So Far from the Bamboo Grove

As World War II drew to a close, Koreans were determined to take back control of their country from the Japanese and end the suffering caused by the Japanese occupation. As an eleven-year-od girl living with her family in northern Korea, Yoko Kawashima is suddenly fleeing for her life, along with her mother and older sister, Ko, trying to escape to Japan, a country Yoko hardly knows. Their journey is terrifying--and remarkable. Based on the author’s experiences and reflecting deep love of family, it’s a story of courage and survival that highlights the plight of individual people in wartime. Brave acts of kindness--by Koreans and Japanese--are inspiring reminders of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Includes a Letter from the Author, a Foreword by Jean Fritz, and Notes from the Publisher.