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Smiling Shelves

When My Name Was Keoko [Review]

3/31/2016

2 Comments

 
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I am incredibly ignorant of Asian history. This comes home to me every time I read a book set in the Eastern Hemisphere. I remember taking a class in European History in high school, but I don't think there was even one offered for Asian history. How much we are missing out on.

When My Name Was Keoko takes place in Korea during World War 2. Korea is controlled by Japan at this point in time, and has been since 1910. (Fact # 1 out of many that I learned by reading this book.) In an effort to gain more and more control over the Koreans, Japan decrees that every Korean has to change their name to a Japanese name. Sun-hee (who becomes Keoko) and Tae-yul (who becomes Nobuo) take turns narrating this story.

While the battlefields of World War 2 never come to Korea, that doesn't mean their lives are unaffected. The Japanese take their food and metal for resources, and conscript their young men and women into the work force. And always, they suppress Korea's identity and culture. Sun-hee and Tae-yul are both incredibly brave in their own ways as they seek to stay true to who they are.

This is a very powerful book. Being told from the point of view of children makes it even more so. If you are looking to learn something about Korean history or if you are looking for an entirely different perspective on World War 2, you can't do any better than to read When My Name Was Keoko.​ 

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Find it on: Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Better World Books
2 Comments
Emily link
4/2/2016 09:34:36 am

Thank you for this review! It sounds like a wonderful book, and I feel the same: I don't know enough about Asian history. What I do know has been almost exclusively learned through books, so I welcome the chance to read/learn more! Definitely adding this one to my list.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
5/25/2016 02:12:41 pm

I hope you enjoy it, Emily. It covers an aspect of Asian history that I was completely clueless about. I love when books open the world to us like this!

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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