“Surim, do you know what makes someone an adult? It’s the will to take responsibility for one’s life.”

This uplifting book by Yoo Eun-sil is directed at everyone who strives to live a happier life.

Published by BIR Publishing Co., Ltd., Sunrye House is a young adult novel written by author Yoo Eun-sil, recipient of the Korean Children's Book Award and IBBY Honour List nominee. Featuring funny and spirited characters, the comical story portraying the commotion at Sunrye’s house brims with originality and revolves around Surim's unruly family and the events that unfold after they move into the home of Sunrye, the ex-girlfriend of Surim’s grandfather. Surim’s family made up of a dishonest mother, a father who has mastered the art of freeloading, and a high school-aged older sister who doesn’t even know how to boil water to make instant noodles for herself, find themselves with no other choice but to move into Sunrye’s home, which they used to despise, after running into financial trouble.

As a result, Sunrye takes it upon herself to train the family to adapt to the outside world so they can grow into full-fledged adults who can fend for themselves. Will she succeed?

Just like Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which fairies use magic on the characters to make them fall in and out of love with each other, the story of Surim's family moving into Sunrye's home is filled with comical elements but also contains a deep, underlying message. It raises important questions about the nature of truth, happiness, and adulthood, and aims to inspire readers to reflect on their lives and make positive changes to navigate through the turbulent times we are currently going through.