The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee

A Korean American teen artist is trapped in the world of her own webcomic in this speculative tribute to manhwa by Oh (the Spirit Hunters series). Following her mother’s death, high school senior Mina Lee signs up for three AP classes and SAT tutoring, hoping to make her strict father happy. But she would rather spend time drawing her webcomics. When her friends encourage her to add more romance and excitement to her current story, Mina instead begins a new comic inspired by her own life about a teen with superpowers contending with bullying and espionage at school while trying to woo love interest Jin. Strange things begin happening, however: scenes that Mina didn’t create suddenly appear, and the next thing she knows, Mina is sucked into the world she crafted, where elements of her real life have been altered based on what she drew. Now superpowered herself, Mina must defeat the villain she created, navigate her growing romance with fictional boyfriend Jin, and manage her grief, all while trying to return to her own reality. Employing tropes and elements from K-dramas and Korean webcomics—such as a large and skillfully curated ensemble, vulnerable high-energy conflict, emotionally tender scenes, and swoony romantic moments—Oh crafts a gripping story with superhero flare and a down-to-earth aura. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)