Brother’s Keeper
Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee is an illustrated novel published by Holiday House on July 21, 2020, featuring 320 pages in English. Set against the backdrop of North Korea in December 1950, the story follows twelve-year-old Sora and her family as they navigate a world governed by strict rules and the looming threat of war. As tensions rise between North and South Korea, Sora’s family devises a plan to escape their oppressive environment, but unforeseen events force Sora and her younger brother Young to undertake the perilous journey to Busan alone.
Readers will find a gripping narrative that explores themes of survival and resilience in the face of adversity. The book presents a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by Sora and Young as they traverse a war-torn landscape filled with danger. Through their journey, the story delves into the historical context of the Korean War, offering insights into the lives of those affected by conflict. This edition provides a unique glimpse into a closed nation during a tumultuous time, making it a significant addition to the genre of juvenile fiction focused on action, adventure, and historical events.
Official synopsis Publisher
With war looming on the horizon and winter setting in, can two children escape North Korea on their own?
WINNER OF THE FREEMAN BOOK AWARD!
North Korea. December, 1950.
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?
Haunting, timely, and beautiful, this harrowing novel from a searing new talent offers readers a glimpse into a vanished time and a closed nation.
A Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Finalist
An ILA Intermediate Fiction Award Winner
An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
“Will ultimately be recognized as one of the best books… on the Korean War.”—Education About Asia, the Association for Asian Studies
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