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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
A little repetitive in parts, but ultimately complex and devastating.
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A difficult story to tell, but an important one. Sora’s journey as she flees her home in North Korea in 1950 is fraught with fear, tragedy, hope, desperation, strength and bone-deep weariness.
Ultimately, though, Sora is an incredibly brave and realistic heroine. And the journey within this novel is a vital story to share.
Spoiler
While ultimately this story ends on a sober but uplifting note (as did that of the author’s mother), there was so much fear and pain before the end. Some of it is everyday struggle: a daughter who wants an education fighting with her mother who is preparing her for traditional life, sibling infighting, shaky friendships. But the other thread twisting through this novel is of the oppressive North Korean government and the war between North and South Korea. Midnight arrests, hard labor camps, refugees fighting for survival, all of it is depicted frankly. I did not find gratuitous descriptions, but even mundane depictions of fleeing for one’s life are intense.
Like many, I don’t know very much about the Korean War. This is really well done, and the ending had me in tears. There’s a fight between the mother and daughter that really got my emotions going. The author’s note, photos, glossary and timeline are the perfect accompaniments.
A seriously great book about a war I didn’t know that much about. Lee is an achingly beautiful writer. I stayed up late into the night and finished the book in 24 hours. Such deeply human characters and commentary on what we do to protect those we love while trying so hard to either find ourselves and where we fit into the world or trying to not lose ourselves.
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- the mom is my greatest opp i genuinely have a like-hate relationship with her. she’s yapping about her sons and i’m like ?? ur daughter??? is right???? there??
- youngsoo was a real one</3
- sora is better than me fr
- overall i read it in one day & cried
- youngsoo was a real one</3
- sora is better than me fr
- overall i read it in one day & cried