A review by thepaperreels
Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee

4.0

“I know your type,” she continued. “You’re a good girl. You always do as you’re told. There’s nothing wrong with that…just know your worth, too.” No one had ever said that to me before."

Reading Brother's Keeper was such a heart breaking and yet beautiful journey. After the last chapter of the book, I also teared up by reading the authors note and looking at the photos she added with it. I really know that this book is, in some way, personal. I feel honored, privileged and lucky that Julie Lee weaved this story and that we get to read it!! I will admit that even being asian myself, I am not fully educated by the Korean War way back in the 1950's. After and while reading this book, I was intensively reading tons of articles and research about the Korean War.

Brothers Keeper takes us back in the 1950's to show what living in North Korea was like back then. While escaping with their family, 12 year old Sora and his brother were separated from their parents and had to survive on their own. I just want to say that this is one of the best book covers I've ever seen as it really represents the whole atmosphere of the book. I visualized young Sora as the girl from the cover and it's just right. I really have no any qualms when it comes to the characters of this book. I'm in awe by how much I related to a 12 year old girl in the middle of a war who is just trying to survive while trying to save his brother, but I did. The way Julie Lee wrote Sora and her thoughts is incredible! I felt her sorrow, her sadness, and the little joy she experienced along the way. I did not read how she needed to grew up to survive with her brother, Julie Lee really made me, her readers, involved. I really praise the author for writing the secondary characters as well. All of them from Sora's parents to her younger sibling, they're all fleshed out and you will really get the feeling that you know so well from Sora's eyes. 

The way that the war is written is so vivid and detailed. I admit that I had a hard time finishing this book because there are some chapters that I found to be a bit slow but other that that little concern, Brother's Keeper is very readable. Julie Lee's writing is simple but its engrossing. You won't have a problem following Sora's story. It also helped that there's an indicating month and year at the start of every chapter. 

I can finish this review and just say that read this book because its about an important part of history and thats true, but Brother's Keeper is also more than that. It's about bravery, its about family and ultimately its thought provoking. I understand this book is marketed for YA/MG readers but I would really urge every Adult as well to take the time and read this book. Soras story can be dark and emotional, but it also brings hope. Overall, Brother's Keeper is a necessary and powerful book!