K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion by Stuart A. Kallen-ADVISABLE

Kallen, Stuart A., K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion. Pgs. 64. Twenty-First Century, 2014. $33.26. INFORMATION

Music videos that feature quirky horse-riding dance moves. Sound familiar? In 2012, an unlikely Korean music video known as “Gangnam Style” reached one billion hits on Youtube-the most views ever. Overnight, South Korean pop star Psy became a household name. With his groundbreaking hits, other pop sensations were able to become global sensations as well. Now, South Korean bands are performing to sold out arenas all over the world and fans can’t enough of not only the music, but also the film, television, and manhwa series as well. This book explores this and other parts of the fandom world for readers in a fun, entertaining way. The book is well-laid out and the photos are bright and detailed. With additional information interspersed throughout in fact boxes, a must-have playlist for readers to get, a glossary, and sources for additional information, fans of Psy and South Korean culture will enjoy reading this book. EL. MS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.