p_knapp 's review for:

White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton

4.75

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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White Mulberry is a quietly powerful and deeply moving work of historical fiction, rooted in the real-life story of the author’s grandmother. It offers a rare and intimate look at Korea and Japan during and after WWII—through the eyes of a young Korean woman, Miyoung, who is forced to navigate both war and identity in a society that refuses to accept her.

What makes this novel exceptional is not just its historical backdrop, but the emotional honesty with which Miyoung’s story is told. From her early years in Korea to her transformation into “Ando Miyoko,” a nurse and midwife in Japan, her resilience in the face of marginalisation, cultural erasure, and personal sacrifice is heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure. Her devotion to her son, her strength in adversity, and the quiet determination she shows throughout make her a protagonist whose journey stays with you.

The writing is tender and evocative—Rosa Kwon Easton brings this little-known piece of history to life with grace and care. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the painful realities of war, colonisation, and what it means to live as the “other” in a hostile environment. At times, the story is emotionally heavy, but always beautifully rendered.

This is the kind of book that both educates and moves you. It shines a light on an overlooked chapter of history and offers a portrait of womanhood defined by quiet courage. I’m so glad I read it—and I won’t forget Miyoung’s story any time soon. Highly recommended.