When My Name Was Keoko

I recommend the following book for personal reading as well as assigned class reading. I found the story interesting, exciting, and informative. The book could be used in units including one or more of the following topics: Korea, Japan, Asia, World War II, war, identity, and family.

When My Name Was Keoko follows a Korean family living under Japanese occupation during the years 1940-1945. Koreans were forced to change their names to Japanese names, dig up their national tree, refrain from speaking or writing in Korean, and give up any of their possessions needed for the war effort. Each member of the Kim family discovers his or her own way to fight back against the Japanese, so they can be free again.

The story is told in first person , alternating between the points of view of ten-year-old Sun-hee and thirteen-year-old Tae-yul.

The author, Linda Sue Park, did a substantial amount of research before writing this book, interviewing family members and reading historical books.