barbiejoon12's review

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dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0


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lizgonzo's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0


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renrenren's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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kwistiekweme's review

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dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Stunning, horrific, unflinching, and incredibly brave. Park writes about life in North Korea, the horrors of her escape through China, and her transition to life in South Korea, in a voice full of strength and hope despite -- or perhaps because of -- everything she experienced. Her narrative is straightforward and unflinching, and her account of being trafficked in China kept me up at night. Even though I know this was published in 2015 and I've watched her TED talks, I had to keep reading to the end to know that she was alright.

All around the world refugees are incredibly resilient, but it's heartbreaking how they are exploited at their most vulnerable and desperate. It amazes me how, even after everything she's been through, Park can still find love and compassion in her heart for having been born in North Korea. The world is broken and humans have the capacity for unspeakable depravity, but Park shows how incredible virtue can exist alongside it. Her hope for North Korea's liberation one day brought tears to my eyes.

This memoir is not for the faint of heart. Trigger warnings for rape, abuse, human trafficking, execution, murder, death, and starvation.

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aus10england's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

The author beautifully tells the tale of her childhood growing up in North Korea, in a way that is honest, raw, and at times very hard to read. You’ll come away from this book with a better understanding of those struggling to escape their homes and what limits they’ll go to to do so. 

I found the pacing really well done up until the end where it seems to wrap up really quickly, but I will happily read anything the author decides to write next!

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agustdefault's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

5.0

im having a hard time describing this book but i am going to recommend it to everyone i know. it is very rare for me to cry during books and this one got me. yeonmis story is so heartbreaking and i felt that by the end i truly knew her. im proud of her for being able to speak up and tell her story and it was so well written that it didnt feel monotonous. 

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elanashyong's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0


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mxpringle's review

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challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0


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hasritha's review

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dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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natreviews's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This is one of the books that should be read in every single high school. This is such an important read, not only for an inside look as to what living in North Korea is like, but to read all of the hardships she and others like her have had to experience. It is one of those books that will make you reflect on your own life, and how good you really have it.

I had only seen the title of this book, heard nothing about it before I read it. That's why I'll keep this review to the bare bones. There are some books out there where the less you know, the better the read is. This is one of those books (although I highly recommend checking out the content warnings before reading).

What I will say is Yeonmi holds nothing back. For that I'm truly grateful. Although it is a hard and challenging read, it wouldn't have the same impact as it does without all of the details. 

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