My Freedom Trip: A Child’s Escape from North Korea

Frances and Ginger Park tell the story of their mother's escape from North Korea in My Freedom Trip.

Told through the voice of young Soo the journey from North to South Korea resonates with the fear and incomprehension of a child travelling with a stranger for mysterious reasons. Soo must trust her

mother and father and Mr. Han and in the end there is a hole in her life.

Several publishers showed interest in "My Freedom Trip" but wanted the PArk sisters to change the ending to make it happier. I'm glad they didn't make that change. The story is what the story is and children do suffer losses. The way that life goes on and people can lead fulfilling lives that count is an important lesson.

Show Less

5 more

LibraryThing member LyndaHuntley

This is a multicultural picture book about a young Korean girl, named Soo whose father leaves to get into South Korea after being invaded before it becomes too dangerous to escape. Later, he pays guide to get Soo to bring her to the border undetected. She miraculously makes it, even after the

soldier sees her. The Korean War breaks out and her mother does not get to come.
I really enjoyed this story. It is filled with vocabulary from the North Korean culture. It made me feel sad to know that she was separated from her mother. The pictures add so much depth to the culture.
I would use this book to show different cultures and experiences that people from other parts of the world may have. In the front of the book there are Korean Characters which are place throughout the pictures. I would have the students find them at find out what they mean as defined in the book. We could also play games to pretend to get past the soldier or to be very quiet as an extension activity.

Show Less

LibraryThing member michellehef

The book is about a girl that lives during the Korean War and is trying to get to freedom. Her dad leaves her and her mom to wait for someone to come back and get them. It is her journeys to south to be were her father was. The guide comes to get her and her mom is to wait tell he comes back for

her to take the mom on the trip. The Korean War breaks out after the girl gets across. So the little girl’s mother never makes it.

The book was an interesting story that I liked. I liked that it had words that were Korean through out the book. It made me almost want to cry to think that the little girl does not get to see her mother again.

The book could be used to show kids how people tried to get out of North Korea and into South Korea. You could also have the students to look and find the Korean Characters which are place throughout the book and find that meanings.

Show Less

LibraryThing member sharlamccall

Summary: Soo lived in Korea when it was divided into North and South Korea. She lived in North Korea where freedom was lost. This is the story of how she and her dad escaped to South Korea to be free, and her mother didn’t make it because of the soldiers guarding the border. Soo and her father

never saw her mother again.

Personal Reaction: I think this book is important because people need to know the story of the people of Korea. I never heard a personal story like this from Korea before. I felt so bad for Soo because she never saw her mother again.

Classroom Extension:
1. This would be a good story to read during a history lesson on the Korean War.
2. I would have students do more research on people escaping from North to South Korea and see what happened to other people.

Show Less

LibraryThing member matthewbloome

Sad but true story. Really brings the whole North and South Korea dispute into a new light. Simple text and with a pretty easy connection available between this and Underground Railroad books.

LibraryThing member AleciaDesselle

A story about a young girls escape from North Korea to freedom in South Korea. Though the escape from North Korea brought a great gift it also came with a great sacrifice. My Freedom Trip is beautifully told by the grandchildren of Soo, the main character. It includes lush oil paintings and

translated Korean language.

Show Less

Fewer