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ajsterkel's review against another edition
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
ernie_8's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer and Confinement
Minor: Alcoholism and Abortion
ell_n's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Moderate: War
graff_fuller's review against another edition
4.25
I love biographies, but autobiographies are even better. "Straight from the horse's mouth", as they say.
The traumatic escape of Yeon-mi Park from N. Korea, to China, to Mongolia, to S. Korea, onward...to where she now lives in America.
The peak behind the curtain of what is actually going on in N. Korea is amazing (in a bad way). Also, to read about the propaganda machine that is at work in N. Korea...for 70+ years, so that not even S. Koreans know HOW different these two cultures are now.
To hear about empathy and love being devoid in the average N. Korean. Seeing public executions and dead people in the streets...as normal events. Being sold into slavery and prostitution, just to survive and escape...for slavery and prostitution are one thing, but HUNGER is worse. Anything, just to eat food.
None of us in the US can understand these things, which I'm glad for, but we need to educate ourselves. We do not agree with the leadership of N. Korea, but the people of N. Korea are enslaved, themselves to this dynasty and deserve our pity. The need to help other escape this hell hole...as Yeon-mi says, it is the DARKEST place on the earth. If you look at satellite photos of the area...there are very few lights, compared to the bordering countries...it looks like a black hole swallowed the entire country. Shortages of electricity, food, are necessities normal...and this is how the leadership keeps the people in check.
You really have to read it in her own words. She escaped when she was 13, but it wasn't until years later that she truly had freedom from the oppression that ALL people of N. Korea accept as NORMAL.
Share this story to your friends and family. It is a VERY sad tale, but she's come out of it, scars and all...and is trying to shine a light on N. Korea...so the world will come to its (the enslaved people who live in this country, under THIS regime) rescue.
I'm so happy that I picked this book up and read her story. There will be images that I won't be able to get out of my head, but maybe this will help people to help these downtrodden people.
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation
brittsbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Trafficking
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Death of parent
deluna's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
nookatdusk's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
vintage_library's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Rape, and Death of parent
isla8's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
sabrinag98's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Murder