Year of Impossible Goodbyes

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Summary: Year of Impossible Goodbyes
Review: Year of Impossible Goodbyes is a great book for children between the ages of 9-12. It teaches children about other cultures and gives them some history. The story takes place in Kirimni, a town in Pyongyang, North Korea. Sookan is the main character in the story. She is ten years old. In the time of World War II, Sookan's family was under the rule of the Japanese. The family tries to flee to the South but are captured and punished. After the war is over, the Russians take control of Sookan's family. Sookan and her brother Inchun run away to the South and are reunited with their father. There are many universal concerns in this book. But one very important universal concern in this book is freedom. Sookan and her family try to do the impossible to be free and to be able to live peaceful lives. The book gives us insights to these struggles in order to gain that freedom that they strive for. I highly recommend this book to children and adults.

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Summary: One of the best books of all time!!!!!
Review: Year of Impossible Goodbyes is a very moving book that has been a favorite to all the people I know who have read it. Although I have only read it about three times, I already consider it to be my favorite book. It shows the terrible acts the Japanese did to the Koreans during World War II and it shows everything throught the eyes of an eleven-year old girl who wishes that everything would be okay and her family could be together without the creulty of war. I did a book report on this book this year for one of the hardest teachers I have ever had and I could have made it 20 pages long if I wanted, but it was only allowed to be 3 pages. So, I had to try to capture the full meaning of the story in a short paper. I'm happy to say I aced it and I wish to read more books written by Sook Nyul Choi and have already read the sequel, Echoes of the White Giraffe and I conclude that they are both novels about how the love for your country, friends, and family can keep you going after even the worst things happen.

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Summary: A good tale, but not one that I would read again
Review: Year of the Impossible Goodbyes accurately discribes what happend in Korea at the time. Yet, the book seemed to have something missing in my oppinion. It told the story but I never really got into it and felt the emotions for the most part. There were certain parts where I did, but most I didn't. I would read it if I hadn't already, but don't be ready for the best book you have ever read. If you want that, read NIGHT!