Like the Rose of Sharon tree, symbol of Korea, which the family pots and hides in their shed until their country is free, Sun-hee and Tae-yul endure and grow. Yet in both cases they develop subtle plans to resist the enemy. Each of them reacts to the events in different ways-Sun-hee takes refuge in writing while Tae-yul throws his energies into physical work. What is outstanding is the insight Park gives into the complex minds of these young people. Tension mounts as Uncle, working with the Korean resistance movement, goes into hiding, and Tae-yul takes a drastic step that he feels is necessary to protect the family.
They describe the hardships their family is forced to face as Japan becomes enmeshed in World War II and detail their individual struggles to understand what is happening. Sun-hee, now called Keoko, and Tae-yul, newly named Nobuo, tell the story in alternating narrative voices. To add to their unhappiness, everyone, adults and children alike, must give up their Korean names and take new Japanese ones. Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, still go to school every day, but lessons now consist of lectures and recitations designed to glorify Japan.
“Living in Korea in the 1940s was difficult because the Japanese, who occupied the country, seemed determined to obliterate Korean culture and to impose their own on its residents. 2003 Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the YearĢ002 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (DC)Ĭharlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Nominee (AR)Ģ003-2004 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (VT)Ģ005 Garden State (NJ) Teen Book Award NomineeĢ004 Maine Student Book Award Master ListĢ002 Michigan Library Association’s Mitten Award WinnerĢ002 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and SharingĢ003 Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesĢ002 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the YearĢ005 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Master List (IL)Ģ002 School Library Journal, Best Books of the YearĢ006 Sunshine State Young Readers’ Master List (FL)
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