The Magic Lunch Box

The Magic Lunch Box by Yoon Ha Lee follows the story of Ben Lee, a fourth-grader who is trying to fit in at his new school in Michigan. On his first day, he faces a cringe-worthy moment when his classmates react negatively to the homemade kimbap in his lunchbox. Feeling embarrassed, Ben makes a wish for things to be different, and his lunchbox responds in an unexpected way. A ham sandwich appears in place of his mom's mandoo, and Ben is at first excited by the magical changes. However, things quickly spiral out of control as the magic spreads to his favorite Korean cartoon, Tobot V, and the special pencils his grandmother sent him from Korea. As the strange occurrences continue, Ben must navigate the chaos caused by his lunchbox's magic and find a way to set things right. Along the way, he learns important lessons about identity, cultural pride, and the value of friendship.