Reviews

We listened to this one as a family during car rides. Many factual pieces to the book, it doesn't shy away from the darkness of what wars cause civilians; especially from a kids point of view. A great way to recall and study what we know to be "the forgotten war".

Kids review:
10 yr old - This book is very intense and gives you a lot of emotions, you might need to talk to a parent about the emotions. The characters experience a range of development. I really enjoyed it.

5 yr old: This book is very complicated for your feelings. Hard to control your feelings when listening to the audiobook. The ending made me feel happy.

Parents - audiobook was intense and requires checking in with the kids and yourself. I would have liked a clearer transition when characters were recalling past experiences, other than that the reader did great. A solid listen with many hidden nuggets to explore.

dazzlingwoo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

myjourneywithbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

December 1950: twelve-year-old Sora lives in North Korea under a set of tyrannical rules. Forced to wear red armbands and hang up pictures of the Great Leader, Sora and her family can't trust any of their neighbours in the current political climate, where saying the wrong thing can have dire consequences.

Then war breaks out between North and South Korea, and the ensuing chaos provides the perfect cover for people to flee from North Korea and try to escape. Along the way, Sora and her eight-year-old brother get separated from the rest of the family, leaving them to make the arduous journey on their own, facing frostbite, starvation and enemy soldiers along the way.

While being a story about war and a lesson in history, Brother's Keeper is also the tale of a young girl having to compete with her male siblings for everything, from her mother's affection to a right to an education. This dual perspective to the story was very well done, expertly capturing Sora's feelings, especially her frustration, sadness and guilt.

Through Sora's journey, we also witness the awful effects of the tyrannical regime on regular people. The final leg of their race to freedom and all that comes after was truly heartbreaking to read, especially the desperate situation people had to put themselves in in order to escape.

story_sanctuary's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

As I started to read BROTHER’S KEEPER, I worried about how dark it would be. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. And I won’t lie, some scenes were hard because they were so heartbreaking.

What I loved, though, was Sora’s resourcefulness and her will to survive. I loved her love for books and stories and the hope she continually kindled inside of her that she would see her family again.

BROTHER’S KEEPER doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of war. But through the struggles and bitter coldness of winter, the love between Sora and her brother and their hope for the future shine so brightly. I’m so glad I read this book.

If you like raw, gripping historical novels by Ruta Sepetys (though those are aimed at a slightly older audience) or EVERY FALLING STAR by Sunju Lee and Elizabeth McClelland, please check out BROTHER’S KEEPER.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

jaimiable's review against another edition

Go to review page

to-read

amber_hastings's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

A fantastic novel about survival, hardship and the beautiful, testing, rewarding bond between siblings. It's hopeful but also extremelyIsad. I learned a lot about the Korean War while reading this. The use of flashbacks was beautifully woven into the story and contrasted against the present-day struggles in the narrative. Perfect for fans of Katrina Nannestad's wartime trilogy books, especially We Are Wolves. For adult readers I'd recommend the memoir A River in Darkness — a man's account of escaping North Korea and life on the other side.

kavarnistka's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

More...