When My Name Was Keoko

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever
Review: This story tells about a girl named Keoko who lives through world war two. She must change her name to a Japanese name. Her brother decides to join the army so their family can have a better life. Her brother volenteers to become a kamikaze. If you want to know what happens to Keoko's brother read the book When My Name Was Keoko.

Rating:
Summary: a different kind of history lesson ...
Review: When I was younger, my mom told me her older sister was a girl during the time when Japan occupied Korea. I never gave it much thought until I read this book. My aunt also had to change her name and learn Japanese in school. As a Korean-American who was born and raised in the US, I can't even begin to imagine the hardships they had to endure.

The story is simply written but may be a little difficult to follow for younger readers because of the flip-flop narration between the brother and sister. But it is a beautiful story. What I loved most was that while the story is from the point of view of 2 Korean children, the author did not villanize the Japanese. In a world that is consumed by hate, it is refreshing to read a story that is about family, friends, and hope, instead of hate and revenge.

I love this book so much I have bought a copy for my school library.

Rating:
Summary: Very moving book
Review: When My Name Was Keoko is an amazingly moving story. There was so little recorded during the Japanese occupation of Corea. Linda Sue Park creates a new perspective of the occupation of Corea and World War II. This book is told on a rotating narrative of Sun-Hee and her brother Tae-Yul. Keoko is Sun-Hee's Japanese name; a name she is forced to take during the occupation. Keoko is the Anne Frank for the twenty-first century. Keoko documents the events and emotions of such a tumultuous time. Park's characters are full and are written with vibrant life. This book is such a passionately written book. One can sense it to be a labor of love. The book is based on the lives of Park's own family and on historical events.


Rating:
Summary: very very good book!!!!!!!!!
Review: When My Name Was Keoko is one of my favorite books. Keoko is very curious, brave, respectful, and she has a very good characteristics in this book, which made me jealous. What I like most about this book was how the Japanese treated Korean people during WWII, why Keoko kept secrets of family, why her name was Keoko and how the author wrote the book. It's like diary between Keoko and her brother, so you can compare between what they taught of same things happenings. This book taught me lots of lessons; I think you would learn how to respect others in this book.