REVIEW: The Girl with Seven Names (Hyeonseo Lee)

Book: The Girl With Seven Names

Author: Hyeonseo Lee

Premise: As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Aged seventeen, she decided to escape. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she was reunited with her family.

This is a memoir detail Hyeonseo's childhood in North Korea, her journey through China to South Korea, then helping her family escape. It was really fascinating and also shocking reading her experience. Her story gave insight into how difficult for people not only to escape North Korea but also to avoid repatriation. I hadn't realised the different stances of neighbouring Asian countries around asylum for escaped North Koreans, and I hadn't appreciated the prejudices they would face. She also explains the cultural shock for escapees, realising the lies they've been taught. She covers the conflict of loving her country but hating the regime. A real eye opener!