Somebody’s Daughter
Somebody’s Daughter by Marie G. Lee, published by Beacon Press in 2005, is a poignant narrative that explores the intertwined lives of two women across different generations. The story follows nineteen-year-old Sarah Thorson, who, after dropping out of the University of Minnesota, travels to Korea for a summer. As she delves into her Korean heritage, she becomes increasingly determined to find her birthmother, paralleling the story of Kyung-sook, who has long mourned the loss of her child due to difficult circumstances.
Readers will find a rich exploration of family life and identity as both Sarah and Kyung-sook navigate their complex emotions and histories. The novel presents a dual perspective, with Kyung-sook reflecting on her past and Sarah engaging with her cultural roots and relationships, particularly with her Korean American classmate, Doug. The narratives converge in a significant moment that highlights the themes of longing and connection, making this edition of Somebody’s Daughter a thoughtful examination of heritage and the bonds that shape our lives. With 264 pages, this literary work offers a deep dive into the saga of familial ties and personal discovery.
Official synopsis Publisher
Somebody’s Daughter is the story of nineteen-year-old Sarah Thorson, who was adopted as a baby by a Lutheran couple in the Midwest. After dropping out of the University of Minnesota, she decides to study in Korea for a summer, more by happenstance than actual design, but as the summer progresses she becomes more and more intrigued by her Korean heritage and eventually embarks on a crusade to find her birthmother. Paralleling Sarah’s story is that of Kyung-sook, who was forced by difficult circumstances to let her baby be swept away from her immediately after birth, but who has always longed for her lost child. The two stories are told side by side: Kyung-sook’s is the remembrance of her childhood involvement with an American who eventually abandons her when she refuses to have an abortion, while Sarah’s is the contemporary story of her deepening involvement with the culture and language of Korea, with Doug, her Korean American classmate, and with her search. These two narratives converge in one poignant moment, when the two women literally pass each other like ships in the night.
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