87 pages 2 hours read

Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2021

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Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. How old was Zauner when her mother died?

2. To what location did Zauner’s father retire?

3. Where did Chongmi immigrate to with her husband when they arrived in the US?

4. To what location would Zauner and her mother travel for the summer?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why has Zauner been crying in H Mart?

2. Why does Zauner wonder if she is still Korean?

3. What is Zauner doing when her mother is diagnosed with cancer?

4. How did Peter impress Zauner’s parents when he first met them?

5. What does Chongmi’s remark that Peter is “New York style” mean?

Paired Resource

“The Lure of H Mart, Where the Shelves Can Seem as Wide as Asia”

  • A New York Times article by Ligaya Mishan describes the appeal of H Mart, giving context to Zauner’s connection to the grocery store and food’s wider meaning. (Subscription may be needed for viewing.)
  • This article connects to the motif of H Mart and themes of Food’s Relationship to Cultural and Family Identity and The Difficult Relationship Between an Immigrant Mother and Her Daughter.