Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea Paperback – October 17, 2017

Wow. My sister and I both read this incredible book and fell in love with it. We’ve been recommending it to everyone, no matter their age or background. The story is powerful and touching, and reveals truths about a nation that we rarely hear about from such a vulnerable perspective. It’s written simply but the themes are complex. Easily enjoyed by anyone from 8th grade through adulthood.

I am an American living in S. Korea for two years now and have read a few different books about N. Korean defectors, probably a dozen individual stories in total. Sungju Lee's story is a must. It parallels the other accounts I have read, and yet is told in a 'delicate' manner (or as delicate as possible when describing hardships and tragedies). It is written for young adults to understand and also for more mature readers to appreciate. I am a mother of two boys and was left heartbroken for the loss of Sungju's childhood and for the loss of parental joy his parents had to endure. N. Korea is completely closed off from the rest of the world. Information is controlled, children are brainwashed from a young age and even the 'elite' families living in Pyongyang are not safe. It is truly a horrifying place to be born. Escaping from N. Korea is not only dangerous but costly. N. Koreans crossing over into China are considered illegal visitors and subject to being sent back to N. Korea. The most astounding, to me, is that this is not history, but current events. As I sit here typing this review, people in N. Korea are enduring unbearable pain and hardship. For the fortunate ones able to find safety and refugee in S. Korea, it is another long road. They must unlearn all they were taught and relearn a new way of thinking and integrate into an entirely new culture. There is gain but there is tragic loss as well. Their identity is stripped and fear is a constant undercurrent. I urge you to buy this book, gain information about N. Korea. Perhaps after reading this book you will be motivated to learn more and also contribute to the bringing N. Korean refugees to safety. I know I am!

Man what an incredible, and incredibly hard book to read. And to know there was so much more not said. Probably one of my top five all time books.

Have you ever felt trapped? Like no matter how terrible things were you just couldn't get away? Well imagine that feeling except 10 times worse. This is how millions of North Koreans feel everyday of their lives. SungJu Lee was once one of those individuals devoid of hope, but due to self preservation and outside aid, he was able to escape North Korea forever. Every Falling Star is a book about young SungJu’s life in North Korea and his eventual escape. This book will pull your heart strings and take you on an emotional journey that will make you realize how blessed and privileged you are compared to others in the world.Every Falling star starts out with a brief, never before heard history of North Korea that puts the story into context. SungJu Lee and Susan McClelland then proceed to write about the 4 years after SungJu’s parents abandoned him. I could not believe the things that he was forced to endure at such a young age. From losing his parents to being thrown into a work camp, it is a miracle that SungJu is here to tell us his story! While reading this book, I often forgot that it was non fiction because of the beautiful storytelling and unbelievable experiences related. From this fresh perspective, we get to see inside of a country that is largely closed off from the rest of the world. I found myself comparing North Korea to the fictitious country of Panem in Suzanne Collins Hunger Games. The political structure is the same, with the capital of Pyeong yang being an ideal place to live, while everywhere else outside of the capitol is ignored and neglected by the supposedly supportive and caring government.The main reason I read this book was to learn more about everyday life in North Korea. I did not expect it to be so riveting and emotional! I could not set the book down while I was reading about how SungJu and his gang were forced to move from town to town and fight other gangs for control of markets. And then after all they had gone through together, to lose two of their own was just heartwrenching! SungJu and his gang became a family that grew closer through their hardships. There are many lessons to be learned from these boys about friendship and perseverance. They were trapped in a bleak situation but still managed to hang on and hope for the better. My favorite part of this book was when SungJu runs into his grandpa in the Market. After he had given up any hope of ever finding any of his family again, to be reunited with his grandparents shook his world. He was not used to feeling loved and safe. His grandparents helped him to let go of his old life and start anew. This part made the whole book feel complete. Before this moment, SungJu’s life had been dark and destitute, and so finding a loved one turned his whole life around.Have you ever escaped from being trapped? Every Falling Star is a thrilling true story about how one boy in a helpless situation broke free. This book shows that perseverance makes anything possible. No matter what SungJu went through, he never gave up. He lost his parents, his house, and his friends, but still he pushed onward, with the tiniest hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones again. Every Falling Star is a must read that will open a reader's eyes to the world they live in and will inspire them to push through whatever trials they are facing in their lives, thanks to the example of a boy from North Korea who showed us that hope is the one thing nobody can take from you.

This is a striking and tragic story of social injustice- the vast difference between the rich and the poor, and how a family’s fall from the politically elite ravaged the childhood of one young man. The fact that he survived and prospered to tell this story is beyond miraculous. I had no idea that when in crisis, North Korea ignored the plight of its poorest and most innocent citizens, and through deceit kept a nation in darkness and ignorance as to the misery of these children. I finished the book in a little over a day. A strong and poignant message to those- including myself- who have taken privilege for granted.

I am an expat that lived in South Korea for 3 years. While I was in South Korea I got involved helping out North Korean refugees and reading many books by North Korean refugees. "Every Falling Star" is the best of the North Korean refugee books that I have read. The story is well written in such a way that it is compelling and impossible to put down once you start reading it. If you want to know the true story of a North Korean refugee and what it is like to live in the Hermit Kingdom, I highly recommend that you read this book. I have since sent the book to my mother, some cousins, and sister; they all have loved the book. Don't put it off for another day, buy the book and start reading it, you will not be disappointed. AMAZING!!!!!

For some reason I’m fascinated with information regarding N. Korea. This easy read tells of his most difficult life experience in his younger years. It gave me an insight unimaginable to my most fortunate upbringing. I’m happy for his new direction in life and how he’s using his experiences to help others.

One of the best books on North Korea, it gives a chilling and vivid picture of the hardships endured.

I've followed news about North Korea for some time now but this was the first book I've read from someone who's lived in the Hermit Kingdom. This book will open your eyes to everyday life for millions of normal people in North Korea - people whose lives would have been much different, had they been born just a few hundred kilometers to the south.

タイトルのevery falling starsはすべての流れ星を意味します。作者であるリ・スンジュの少年時代を描いたものですがJuvenile literatureとあるためかわかりやすいです。彼は平壌に住んでおり、将軍になることを夢見てましたが、地方に追放された事で暗転します。これは当初旅行とリ・スンジュの父は説明してました。この追放の背景は詳しくはわかってません。書けないとありましたから地方での生活はやがて困窮しリ・スンジュの父は中国に、母は食物を探しに行ったままいなくなります。そして彼も同様の事をするようになります。数人の少年たちと徒等を組み、得意のテコンドーを披露し金を稼いだり・・・chaosの真っ只中に彼は放り込まれたのです。それでもリ・スンジュの喜怒哀楽がよく描れていてときには泣きそうになったり、夢を見失わかったり・・・最後は中国に行った父とは再会しますが、母とは未だに果たせずにいます。また彼は新たな役割をも見つけたようです。母との再会を願わずにはいられません

I used this book as part of a novel study with a high school student. The story explores themes of love, courage, and hope. It is unbelievable what people in North Korea must suffer and the perseverance they demonstrate. It helps readers reflect on how privileged they are. It allowed some deep and interesting discussions with my student, exploring topics of politics, power, human nature, mental health, poverty, etc. The writing itself is straightforward and easy, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most eloquently written. It’s more of a recollection of events and you don’t get a lot of insight into the author’s emotions and thoughts.

The story of a privileged young boy - Sungju Lee, living in Pyongyang; son of a respected military leader, under the aegis of Kim II Sung. Shortly after the death of their ruler, Lee and his family are forced to deport to a town where there is rampant poverty, famine, unemployment and crime. As his parents step out in search of food, he is left alone in his house. Eventually, he resorts to stealing for survival and constitutes a street gang of young boys like himself that travel on trains to find new villages to steal. They are eventually captured by the police, and subject to more torture in the police camps. The boy is incredibly lucky when his family finds him, and arranges for his defection from North Korea to South Korea.The chapters where he narrates his transformation, out of sheet compulsion, from an innocent young boy to the hardened and calculative street gang leader are extremely poignant. I was hoping to learn more on the propaganda effect; but this is a young boy’s narrative, so those references are minimal.