- Overview
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This book is about the mysteries surrounding a newly opened dry cleaner's in a building which is about to be reconstructed.
- Book Intro
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This book deals with school violence directly through a strange dry cleaner's that claims to be able to erase anything. The story is told from the perspective of "Haneul." It depicts the inner feelings of a child who is ostracized and at same time digs deeply into the school violence.
Haneul is suffering from pain beyond his control, but no adult is truly thinking about him. His mom thinks that she is responsible for Haneul being ostracized, so she keeps an eye on his every movement and meddles in everything. His dad just says, "You should face your problems, not avoid them." His home room teacher hopes the year will pass by quietly, whatever the children are scheming. The violence of the children is conspicuous. They do whatever they pleases under the indifference and connivance of the adults. Haneul has to bear everything alone, from countless, habitual, violent curses and extortion of his belongings to being ignored in group chat rooms and other difficult situations. The only thing a boy can do who feels out of place in family and school is just endure every day, as though nothing were wrong. The bad smell coming from Haneul is possibly a rescue signal sent out from his heart, which has festered as much as it can.
We Wash Anything portrays the author's earnest heart, saying let's not let go of the thin line of hope even in the darkest reality. This book was published in hopes that the stained and wrinkled yesterdays of children who lost their smiles could be washed and put back on neatly ironed the next day, just as Haneul did.
- About the Author
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Weon Meyongheui
Weon Meyong Heui (F) started her writing career with the publication of Joljoli on a Bicycle and Kkachi, the Stray Cat in Poem and Children's Stories. She gained the Korean Award for Hans Christian Andersen in 2006 for Kkachi, the Stray Cat, and her first novel, Children Inside the Walls, was selected by Sejong Books for Sharing Literature in 2015. She tries to write books that help children can get one step closer to a happy world.
Seo Younga
Born in 1976 in Seoul, Seo Younga (F) graduated from Korea National University of Arts with a degree in Fine Arts. While raising an energetic eight-year-old daughter and three birds, Seo draws illustrations for books. Books Seo has illustrated include A Merman, First Ever Hiking, Bori the Jindo Dog, The Power of a Kiss and Some Kid.
- Recommendation
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Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Library, Recommended book for the Summer Vacation
Happy Reading in the Morning, Recommended book
- Selection
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Changbi Publishers, Good Children's Book
School Library Journal, This Month's New Books