its greatest weakness. After a truly outlandish and fantastical preamble with flying dogs and a Santa substitute and a terrifying monster with an ax, readers settle in to the utterly average life of mischievous 12-year old Youngho–always barely escaping trouble with his teachers, exasperating his parents, and joking around with his best buddy, Manu–for the next two hundred pages. As likable and relatable as Youngho is, the set-up for the promised “door to the spirit world” is far too long, full of plot points and details that seem to go nowhere. We’re left to assume that these plot points will be picked up and the true adventure will come in Book Two, but we really could use some of it in Book One; the pacing of Youngho’s story is clunky and episodic, without much of an arc. We enjoy the vignettes of Youngho’s jokey relationship with Manu, his time with his loyal dog, Chadori, and his pining for his beloved grandfather and Christmas spirit, but are often left to wonder where the story is headed. It’s not until the very end that some of the main themes are introduced, which is too bad, because they’re unusual and intriguing.
The good news is that author B.K. Chu’s illustrations are weirdly wonderful (there should be more of them) and their vibrant colors and humorous character depictions entice the reader to keep turning pages; it’s obvious from the joyousness of these images that Chu has poured a lot of love and energy and goodwill into her story. YOUNGHO AND CHADORI: The Door to the Spirit World is a bit of a patchwork, but there is enough charm in Youngho’s story and the refreshingly original illustrations to make this a worthy read.
Although uneven in tone and pacing, YOUNGHO AND CHADORI: The Door to the Spirit World mostly succeeds, thanks to charming illustrations and its sweet main character’s relationships with a funny best friend and an adorable dog.
~Shari Simpson for IndieReader