Reference
In a culture where names are so important to your identity, the author, Linda Sue Park, does a fabulous job of connecting the importance of culture and circumstances together in an entertaining fashion. This book was hard to put down. It is suitable for not only middle school level, but entertaining enough to supplement at the high school level.
Seeing the time period of 1940 to 1945 (World War II) through the eyes of 2 children in Korea brings a whole different view to this time period. Starting in 1910, with the occupation of Korea by Japan, the Japanese slowly take away everything “Korean” about their life; dress, hair styles, language, school, food, material possessions and most difficult…… their Korean names.
The story is told through the voices of the girl Sun-hee and her older brother Tae-yul. Although the book is fiction, its historical events are accurate. It truly shows the Korean culture including the family relationships and the role of males and females in the culture.
Also included in this book are turbulent times, Korean resistance movement, underground newspapers, and Tae-yul volunteering for the Japanese army, all through the eyes of two children. The book keeps you reading with all the secrets and comes to a surprise end dealing with the relationships within the family. Readers definitely get a feeling of this time period and Korean culture.