Emergency Contact (novel)
| Company type | Young adult novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | March 27, 2018 |
| Founder | Mary H.K. Choi |
| Products | Book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
Emergency Contact is a young adult novel released in 2018, marking the first published work of author Mary H.K. Choi. The book was issued on March 27, 2018, by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, a division of Simon & Schuster. The story unfolds primarily through text message exchanges and focuses on a romantic relationship. It follows Penny, a Korean-American college freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, who shares her phone number with Sam after witnessing his initial panic attack.
Background
Choi has mentioned that the inspiration behind the novel partially stems from Judy Blume's Forever..., which portrayed "two people who have sex but then nothing terrible happens," a narrative approach that Choi found appealing.
Publication
Prior to the book’s release, an excerpt appeared in Entertainment Weekly on October 4, 2017. The hardcover edition of Emergency Contact was published on March 27, 2018, by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, with a paperback version following on April 9, 2019.
Upon release, the novel entered The New York Times Young Adult Hardcover best-sellers list at number nine on April 22, 2018, reaching its highest position at number eight by May 6, 2018. It stayed on the list for a total duration of four weeks.
Reception
Publishers Weekly awarded the novel a starred review, commending Choi’s "keen wit and adept character creation."
In contrast, Kirkus Reviews critiqued the development of characters and remarked on a "lack of emotional resonance or finely crafted prose."
David Canfield of Entertainment Weekly praised the book for its authentic depiction of Korean-American culture and its realistic exploration of microaggressions within a young adult context.