Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom

This book was my first time really learning about North Korea, and it was jarring to say the least. Major kudos to the author for being brave enough to tell her story!

Major trigger warnings for SA and human trafficking.

Content Warnings

mmontemurro's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This was a gripping memoir of Yeonmi Park's harrowing journey out of North Korea. She describes her childhood in a country where having no food for days on end was commonplace, and how they would eat dragonflies for protein when they had nothing else. She describes seeing dead bodies on the side of the road - people who had died of starvation. Her father was taken to a hard labor camp after being caught selling "illegal" goods which in any other place would be considered legal. Her mother left to attempt to retrieve her father from prison, and she was left to care for herself and her sister. While others tried to help them, it sounded as though most people had little to give for food. I was shocked to hear about the government radios which had to be on at all times - it reminded me of 1984 where they were constantly watched and listened to. No one could be trusted but yourself. Her sister left for China, and eventually Yeonmi leaves with her mother too, to hopefully find a better life in China, and get her father out of North Korea. Yeonmi and her mother were trafficked for many years in China, and forced into marriages by Chinese brokers. They were considered second-class citizens - or really not citizens at all in China. Yeonmi secured a deal for herself as a young girl in order to get her mother and father, and hopefully her sister, who was missing, in exchange for becoming a mistress to one broker. She describes painful, terrible rape and having to endure that for her family. Eventually they leave with a Christian missionary group for South Korea. However dangerous, they do eventually make it to South Korea, and are able to become citizens there. Due to a lack in eduation in North Korea, Yeonmi is told that she will never amount to anything, never catch up to other classmates, and never go to university. She surpasses every goal by working extremely hard. Her story is incredible, and she has everlasting hope through all the bleak moments of her life. I hope that this story reaches many, and that her story can inspire others to understand the tragedy of North Korea and understand that anything is achieveable in this life.

Content Warnings

kaigeg's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative medium-paced

3.5

Content Warnings

bethantg's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Such a worthwhile read. Difficult all the way through, but with a strong current of hope. Grants a lot of insight into what life really is, and what it should never be. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to tell this story over and over, but here it is clear and engaging throughout. Will definitely stick with me.

Content Warnings

joonsmoonchild89's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

4.25

Very harrowing and difficult to read, but had some beautiful lessons to learn and ways of viewing the world we could all use. Well worth the read, but have tissues ready.

Content Warnings

cookiesandchapters's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Content Warnings

More...