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Kim Lost Words Book

Kim Lost Words Book Back In Print After 10 Months

Beloved children’s book returns after dispute between author and publisher

‘Kim Lost Words’ author claims publisher’s editorial changes racially insensitive and untrue

Beloved children’s book, ‘Kim Lost Words’ by Insun Lee, is back in print after a 10 month hiatus. The book was pulled from shelves in June 2022 after a dispute between Lee and the publisher, Tu Books, over editorial changes that Lee claimed were racially insensitive and untrue.

The book tells the story of a Korean-American girl named Kim who loses her words after her family moves to the United States. Lee said that Tu Books made changes to the book without her consent, including changing the names of some of the characters and removing references to Korean culture.

Lee said she was “heartbroken” by the changes, which she said “erased the Korean-American experience” from the book. She pulled the book from publication and filed a lawsuit against Tu Books.

The two sides eventually reached a settlement, and the book was re-released in April 2023 with Lee’s original text restored.

Lee said she was “overjoyed” to have her book back in print. “I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me during this difficult time,” she said. “I hope that ‘Kim Lost Words’ will continue to inspire and empower young readers for many years to come.”

The return of ‘Kim Lost Words’ to print is a victory for authors’ rights and for the representation of diverse voices in children’s literature.