Title: We Carry the Sea In Our Hands by Janie Kim
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary
Culture: Korean
Themes: Origin story, Found family, Korean folklore, Self-discovery

Found family journey through scientific discovery

Favorite Quote: Nobody’s story is all that tidy. ~Umma

With poetic prose and originality, We Carry the Sea in Our Hands by Janie Kim is one woman’s origin story with a scientific backdrop that challenges scientific theory and beyond.

Told from a scientist’s perspective, Abby takes you on a journey of her origin story from her beginnings as a drop box baby adopted by her initial adoptive parents and their tumultuous relationship to her second adoption by her closest friends parents. It is through this second adoption and navigating her PhD research that Abby decides to find her biological mother but in ways that she least expected – her own scientific research of sea salt slugs. Using the scientific method, an inquisitive mind, and scientific data Abby finds not only her biological mother but a deeper and more in depth understanding of her Korean heritage. Through her quest to find her birth mother, she receives clarity like clear water: Hye-rin.

As a scientist myself, I truly enjoyed reading this novel written from a scientific lens. Using alliteration, poetry, and double entrendre Kim not only educates the reader on molecular and evolutionary biology, but she also skillfully immersed me in Abby’s origin of life story using science. This is not an easy feat; many biological concepts are difficult to understand but Kim masterfully interweaves these concepts in simple terms that keeps the reader engaged and involved in the story. Using raw emotion and empathy, Kim humanizes scientific thought, theory and perspectives to keep the reader grounded in the idea that there is a life attached to this scientific world. Although not all the science and techniques have been discovered (yet!), I would consider this a true work of science fiction (pun intended!).

Much of novel takes you through Abbys backstory, a trauma filled childhood and eventual adoption by her friend Iseul’s family. However, mid-way through the novel Abby experiences an unexpected and tragic loss that changes her life – for the better. This becomes a major turning point for Abby; I read how Abby spirals and falls into the black hole abyss of grief only to come out the other side stronger, wiser, resilient, and with a renewed sense of purpose in finding her biological mother.

I was delighted to see Kim take on the darker side of being a female scientist in multiple characters. From Abby’s treatment by her boss and other scientists to Petra’s forced requirement to not be culturally who she is – a creole woman of color. With a feministic tone, Kim openly discusses the constant degradation of women in science; the accusations they are less knowledgeable and need to be told what to do or have their work stolen and credit given to men. These themes I have seen firsthand in the scientific field and am glad Kim brought them to light with grace and empathy.

If you’re looking for a story of self-discovery rooted in science with a strong female lead and diverse characters, then We Carry the Sea in Our Hands by Janie Kim is a must read.