Review: Green Frog

4/5 stars

Green Frog: Stories, by Gina Chung (2024)

Short story collections can be tough for me. Often I feel like some are great while others don't measure up, &/or I'm left feeling like each story was just not enough. This collection, though, was really fun. The stories are speculative fiction told from the perspectives of a diverse cast of Korean-American female characters - like, a little girl, a mother, or a female praying mantis! The narrative styles are also diverse - ranging from first person singular and plural to third person, and more - as are the genres, from folklore and fantasy to sci-fi and horror. The amazing thing is that this made the stories feel unique and fresh, but not like they were so distinct as to feel they didn't belong together.

Stories include a kumiho (Korean fox-demon creature) seeking revenge for her sister's death, a pair of talking dolls that help a set of twins escape their home, a couple that purchases a look-alike robot to replace their dead daughter, and a guide to how to cook and eat your own heart to help cure depression. It sounds all over the place... and it kind of is, but each story captures a true emotion, expressing the hope and heartbreak of the human condition.

The speculative fiction aspect of this collection reminded me a lot of Little Eyes, by Samantha Schweblin - another quirky collection that plays with emotions and technology.

Definitely a great little book to pick up if you need a quick read and enjoy exploring weird "what-if" scenarios.

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UP NEXT: Magic for Liars, by Sarah Gailey