Stand Up, Yumi Chung! examines the dilemma of a Korean American preteen who wants to express herself artistically. While this might be a common experience of many American youngsters, Yumi’s position is made especially difficult because of the cultural context in which she was raised. At many points in the book, she wryly comments on the high expectations that Korean parents have for their offspring. Children are expected to excel academically, and their personal needs and desires are routinely sacrificed for future career success.

This phenomenon of overachievement isn’t limited to Korean culture. It is a common pattern in China and most East Asian societies and has earned the colorful name of “tiger parenting.” The term was first popularized by Yale law school professor Amy Chua in her memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (2011). Chua describes several attributes related to tiger parenting that can be seen in Yumi Chung’s relationship with her parents. Tiger parents instill in their children the message that they are supposed to succeed in their schoolwork. Excellence is demanded. By aggressively pursuing their studies, children are then expected to attend top-ranking schools and eventually pursue prestigious careers in law, medicine, business, or science.