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Susan McClelland

Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea Hardcover – September 13, 2016

by Sungju Lee (Author), Susan Elizabeth McClelland (Author)

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Every Falling Star, the first book to portray contemporary North Korea to a young audience, is the intense memoir of a North Korean boy named Sungju who is forced at age twelve to live on the streets and fend for himself. To survive, Sungju creates a gang and lives by thieving, fighting, begging, and stealing rides on cargo trains. Sungju richly re-creates his scabrous story, depicting what it was like for a boy alone to create a new family with his gang, his “brothers”; to be hungry and to fear arrest, imprisonment, and even execution. This riveting memoir allows young readers to learn about other cultures where freedoms they take for granted do not exist.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Amulet Books
Publication date

September 13, 2016
Grade level

8 and up
Reading age

13 years and up
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

1419721321
ISBN-13

978-1419721328
Lexile measure

880L
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 6–9—Lee pens his harrowing journey from one of North Korea's city elite to a homeless and hungry vagrant. Lee, an only child, grew up comfortably in the nation's capital of Pyongyang because his father was a well-respected member of the military. Yet with no warning, the boy and his parents were deported to the countryside. Lee, who had known only the strict rituals and decorum of Pyongyang, was initially horrified by life in Gyeong-seong. Mass hunger, public executions, and unemployment were rampant—a stark contrast to the propaganda Lee had been taught his whole life. Forced by starvation, Lee's parents left him in search of commerce or emigration. He fended for himself for almost five years. His struggle is chronicled in a tightly written first-person narrative. Lee would eventually lead a gang of boys who lived by their wiles, stealing just enough to survive. The tension that runs throughout the narrative is somewhat alleviated by the mere existence of the work. Lee provides a summary of the history of Korea and the politics of the famine in North Korea, achieving a great balance between historical context and storytelling. Lee incorporates Korean words throughout the text and defines them with a pronunciation guide in the back matter. VERDICT An excellent inside look at childhood in poverty that will resonate with middle schoolers.—Amy Thurow, New Glarus School District, WI

Review

"A pampered son of the elite survives a nightmarish ordeal in this page-turner of a memoir... This fast-paced story will likely compel its readers to learn more about North Korea after finishing it." ― Kirkus

"A testament to resilence, Lee's story pulls back the curtain on life in North Korea." ― Publishers Weekly

"Lee provides a summary of the history of Korea and the politics of the famine in North Korea, achieving a great balance between historical context and storytelling." ― School Library Journal

"There are lessons about resilience, friendship, and family to take to heart... The ending satisfies and offers some hope." ― School Library Connection

"[Sungju Lee's] sheer determination rings loudest in this rarely heard perspective. Better yet, the memoir is accessible to younger teens first being exposed to complicated global political and conditions." ― Booklist

"An amazing tale of resilience and an interesting history of an area westerners rarely hear about. " ― VOYA

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amulet Books (September 13, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1419721321
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1419721328
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 880L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #213,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Teen & Young Adult Homelessness & Poverty Issues
- #12 in Teen & Young Adult Political Biographies
- #44 in Teen & Young Adult Cultural Heritage Biographies

Customer Reviews:
539 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		82%
4 star		12%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Updike

Great Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

Have you ever felt trapped? Like no matter how terrible things were you just couldn't get away? Well imagine that feeling except 10 times worse. This is how millions of North Koreans feel everyday of their lives. SungJu Lee was once one of those individuals devoid of hope, but due to self preservation and outside aid, he was able to escape North Korea forever. Every Falling Star is a book about young SungJu’s life in North Korea and his eventual escape. This book will pull your heart strings and take you on an emotional journey that will make you realize how blessed and privileged you are compared to others in the world.

Every Falling star starts out with a brief, never before heard history of North Korea that puts the story into context. SungJu Lee and Susan McClelland then proceed to write about the 4 years after SungJu’s parents abandoned him. I could not believe the things that he was forced to endure at such a young age. From losing his parents to being thrown into a work camp, it is a miracle that SungJu is here to tell us his story! While reading this book, I often forgot that it was non fiction because of the beautiful storytelling and unbelievable experiences related. From this fresh perspective, we get to see inside of a country that is largely closed off from the rest of the world. I found myself comparing North Korea to the fictitious country of Panem in Suzanne Collins Hunger Games. The political structure is the same, with the capital of Pyeong yang being an ideal place to live, while everywhere else outside of the capitol is ignored and neglected by the supposedly supportive and caring government.

The main reason I read this book was to learn more about everyday life in North Korea. I did not expect it to be so riveting and emotional! I could not set the book down while I was reading about how SungJu and his gang were forced to move from town to town and fight other gangs for control of markets. And then after all they had gone through together, to lose two of their own was just heartwrenching! SungJu and his gang became a family that grew closer through their hardships. There are many lessons to be learned from these boys about friendship and perseverance. They were trapped in a bleak situation but still managed to hang on and hope for the better. My favorite part of this book was when SungJu runs into his grandpa in the Market. After he had given up any hope of ever finding any of his family again, to be reunited with his grandparents shook his world. He was not used to feeling loved and safe. His grandparents helped him to let go of his old life and start anew. This part made the whole book feel complete. Before this moment, SungJu’s life had been dark and destitute, and so finding a loved one turned his whole life around.

Have you ever escaped from being trapped? Every Falling Star is a thrilling true story about how one boy in a helpless situation broke free. This book shows that perseverance makes anything possible. No matter what SungJu went through, he never gave up. He lost his parents, his house, and his friends, but still he pushed onward, with the tiniest hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones again. Every Falling Star is a must read that will open a reader's eyes to the world they live in and will inspire them to push through whatever trials they are facing in their lives, thanks to the example of a boy from North Korea who showed us that hope is the one thing nobody can take from you.

3 people found this helpful

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Erica M.

Excellent memoir!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 13, 2022

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I ordered this book as a potential non-fiction source for teaching my 7th grade students. It has study questions in the back as well as a glossary. I believe it gives an excellent dipiction of the struggles people face in countries other than democratic ones. I cannot wait to teach this book to my students!

Helpful

Kindle Customer

I am a mother of two boys and was left heartbroken for the loss of Sungju's childhood and for the loss of parental joy his paren

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

I am an American living in S. Korea for two years now and have read a few different books about N. Korean defectors, probably a dozen individual stories in total. Sungju Lee's story is a must. It parallels the other accounts I have read, and yet is told in a 'delicate' manner (or as delicate as possible when describing hardships and tragedies). It is written for young adults to understand and also for more mature readers to appreciate. I am a mother of two boys and was left heartbroken for the loss of Sungju's childhood and for the loss of parental joy his parents had to endure. N. Korea is completely closed off from the rest of the world. Information is controlled, children are brainwashed from a young age and even the 'elite' families living in Pyongyang are not safe. It is truly a horrifying place to be born. Escaping from N. Korea is not only dangerous but costly. N. Koreans crossing over into China are considered illegal visitors and subject to being sent back to N. Korea. The most astounding, to me, is that this is not history, but current events. As I sit here typing this review, people in N. Korea are enduring unbearable pain and hardship. For the fortunate ones able to find safety and refugee in S. Korea, it is another long road. They must unlearn all they were taught and relearn a new way of thinking and integrate into an entirely new culture. There is gain but there is tragic loss as well. Their identity is stripped and fear is a constant undercurrent. I urge you to buy this book, gain information about N. Korea. Perhaps after reading this book you will be motivated to learn more and also contribute to the bringing N. Korean refugees to safety. I know I am!

18 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

An absolutely amazing book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

I am an expat that lived in South Korea for 3 years. While I was in South Korea I got involved helping out North Korean refugees and reading many books by North Korean refugees. "Every Falling Star" is the best of the North Korean refugee books that I have read. The story is well written in such a way that it is compelling and impossible to put down once you start reading it. If you want to know the true story of a North Korean refugee and what it is like to live in the Hermit Kingdom, I highly recommend that you read this book. I have since sent the book to my mother, some cousins, and sister; they all have loved the book. Don't put it off for another day, buy the book and start reading it, you will not be disappointed. AMAZING!!!!!

Helpful

Foxy Mama

Strong lesson in social injustice

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is a striking and tragic story of social injustice- the vast difference between the rich and the poor, and how a family’s fall from the politically elite ravaged the childhood of one young man. The fact that he survived and prospered to tell this story is beyond miraculous. I had no idea that when in crisis, North Korea ignored the plight of its poorest and most innocent citizens, and through deceit kept a nation in darkness and ignorance as to the misery of these children. I finished the book in a little over a day. A strong and poignant message to those- including myself- who have taken privilege for granted.

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Molly

Amazing book, cannot believe this is a true story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

I began reading this book not knowing much about North Korea. I cannot believe what life is like for so many people living there. Wonderful book, so well written. And such a beautiful tribute to the people he left behind.

Helpful

DLopez42

An immersive look at life in this place and time.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

My 13 year old read this when we were studying Korea to give him a glimpse of life from a child’s point of view living there.
It opened his eyes up to a deeper understanding that not everyone has the same kind of life you do. In fact in some places can be terrifying and every day can be life or death. He learned a lot from this book, socially, culturally and politically and I often found him trying to put himself in the author’s shoes to imagine what a world like that looks like.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

globalgilroy

SURVIVAL

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

A well written and very moving narrative. There are several recent books published telling stories of woe from North Korea. Every Falling Star leads the pack. A vivid account and a must read, especially for those that have little knowledge of this remote and recluse country and the hardships average citizens are experiencing. On a recent visit to South Korea, I gazed north across the DMZ into North Korea territory and for a westerner, it is so hard to assimilate that events like this occurred and are probably still occurring. An intense account and highly recommended material.

3 people found this helpful

Telefoto

A truly harrowing story of a young North Korean boy ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 11, 2017

Verified Purchase

A truly harrowing story of a young North Korean boy whose parents abandoned him in their search for food during the Arduous March of the 1990's in which hundreds of thousands died of starvation. For four years Sungju was forced to become a street kid (Kotjebi), living and sleeping rough on village streets outside Pyongyang.
He formed his own gang of similar kids who only managed to survive by stealing food and their basis necessities from street markets - or by fighting off other Kotjebi and stealing their food and clothes. Once you begin reading Sungju's account, you will not be able to put it down. His story, however, does end on a positive note.

2 people found this helpful

vanwin

Everyone should know what is really happening to fellow human beings which North Korea lies about

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

Outstanding, I read all the books about North Korea and by those who risked torture and death for freedom.

Phoebe

Truly incredible. Must read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

This was the 11th book on North Korea and its defectors I've read, and it's one of the ones that has really stayed with me. Inbetween reads, this book and the people in it were all that were on my mind. Incredibly gripping, and incredibly insightful to the lives of gang members in North Korea that hasn't been touched upon in other books of this subject. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone and everyone I know.

Belciug Florinel-Mirel

Arrived quick, excellent condition.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

Great support from the seller, in the book unbelievable but true life-story. It teach you appreciate more the liitle things which you don't give much attention and respect your life as it is. Show us how the harsh life really is.

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