Year of Impossible Goodbyes
A stupendous autobiographical novel set in Korea involves ten-year-old Sookan and her family's survival during and after World War II. They experience a devastating sequence of losses due to the physical and psychological cruelties of occupying authorities, first the Japanese military and then the Communist Russian troops. Before people were turned against each other, hunger was their common enemy; afterwards, the enemy became lack of mutual trust. But hope and even trust prevail. The stark, spare story is suspensefully paced with a single celebratory event offering relief at a critical point. Many memorable images will stand out for readers long after they finish this book, such as episodes involving the "sock girls"; the children's witnessing of an elder's abandonment of his shoes; and the bravery of an aunt who rebelled against the unwritten rules of a battle to win young minds. ©1991 Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 11 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Activism and Resistance
Koreans and Korean Americans
Oppression
Politics and Political Systems
Propaganda
World War II
Diversity subject:
Asian
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin
Publish Year: 1991
Pages: 169
ISBN: 0395574196
CCBC Location: Fiction, Choi