NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.
As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with … home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and, as the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and to realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told “the best on the planet”?
Aged seventeen, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she was reunited with her family.
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Amazing story. Straight forward account of life in North Korea. Ms. Lee is an impressively resilient and resourceful woman. My heart broke for the oppressed people in this nation.
A must read for those interested in North Korea….MJC
I thought the book was great! Learned a lot
About communism and North Korea..much worse than I could have imagined.
Author gave me insight into life inside North Korea and the misperceptions the government instills in its citizens.
This memoir gives a very good idea about what life is like in a very closed country of North Korea. I think it give us a window into what life is like in any isolated, ideologically pure dictatorship as well, as well as the significant challenges when anyone escapes.
This is the second book, of it’s kind, that I have read. It’s the story of a girl born in North Korea who, as she grows up, begins to question the validity of what her government teaches it’s people as well as the way the citizens are treated. North Korea is a different world to anything we can imagine and the bravery defectors draw upon to escape is unimaginable.
This book is well written, and difficult to put down. I love it and highly recommend it.
This book offers insight into a world that I’ve only heard about. It offers a very personal view into life and it’s circumstances. This book left me with a thirst to know more!
You will learn so much about North Korea’s culture that will shock you. Her life story is harrowing yet inspirational
Captivating
Eye opening memoir of life in North Korea and the sheer will to survive.
First I knew North Korea was a cruel country, but I no idea the depths of control over their citizens lives. This well written book is an amazing story about an intelligent young girl growing up, bravely exploring, overcoming many obstacles and winning.
A most excellent view into a world seldom seen by outsiders. Informative, and a cliff-hanger.
Poor girl and poor people of North Korea with his crazy governor.
This true story shows the life of a North Korean girl. Read the book and you will appreciate the fact that you live in the USA!
WOW, what an amazing story. While this isn’t the greatest piece of written work, it’s the compelling story that keeps you wanting to read more. This story of strength and determination is also an eye opener to what most people cannot even fathom. We can pick up this book and read it or any other for that matter, but in North Korean what you can read is determined by those in power. It also sheds light on the indoctrination process. I visited the demilitarized zone and it was so eerie since I had read this book just before going. I listened to the South Korean people speak of their pain knowing that so many of their own are not only oppressed but also starving in North Korea. This is simply a powerful story with a deep and real look into a country and society so hidden from the world.
If you want to learn about North Korea, this is the book. Love her story.
GREAT read. This is a small “peek: into life in North Korea, The amazing resilience of an AMAZING woman. I would LOVE to hear her speak. She told her story at a Ted Talk. Hard to believe all the went through, and survived.
This is a great read. It’s a shocking description of the sad life of those who live in North Korea. This young woman had amazing strength of character. It’s a page turner.