*A member of a reading committee I'm on, raved about this story and told me it was a must read. I decided to listen to the story to start my commute back to school this past week. I also found myself listening while working in the classroom. I finished on my way home on Friday afternoon with a tear in my eye.
What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1. *The reader is transported back to North Korea in the year 1950.
2. *When the year reaches a dangerous point, twelve-year old Sora and her family know they must escape North Korea and make their way to South Korea.
3. *Sora and her younger brother are separated from the rest of their family.
4. *The journey is long, dangerous, and full of many difficult moments.
5. *Sora makes it her mission to reach their destination and keep both herself and her brother safe and from harm's way.
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1. *Powerful, haunting, and at times difficult to listen to.
2. *To be honest, I didn't know much about the Korean War and found the plot interesting, engaging, and eye opening.
3. *Sora was strong, independent, and determined. So many great qualities.
4. *I was touched by her desire to educate herself, create a life for herself, and be just as important as her male siblings.
5. *Many page turning moments, lots of suspense, and several emotionally charged moments.
Who Should Read It:
*In my opinion, the novel would be ideal for the middle-school reader. The story is detailed, descriptive, and at times difficult to read about. Upper elementary readers would also be appropriate for the story. I think it could make for an excellent class read aloud leading to some deep and important discussions.
Rating: 4 STARS out of 5 Stars
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