sandraagee's review
3.0
My only real complaint is that I don't think that we ever really saw why Hyun Sook started to care about the protests. She's reluctant at first, but what exactly is it that makes her come around?
storytimed's review
4.0
Spoiler
YA graphic novel about the Korean student protests of the 80s! I learned a lot about the fight against martial law during that time
EDIT: THIS IS A MEMOIR!!! Omg. I am even more impressed by it now. How very cool..........
There's a lighter touch to the depiction: yeah, bad things happened and people get tortured, but this comic never loses sight of the fact that............. these are university kids and they're kind of stupid and idealistic and they do silly things
There's a moment where our protagonist gets interviewed by the military police and she throws them off the scent by pretending to be totally gossipy and boy-crazy and oversharing about her love life which was FANTASTIC
& the end of the comic is a reunion between our protesting buddies but years later in their adult lives, now protesting again for the resignation of Park Geun-hye. Bittersweet but also sort of... affirming? In a "we will always have to fight, but we will always fight" kind of way
annakim's review
4.0
I don't think a lot of people know that in the period between the Korean War and early 90's, the government was led by a series of dictators who were presidents by title only. This time was marked by poverty and increasing civil unrest and the 80's were a particular violent period with students protesting the government. The recently impeached South Korean President, who was also the country's first female President, is the daughter of one of the country's most notorious dictators; a fact that is commented on by one of the characters in the graphic novel.
Honestly, if you are a librarian, a teacher, or anyone who strongly believes in the power of the written word to open minds and stands against censorship, this book is for you. It looks deceptively simple, but the story does a great job of capturing this time period where books and ideas were worth fighting and going to prison for.
Honestly, if you are a librarian, a teacher, or anyone who strongly believes in the power of the written word to open minds and stands against censorship, this book is for you. It looks deceptively simple, but the story does a great job of capturing this time period where books and ideas were worth fighting and going to prison for.
gothradiohour's review
3.0
I read this as a suggestion from my library for Banned Book month. I was able to read it in two sittings, heavy subject and hits a little too close to home for comfort right now.
xytries's review
5.0
So informational with a great plot! The characters are great and even though the story is short, it still has left an impact on me.
sc104906's review
3.0
Set in the 1980s South Korea, Kim Hyun Sook is beginning college amid political unrest. She just wants to get an education to have a better future. However, as she interacts with other students and learns more about the world around her, she begins to question the status quo. After befriending a guy at school, she is introduced to an underground book club that reads banned books. These are dangerous actions, but they are necessary to make changes.
It was an important historical novel that shed light on events I was not familiar with.
It was an important historical novel that shed light on events I was not familiar with.