Do You like book Year Of Impossible Goodbyes (1993)?
Ten-year-old Sookan lives with her mother, grandfather, aunt, cousin, and little brother in Japanese-occupied Pyongyang. Her father has escaped to Manchuria and her older brothers are in Japanese labor camps. As the war drags on and the Japanese become even more cruel, Sookan and her family hold out hope that the Americans will come and free them. But when the war is over, it's not the Americans who come, but the Russians, and now their only hope for freedom is to make the dangerous journey south.[return][return]I'm ashamed to say this really ended up being a history lesson for me. I knew that Japan had occupied Korea before WWII and...that's about it, really. I hadn't even really thought about how Korea came to be divided into North and South. :-/ So I ended up reading a lot about Korea on wikipedia while reading this. ^_^;;[return][return]It's a good story, though, and based on the author's own experiences. The writing isn't great, but it's better than a lot of YA stuff.
—Travis
Sookan is ten years old and living in North Korea during WWII. Her father, brothers, and uncle are all gone and she is living with her mother, aunt, grandfather, and little brother. The Japanese control her town and things are horrible: she's not allowed to speak Korean, her mother must tirelessly run a sock factory for the Japanese in their front year, and her grandfather is frustrated beyond belief at the occupation. When the war ends, hope explodes in her small town, but soon that is eradicated as well as the Russins take over and preach Communism. Other North Koreans are escaping to Soth Korea, but will Sookan and her family go? Will they ever see the rest of their family again? What will happen if they stay?Choi's novel is interesting, intriguing, and disturbing. As she lived through this period, she is well-aware of the feelings and emotions of the time and she does a good job of expressing them through her novel. Sad and sepressing as it is, it is important to learn of this little-known piece of history and remember those who had to endure it.
—george
This book was a gift from my mom when I was an older child or young teen. I absolutely love this story, and I appreciate it more every time I read it. Set in Korea, beginning in Pyongyang in 1945, the story follows Sookan and her remaining family members--her mother, little brother, grandfather, aunt, and cousin--through their difficult everyday lives under Japanese rule. Through the course of the first part of the book, we learn how long the Japanese had oppressed the Koreans, and the whereabouts of Sookan's other siblings and father. As World War II comes to a close and the Japanese get more desperate, even more terrible things begin to happen, starting a long year (and more) of "impossible" goodbyes for Sookan and her family. When the war ends and the Japanese must leave, Sookan gets her first taste of true freedom. But it doesn't last long, as they soon discover that the Russian Communists have been given control over half of Korea; and Sookan's family knows that the only way to lasting freedom is to escape to the South. An absolutely beautifully-written story of courage, perserverance, and faith amid great adversity. The book is classed as historical fiction, but is very much a true story from the author's own life. Marvelous read for advanced readers and up or 10-12 and up. Nothing offensive; some sad subject matter. Excellent choice for anyone studying World War II/ events leading up to the Korean War, or just to increase understanding and gratitude.
—Mommywest
