It tells the story of a Korean - American eighth - grader grappling with her identity as a first - generation immigrant in the United States .
Balgassi 's middle - grade novel , Tae 's Sonata , was published by Clarion Books in 1997 .
It tells the story of a Korean - American eighth - grader grappling with Balgassi 's identity as a first - generation immigrant in the United States .
Balgassi 's middle - grade novel , Tae 's Sonata , was published by Clarion Books in 1997 .