Kirstin E. (HausMaus) -
Helpful Score: 2
This book is GREAT - well-written, interesting (horrifying at times), and a must-read for anyone who wants to start to know the Hermit Kingdom.
Victoria T. (justicepirate) reviewed Escaping North Korea: Defiance and Hope in the World's Most Repressive Country on + 350 more book reviews
The author, Mike Kim, was born in the US as what I gathered to be a second generation American with Korean ancestry. He felt led to go to China on the border of North Korea. He created a non-profit organization called Crossing Borders to help refugees from N. Korea. Many missionaries, pastors, and Taekwondo masters assist him (as he is a black belt himself).
This book covers various stories of those that he met along the way and even some of his own trials and struggles. Some of the stories are really very sad. North Korea is not an easy place to live in at all, and you will learn that in every page.
I had mainly wanted to read this book because it tells a side of human traffickig mainly endured by women as they are lured into sex trafficking if caught by traffickers while they are escaping North Korea. Although the book doesn't extensively talk about some of the hardships they go through, it definitely talks about it here and there and you can tell how protective Mr. Kim is of those who endured the horrific things they went through.
I have not had a lot of knowledge of North Korea and this book definitely helped me understand some of that. Although I have watched a few documentaries on the country, this book really shed light on the dark instances there.
This is a Christian book but it is not preachy and is instead informative.
This book covers various stories of those that he met along the way and even some of his own trials and struggles. Some of the stories are really very sad. North Korea is not an easy place to live in at all, and you will learn that in every page.
I had mainly wanted to read this book because it tells a side of human traffickig mainly endured by women as they are lured into sex trafficking if caught by traffickers while they are escaping North Korea. Although the book doesn't extensively talk about some of the hardships they go through, it definitely talks about it here and there and you can tell how protective Mr. Kim is of those who endured the horrific things they went through.
I have not had a lot of knowledge of North Korea and this book definitely helped me understand some of that. Although I have watched a few documentaries on the country, this book really shed light on the dark instances there.
This is a Christian book but it is not preachy and is instead informative.
Kirstin E. (HausMaus) -
The best book I've read this year (and I've probably read 50 so far). The author provides facts and while he doesn't try to play on heart-strings, the reader can't help but be moved by the stories of North Koreans who attempt to flee into China and many of whom return to the Hermit Kingdom to try to change their country from within.
