Jeong Is Jeong

“What is Jeong?” a little girl asks her grandma, and so begins a lyrical journey of discovery, kindness, and understanding in this ode to Korean American language and culture. How can one tiny word mean so much? Luna loves spending time with her little brother Joey and their halmeoni after school—they share yummy treats, play at the park, and have a lot of fun speaking to each other in Korean and English. When Halmeoni notices Luna help Joey put on his shoes and says that she has “jeong,” they realize that some words aren’t quite translatable between their two languages. As she, Halmeoni, and Joey go through the day, Luna uncovers the meaning of a small word that carries a lot of weight. Over time, she learns more about her family, herself, and the gorgeous culture that connects them.