by Hyeonseo Lee
There is something not right with critiquing or reviewing biographies, especially autobiographies. It’s their life story, not a fictional novel. That being said, this was a phenomenal read. Hyeonseo Lee defected from North Korea when she was 17. It took her over ten years to be reunited and free, with her family.
Her book is divided into 3 parts. Each part covers her time in a different country; North Korea in her childhood, China in her 20s, and South Korea when she was able to help her mother and brother to also escape. During all this time she had to hide her real identity and used many different names, hence the title of the book. Hyeonseo Lee is not the name she was born with, but it’s the name she chose for herself after gaining freedom.
Part 1: North Korea
Born in 1980 in Hyesan, North Korea. She describes what it’s like there, how the people have nothing to compare life to and don’t know they are oppressed and mistreated. Being a poor country, they are taught that North Korea is the best and wealthiest country. They had a famine in the ’90s. The people are encouraged to tattle-tell on each other and thus become extremely paranoid and distrustful of each other. I learned so much from this part. The lack of education, the amount of false information the people are fed instead. The violence that is ignored and considered normal. Everything about that life is so alien to anyone outside of North Korea. Not relatable in anyway, but so fascinating and educational.
Part 2: China
Escaping from North Korea wasn’t the plan. Hyeonseo simply wanted to see China before she turned 18 and started university. Illegal activities are forgiven much more willingly for minors. She had planned to just stay a few days and to go back. Her escape caused events to change her life forever. She wasn’t able to ever return. Her life in China was difficult. She didn’t have a Chinese ID and had to hide that she was illegal. She spent 10 years in China before deciding to head to South Korea, the North’s worst enemy.
Part 3: South Korea
A few problems getting in, but once in everything went smoothly. She was able to go through a program that helped defectors to assimilate to the new type of life. Many couldn’t handle the changes in freedom. After several months, in 2009, Hyeonseo brings her family over the border and escorts them across China to South Korea. It took them over a year, problem after problem after problem. Now they are reunited and free in South Korea.
The ending is so satisfying after following along with all that sufferings. Finally! 14 years of separation, they are together again. The way it’s told, I almost forgot that the story wasn’t fictional. It flowed beautifully. The events were so enthralling. I felt for Hyeonseo at every turn. I knew everything would turn out okay in the end, I was holding her book so it had to!
I gave this a 5 stars. I couldn’t put it down, especially during the second half. I learned so much and I actually plan to pick up some more North Korean defector biographies. Hyeonseo also gave a TedTalk about her story.
Rachels Books 