First published 2015
Tensions flare between Japan and South Korea as historic grievances and nationalist passions collide. When a minor border dispute escalates, the two nations find themselves on the brink of all-out conflict. As political leaders posture and public fervor rises, ordinary citizens are caught in the crossfire. A Japanese student in Seoul must navigate a city gripped by anti-Japanese sentiment, while a South Korean family faces a dangerous journey home through hostile territory. In the end, the fate of both countries - and the people who call them home - hangs in the balance.
Genres: international-relations, political-science, 21st-century, current-affairs, political-thriller, asian-american
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Japan, South Korea, Seoul
Period: 21st-century
234 pages · Kindle Edition · Columbia University Press