The Color of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa

A poetic Korean coming-of-age story set in a small village and told in graphic novel format. As the season of spring rains come around each year, Ehwa grows from a girl of 7 to a young woman of 16. She lives with her widowed mother who keeps a tavern. Ehwa's heart is divided between two boys while her mother longs for a travelling salesman who comes through only occasionally. I was surprised to learn that the author is male, since the book has quite a feminist sensibility. I especially enjoyed learning about everyday Korean life as it was lived two generations ago. First in a trilogy. Adults are just as likely to enjoy this as are teens.