The Grand Prize Winner of the Ninth Munhakdongne Literature Awards for Young Adults. Where is the place I can truly be myself? A story for everyone tired of the burdens of relationships is now fully revealed to the world. The Munhakdongne Literature Awards for Young Adults celebrates its ninth year. From the inaugural winner, Bullyang gajok resipi (The Recipe of a Dysfunctional Family), to last year’s Segyereul geonneo neoege galge (I Will Cross Time for You), the award has discovered novels that resonate with today’s youth. And the winner of its ninth award is Hwang Young-mi’s Cherisaeu: Bimilgeulimnida (Cherry Shrimp: This Post is Password Protected). It portrays Dahyeon’s journey from breaking free from the constraints and stress of relationships to loving herself as she is. The vivid portrayal of the intricate and subtle landscape of relationships unfolding in the classroom and the authentic voice of the middle-school second-year narrator experiencing such relationships surprised the judges. What do people think of me? How am I perceived right now? What if someone dislikes me? Everyone has experienced hiding their true selves, fearing the judgmental eyes of others. This holds especially true for teens who strive to maintain smooth friendships in school to avoid being labeled as oddballs or outcasts, causing them to struggle not to reveal their authentic selves. Cherisaeu: Bimilgeulimnida (Cherry Shrimp: This Post is Password Protected) is a message of empathy and a cheer for young adults who are still concealing “me” in the world of “us,” yearning to belong somewhere. Dahyeon, a Girl Who Wants to Belong Somewhere “Lying is hard, and living a life based on lies is even harder.” For Dahyeon, friends mean everything. When she entered middle school, she was fortunate to become a member of the group “Five Fingers.” However, there are certain things that she can’t share with her Five Fingers friends: her preference for classical music over idol groups’ songs, her genuine fondness for her freckled face, and her memories of her late father that resurface whenever she strolls through her neighborhood. She keeps these feelings hidden from her friends because she never wants to experience the pain of being ostracized again. There’s nothing more dreadful than being shunned by classmates for being “too serious.” When frustration overwhelms her, Dahyeon turns to her blog app. Only on her private blog called Cherisaeu (cherry shrimp) can she truly be herself. Eunyu, a Girl Who Doesn’t Want to Belong Anywhere “Frankly speaking, I don’t really like hanging around in groups.” Eunyu is a bit of an oddball, and the fact that she has no besties doesn't seem to bother her. She feels comfortable in her solitude, casually discussing her favorite indie films, which Dahyeon believes nobody else would like to watch. Eunyu is known as the second most disliked girl in school among the Five Fingers, but Dahyeon can’t quite comprehend why she’s disliked. Nevertheless, Dahyeon decides to follow suit and dislike her, too. After all, if your best friends hate someone, you should, too. On the first day of the new semester, Dahyeon not only gets paired with Eunyu but also receives the same homework assignment as a pair. To make matters worse, Eunyu suggests that they do the homework at her house. Dahyeon faces a dilemma. Should she break the unspoken rule of the Five Fingers that forbids talking to Eunyu? How can she casually mention to her friends that she went to Eunyu’s house? Dahyeon can’t find the courage to bring it up lightly in their group chat, nor can she bring herself to talk about it directly with her friends. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Dahyeon pledges not to like Eunyu, if not to hate her. However, as Dahyeon and Eunyu’s paths cross, a completely new terrain of their relationship begins to unfold. I Am Me, and You Are You. A forest of healthy relationships formed by teenagers standing tall like trees. Dahyeon switches her blog, on which she has been writing about her true tastes and thoughts, from private to public, and exclaims, “Yeah, I’m too serious. So what!” Her voice echoes boldly in the world of “private” spaces where many “selves” still reside. This “so what” attitude serves as a magical spell that empowers both young and fully grown adults who are lost in relationships, reflecting the author’s wish for all beings to stand tall, embracing that “I am me, and you are you” without being shaken or influenced by others’ opinions and regardless of where they belong. It is said that Hwang Young-mi, the author, can hear teenagers’ voices everywhere. She confessed that she often tosses and turns at night, contemplating the conversations of middle and high school students she overhears on buses, in bookstores, and during walks. Hwang has frequently visited online communities of teenagers and written heartfelt replies to teenagers’ worries, some of which have been voted as “best comments.” This was possible because she didn’t merely display interest and affection for them; she genuinely empathized and connected with them. Her truthful and caring emotions towards them have accumulated to become the foundation of her novel. Embracing and loving oneself as they are also entails broadening one’s understanding of others. Just as individual trees standing tall come together to form a beautiful forest, healthy relationships can be built when individuals find their own center. Dahyeon’s tender coming-of-age story teaches us valuable lessons and serves as the first step on a journey of freedom and self-discovery, akin to cherry shrimps shedding their old shells. Reference: Munhakdongne. "Cherry Shrimp: This Post is Password Protected", https://www.munhak.com/book/view.php?dtype=brand&id=11913. accessed 1 August 2023.