My Freedom Trip: A Child's Escape from North Korea [Hardcover]

Frances Park (Author), Ginger Park (Author), Debra Reid Jenkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The story of a young girl's escape from North Korea, based on the life of the authors' mother.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-As the Korean War approached, Soo's father escaped from the north into South Korea. He sent a guide for Soo, along with a promise that one would follow for her mother. Preparing to depart, the girl's mother held her close and cried, "Be brave, Soo." These words carried the child through the difficult journey and near capture by a North Korean soldier until she was reunited with her father. The war began and Soo never saw her mother again. The story is lyrically told in the first person, with graceful similes that flow naturally from one page to the next. The rich design perfectly complements the fluid text. Korean characters adorn each page, setting the mood and place with a single powerful image. Elegant oil illustrations in dark hues set against light backgrounds capture the dichotomous memories of a peaceful childhood and the violence of war in a beloved homeland. Forms and shadows emerge from careful brush strokes; characters' facial expressions glow with determination and courage. However, there is no note about the Korean War for students unfamiliar with the period; nor are any dates mentioned in the text. A guide to Korean words and characters is included.
Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-9. Like Kaplan in One More Border, reviewed on p.115, the authors tell the true story of a parent's childhood escape to freedom. The Parks' mother, Soo, is a young schoolgirl when her father leaves North Korea secretly one night to cross the border. Later his gentle guide comes back for Soo; they travel by train, then by foot over a mountain and through the woods. Suddenly a soldier leaps out at them, but the guide pleads for the child, and the soldier whispers, "Go quickly, child." Soo's father is waiting across the river, and there is a joyful reunion, but the Korean War breaks out, and she never sees her mother again. The story is told by Soo in the first person, and she remembers an idyllic time with family and friends before the trouble; there is no sense of what they are running from. The large, beautiful oil paintings dramatize the tenderness of the family, the anguish of their leave-taking, and the drama of the child's journey through the dark countryside and across the border. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563974681
• ISBN-13: 978-1563974687
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,281,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional experience of rare depth, November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: My Freedom Trip: A Child's Escape from North Korea (Hardcover)

The words and the illustrations condense an intense experience of family love, loss and hope into a format which can be shared and appreciated by a very wide range of readers. A beautiful work which can gently launch meaningful and memorable discussions between children, young adults and parents. The themes of sacrifice and freedom are portrayed in a manner which is realistic without being unnecessarily harsh for a younger audience. I very much look forward to future efforts on the part of the two talented authors.

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching story for both children and adults, March 4, 2002

By 

shoe lover (WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Freedom Trip: A Child's Escape from North Korea (Hardcover)

Frances Park and her sister wrote a beautiful, moving story about the way families were split up during the Korean War. I bought this book initially for my daughter, but enjoyed it just as much as she did. The Korean wording interspersed throughout the book made it even more touching for me. Not only did I find the book educational for my daughter, but a great, interesting book.