Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don’t trust your neighbors. Don’t speak your mind. You are being watched.
But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos—and war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk hundreds of miles to the South Korean city of Busan from their tiny mountain village. They just need to avoid napalm, frostbite, border guards, and enemy soldiers.
But they can’t. And when an incendiary bombing changes everything, Sora and her little brother Young will have to get to Busan on their own. Can a twelve-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother survive three hundred miles of warzone in winter?
Author’s note. Black-and-white archival photographs. Glossary of Korean words. Time line.
Topics Family life. Brothers and sisters. Mothers and daughters. Refugees. Korean War (1950–1953). Twentieth-century North Korean history.
Trim Size 8 3/10" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Winter
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2020-07-20
JLG Release Date Nov 2020
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
This 14-book collection features compelling stories with relatable characters, capturing both contemporary and historical experiences. Whether set in the present or past, these books offer an insightful look at real-world challenges and triumphs. Some selections may include thought-provoking themes exploring identity, relationships, and social issues, including LGBTQIA+IA+ topics, moderate language, and other sensitive subjects.