When My Name Was Keoko (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards))

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:04:30 -0700

I really like The 39 Clues, and when I found out that Linda Sue Park had another book, about Korea under Japanese rule (I'm from South Korea, not North, why does everyone ask that), I was so curious I had to read the book. When My Name Was Keoko is about the time Korea was under Japanese rule. It is written in two perspectives, Sun-hee and Tae-yul's. I loved how some of the characters (Sun-hee, Tae-yul, their parents, Mrs. Ahn (a neighbor), and Tomo) rebelled against Japan in quiet or energetic (if that makes sense) ways. This book beautifully portrayed how a family living in those times would act. I'm a sucker for historical fiction and teenage books, so When My Name Was Keoko was perfect! The ending wrapped the whole book wonderfully, with Sun-hee teaching Tae-yul the Korean alphabet. However, something that could have been better is the lack of background information. Someone unfamiliar with Korea's history might've initially felt confused or bored. I also worried that using Korean pronouns would perplex readers who do not know Korean. To summarize, When My Name Was Keoko is a great book about rebellion, family, and strength. Even though it may be confusing for people who didn't have a lot of Korean culture exposure, I recommend this book for 9 and up!