Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Year of Impossible Goodbyes is written by Sook Nyui Choi. This book is from the perspective of ten-year-old Sookan - a Korean girl living during World War II. The Japanese Military is invading Korea and Sookan and her younger brother, Inchun, endure the hardships of war. After the Koreans win the war the communist Russian troops take control over North Korea and Sookan and her family must escape to South Korea. With her older brothers in labor camps and her father in Manchuria, Sookan, Inchun and their mother flee the north. The children become separated from their mother and after terrorizing weeks, the children make it successfully to the south without being caught by the Russians. Their mother is held by the Russians and eventually was made to be a servant for a Russian family. She escapes their home and she too makes it to the South and is reunited with her children and husband. Sadly, their Aunt Tiger is killed when she remains home in North Korea.

This novel is based on many true facts from the author's life, which makes it more emotionally pulling. The story was slow to start off, but in the 4th/5th chapter it really took off and I became immersed in the book. The writing was so detailed and descriptive, allowing me to visualize as a reader. I began to truly feel for Sookan and her family as the book went on and I was pulling for their safe entry into the South.

This book would make a fantastic unit paired with So Far from the Bamboo Grove. Both of these book take oppositional viewpoints on World War II from both the Korean perspective and the Japanese perspective. It would be interesting to hear students takes on the oppositional sides and to sympathize for both countries. A war involves more than one country (typically) so it's important to hear both sides. It's also crucial that students understand the torture and despair war can bring to those who are least deserving of it - i.e. women and children.

This book unit would definitely be most appropriate for 5th grade at the youngest through to middle school aged children due to some of the graphic content and material. However, I feel that all of this content is necessary for older students to understand and read about. I would also certainly be open to conversation about any topics students are concerned about. These books would definitely open up conversation in the classroom regarding the devastation of war.