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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This was a very interesting book (I’m going to review it for the White Wall Review so I will have more thoughts about it later) that I think you would enjoy if you like coming-of-age stories with action and suspense and drama. This is a debut novel that is written quite well and has amazing and vivid imagery. but it didn’t excite me, it didn’t challenge me, and soon I was ready for it to be over.
4.5 stars! An excellent book set in a little known location that made for a beautiful, immersive reading experience!
I didn't know very much about North Korea before reading this book, and I found the insight into that country's society and laws very interesting. This book was a very interesting read, the plot kept me moving and the main characters were very likable. Since it is a YA book, it didn't feel overly heavy or dark, but it still was able to deal with the harsh realities for North Koreans accused of crimes and what happens when they escape to China.
Five words to describe this book: North Korea, refugees, romance, YA, oppression
Five words to describe this book: North Korea, refugees, romance, YA, oppression
Learned a lot and made me want to continue learning about life in North Korea
Clearly a very well researched and for me, a very personal and emotional journey of Jin and Suja who are college students in North Korea. I want to be careful of any spoilers but I will say that this really highlights the hardships that people in North Korea face and not only in North Korea but in China as well. I have read and heard about what life is like in North Korea and it's so heartbreaking as I know in my own family, there were cousins of my grandmother who were in North Korea and could not make it back to Seoul when the borders closed. I remember watching secret footage of North Korea with my parents and grandparents and seeing the pain on their faces. When there were a small number of families that were trying to reunify, I remember asking my grandmother if she would try to reunite with her family. She said no because it may be more painful to see someone for an hour and then give them no hope to leave their situation. What a heartbreaking consideration. I think there are some nonfiction reads about people who have been able to leave North Korea but I loved reading this fictional story that really highlights love, strength, resilience and hope.
I tore through this in a day. I knew that this book was based on true life North Korean defectors living in China, from research Ann did for a documentary. But being a person who doesn't enjoy documentaries that much (yeah okay I'm a philistine), I really enjoyed this research being presented to me in an engaging narrative.
3.5 stars
The based-on-true-stories parts of the narrative were well-researched, but the fiction laid overtop was thin. The characters and events felt generic, as if they were supposed to stand in for and encompass every story.
The based-on-true-stories parts of the narrative were well-researched, but the fiction laid overtop was thin. The characters and events felt generic, as if they were supposed to stand in for and encompass every story.
Growing research states that readers of fiction have more empathy, and I believe books like this are a perfect example as to why. It would be impossible to come away from this story without a greater sense of empathy for people born into such difficult circumstances, and a greater appreciation for one’s own more fortunate circumstances. While I didn’t love everything about this, I did find it compelling and really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated the peak into life in North Korea, about which I know very little.
I didn’t find the romantic relationship to be very well-developed. I was told Jin and Suja had a strong connection, but I didn’t feel as though I was shown that. I could understand Jin’s choice to escape, but I did not feel the same way about Suja, who grew up in relative “comfort” by North Korean standards. Her choice seemed more impulsive and naive to me. While their individual journeys were interesting, the romantic part didn’t work for me.
This was fast-paced and relied on a lot of chance and coincidence, which could leave someone wanting more, but also served as a quick read for some education about North Korea. I would give warning for some pretty horrific scenes, which, as an HSP, were difficult to read.
I didn’t find the romantic relationship to be very well-developed. I was told Jin and Suja had a strong connection, but I didn’t feel as though I was shown that. I could understand Jin’s choice to escape, but I did not feel the same way about Suja, who grew up in relative “comfort” by North Korean standards. Her choice seemed more impulsive and naive to me. While their individual journeys were interesting, the romantic part didn’t work for me.
This was fast-paced and relied on a lot of chance and coincidence, which could leave someone wanting more, but also served as a quick read for some education about North Korea. I would give warning for some pretty horrific scenes, which, as an HSP, were difficult to read.