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cpbird24's review against another edition
5.0
This is the kind of book that keeps you up till 3 am because you need to find out what happens to the characters. It lefts me with a week long book hangover. This book showed the complexities of human relationships and repercussions of personal choices. I absolutely loved it and I will be recommending it to friends and family.
daniellelikesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Deportation
hanna7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
This story is about a young women that did what had to be done to survive. She was able to make the best of her situation and make a living for herself. She describes how like is North Korea is like and how she experienced the country growing up there.
ejones_'s review against another edition
5.0
This was a really exciting memoir. It provided good insight into βregularβ life in North Korea, demonstrating both the physical and psychological difficulties. Itβs written really well with short but captivating chapters, loved reading it!
nelli_lakatos's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
βπ―π½π πΉπΆπππππ ππ
ππ πΆππ ππΎππ½π π·ππππΆππ½ ππ½π πΈπΆππΉππ.β
A raw, and brutally honest tale of courage and an incredible generous help of a stranger that changes everything.
The most saddest part was to know that this is her true story. That all of these unspeakable things happened to her. I canβt even imagine how difficult her life was as a young girl growing up in North Korea. It was like reading a fictional story, I didnβt wanted to believe that it can be real. It definitely made me even more grateful for how amazing and easy of a childhood I had. Of course I had my own battles as a kid but nothing like things discussed in the book.
I got so emotional by how beautiful the ending of this story was that I even teared up. She fought so much for her family and freedom, it was truly the most moving and inspiring book.
Itβs feels weird to say that I loved this book, it was difficult to read all the things the authorβs been through but I really enjoyed reading about it and how she overcame her struggles. I highly recommend reading her story to everyone!
bananabary92's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
The journey that this family went through to find freedom is harrowing and heartbreaking. Iβm so glad that Hyeonseo shared her story and gave us greater insight into the true reality of life in North Korea.
chayanroyc's review against another edition
5.0
Gosh! What a read it was. The memoir and her journey read almost like a mystery thriller that kept me up for all night. Her story is unique because she was an accidental defector, who just wanted to cross over the border from Hyesan,NK to China and come back after a few days.But she couldn't and that followed a series of events and arduous journey and experiences that led her to live in China, work as an alias and finally seek asylum in South Korea. She is also unique in the sense that she led a better life in NK than most others, but when she could taste true freedom and individuality, she knew the truth however frightening it was. This book describes her interesting and thrilling journey across NK, China , Laos and finally Seoul. The book also covers her eye-opening observations on Korean politics, diplomacy and treatment of defectors by countries like China and the allies of NK. She deserves applause for her wit to espouse the reality and successfully defect her family to South Korea. Read it and prepare to be touched. One of the best books I have read so far. Reminds me of Wild Swans by Jung Chang.
rachel3000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
randomdawdler's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very insightful and sobering read which gives the reader a good idea of what the culture of regular North Koreans is like, or was at the time it refers to. I liked that some of the language is quoted, if sparingly, with good, descriptive pieces explaining the authors view/take on things. Its obviously not a light read and yet its quite digestible, with shortish chapters.
I liked that it contains a map and some photos, to help you to picture things. I couldn't not say I greatly respect and admire the author for what she did - for herself and, perhaps moreso(?), for her family. It is quite a long and a little complicated story but its an important story, highlighting a very secretive country and the irony/frustration of North and South still being quite so divided.
I can only wish the author well, thank her for sharing her story and thoroughly recommend it to others.
I liked that it contains a map and some photos, to help you to picture things. I couldn't not say I greatly respect and admire the author for what she did - for herself and, perhaps moreso(?), for her family. It is quite a long and a little complicated story but its an important story, highlighting a very secretive country and the irony/frustration of North and South still being quite so divided.
I can only wish the author well, thank her for sharing her story and thoroughly recommend it to others.