I switched from those short Japanese collections to a novel set in South Korea. The Rainfall Market is by You Yeong-Gwang, translated by Slin Jung. The Acknowledgements are interesting in that the author crowdsourced the publication of his book, and wrote it during breaks from his job of delivering food for a living. This novel about a dream coming true is the author’s dream.

Serin isn’t happy with her life. Her father died in an accident when she was young. She lives with her mother, and they were forced to move to an apartment after their old house caught fire. Seri’s younger sister ran away from home the year earlier, and she’s still missing. Serin knows they’re poor, and she can’t afford a school uniform, or to go a university.

So, the high school senior writes a letter.It’s said if you send a letter telling about your unfortunate life to Rainbow Town, you might receive a Ticket. If you bring that ticket to an old house in Rainbow Town on the first day of the rainy season, you will receive the chance to change your life.

Serin is unusual. Of all the people selected for this year she has a Golden Ticket. She is given a companion, a guide cat named Issha, and she has the opportunity to see multiple futures. But, none of her dreams of school, a good job, a business, a family, seem to be the right future.

The Rainfall Market is more of a young adult novel than an adult book. Together with Issha, Serin has unusual adventures in a forest, at an eating contest, a fight with spiders and other creatures. And, she learns what is important in her life, and her future. It’s certainly a coming-of-age novel, and Serin grows as a character in the course of the book.

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang. Ace, 2023/2024. ISBN 9780593952665 (paperback), 214p.

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