by Hyeonseo Lee
First published 2015
Hyeonseo Lee grows up in Hyesan, North Korea, unaware of the propaganda and oppression surrounding her. When she witnesses a public execution, she begins to question everything. Torn from her family, Hyeonseo embarks on a perilous journey, adopting seven different identities to evade capture. Risking her life, she navigates treacherous borders and unforgiving bureaucracies, driven by an unwavering determination to reunite with her loved ones.
Genres: historical-fiction, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, identity-crisis
Setting: Korea (North), Korea (South)
304 pages · Hardcover · William Collins
Content warnings: violence