High-schooler Su-a is suddenly forced to live in Cambodia, a place that is unfamiliar to her, with only her mother. Discontent with her new life as it has diverged from those of normal students in South Korea, Su-a wants nothing but to return to South Korea to be with her dad. To Su-a, children who sell goods to tourists in the street and neighbors who show interest in her day and night just because she is not from their country are simply irritating. One day, however, her mom abruptly leaves their house, which leaves Su-a to face a crisis: For five days, she must serve as a substitute tour guide. Chempa, a Cambodian girl of a similar age, volunteers to help as the local tour guide on behalf of her sick mother. Despite squabbles and mistakes, the two valiantly perform their tasks, gradually opening up to each other and cementing their friendship in the process. Mixing with Cambodians during the tour as well, Su-a slowly drops her negative view of them and begins to look at the land in a warmer way with a gaze that is free from prejudice. The six tourists also enjoy the trip thanks to the struggles of the little heroine and her friend Chempa, and they even get the invaluable experience of mixing with the locals at their home on the very last day. However, Su-a soon learns a secret concerning her father, whom she thought was living in South Korea after the divorce. With this secret, Su-a realizes that her mother has made countless efforts to give Su-a peace of mind. With this, she reconciles with her mother and neighbors and takes an energetic step forward to a better life in Cambodia.

『완득이』부터 『위저드 베이커리』, 『싱커』에 이르기까지 매회 주목받는 작품들을 출간하며 우리 청소년 문학계에 새로운 화두를 던져 온 창비청소년문학상의 네 번째 수상작. 추정경 작가의 장편소설 『내 이름은 망고』는 느닷없이 여행 가이드를 떠맡게 된 열일곱 소녀 수아의 모험담을 그린 작품이다. 소설은 학교와 집, 학원만을 오가는 일상을 뛰어넘어 그간 우리 청소년 문학에서 거의 다루어지지 않았던 한국 바깥의 공간을 다룬다. 그것도 해외로 눈을 돌렸을 때 선뜻 다다르기 어려운 캄보디아라는 이국의 이야기이다. 작품에 등장하는 캄보디아의 이웃들은 전형적으로 그려지거나 주변인으로 묘사되지 않고 나름의 활력과 개성을 획득하고 있다. 어느 날 갑자기 엄마와 함께 낯선 캄보디아에서 살게 된 고등학생 수아는 자기 삶이 평범한 한국 학생들의 삶과 어긋난 것 같아 못내 불만스럽고 한국에 있는 아빠 곁으로 돌아가고만 싶다. 그런 수아에게 길거리에서 관광객을 상대로 물건을 파는 아이들이며, 외국인이라는 이유로 시도 때도 없이 관심을 보이는 이웃들은 짜증 나는 대상일 뿐이다. 그러던 어느 날 갑자기 집을 나가 버린 엄마를 대신해 닷새 동안 관광 가이드 역할을 떠맡아야 하는 난관에 부닥친다. 비슷한 또래인 캄보디아 소녀 쩜빠 역시 몸이 아픈 자기 엄마를 대신해 현지 가이드를 자처한다. 둘은 티격태격하고 좌충우돌하면서도 맡은 바 일을 씩씩하게 해내고, 그러면서 서로에게 점점 마음을 열고 우정을 확인하는데…. A high schooler, Su-a suddenly has to live in unfamiliar Cambodia with just her mother. Discontent because her life now seems to have diverged from those of ordinary students in South Korea, she wants nothing but to return to the country to be with Dad. To her, children who sell goods to tourists in the street and neighbors who show interest day and night because she is a foreigner are simply irritating. One day, however, Mom abruptly leaves home, leaving the protagonist to face a crisis: for five days, she must serve as a substitute tour guide. Chempa, a Cambodian girl of a similar age, likewise volunteers to help as the local tour guide on behalf of her sick mother. Despite squabbles and mistakes, the two valiantly perform their tasks, gradually opening up to each other and confirming their friendship in the process. Mixing with Cambodians during the tour, Su-a slowly drops her negative view of them and comes to look on the land with a warm heart and a gaze free from prejudices. The six tourists, too, enjoy the trip thanks to the struggles of the little heroine and her friend Chempa, even having the invaluable experience of mixing with the locals at their home on the last day. On the other hand, with the disclosure of the secret concerning her father, whom she thought was living in South Korea after divorce, Su-a realizes that Mom has made ceaseless efforts to give her peace of mind. Reconciled with her mother and neighbors, the girl takes an energetic step forward in Cambodia.