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There are currently 24 member reviews
for The Young Will Remember
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Emily Harp
The Young Will Remember was an absolutely brilliant novel.
I was completely invested in Ellie’s story! I often lean towards WWII historical novels but felt the same pull of immersion into the historical context of the Korean War during this read. The surrounding subjects of comfort women, gender equality, military occupation, civilian casualties, racism and even mental health are such important tragic topics that Chung tackled in such an engaging, relevant way. An emotional, but informative book that I highly recommend— 5??
Thank you BookBrowse, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced ebook!
All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Bridgette T. (San Angelo, TX)
When History Feels Personal
I liked this one—emotional, intense, and revealing in ways I didn't expect. The focus on found family within a historical fiction setting felt especially powerful, and I appreciated the spotlight on the Korean War, a perspective I don't often see explored. The sacrifices woven throughout the story added real weight and depth.
I was especially intrigued by the unfamiliar history and loved the feminist edge of the main character, which gave the narrative a strong, modern resonance.
A small note: careful editing around capitalization (e.g., Marines) would help polish the final product.
I'd recommend this for book clubs and for readers looking to expand beyond typical historical fiction, particularly those interested in stories centered on non-white perspectives.
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Elizabeth W. (Terrebonne, OR)
Behind enemy lines in the Korean War
An immersive novel set during the Korean War depicting the hardships, brutality and starvation endured by the people in the conflict between north and south. The narrative follows the path to survival of a female American war correspondent of Asian heritage, Ellie Chang, who is shot down in enemy territory. She is found, befriended and rescued by a Korean woman searching for her missing daughter, likely forced either into slave labor or life serving as a "comfort woman" i.e. sex slavery.
Ellie is taken in, protected and nursed back to health by the woman's family and joins them in their escape from the advancing enemy, the North Koreans aided by the Chinese. The depiction of this harrowing journey vividly describes the chaos, the fear of the unknown, the blind faith required to survive such an ordeal. The plot deepens as family grudges, misrepresentations and assumptions are revealed. Friendship, sisterhood, family bonds and chosen family ties are explored. The author's afterword pays tribute to the ongoing research and revelations regarding sex slavery and the acknowledgement and reparations that still need to be forthcoming.
A very engaging read, highly recommended!
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Gabi
A Captivating and Thought-Provoking Read
A story of human resilience and courage, improbable alliances, and hope against the backdrop of the toll of the Korean War - the atrocities and the destruction.
This book captured and kept my attention from cover to cover. More than simply a historical and militaristic view of the Korean War, the story explored “the cultural and psychological components of the war,” to borrow an observation from Ellie, the story’s central character. Furthermore, while there are many historical fiction books which center around the World Wars, this is the first fiction book I have read focused on the Korean War, specifically in North Korea. Particularly impactful for me as the reader was understanding the war and its toll, not only from a US-centric view, but also from various North Korean lenses.
A 5 star read that will be among my top 5 historical fiction favs this year.
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Kimberly M. (Kalamazoo, MI)
Well done
Loved every second of this book. Had me feeling every emotion. Made me laugh, made me cry. Also, learned so much about the Korean War. Very well written and well done!
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Julie P. (Fort Myers, FL)
The Young Will Remember, by Eve J. Chung
This book is a great example of why I love historical fiction - it's well written with excellent action scenes, and about a topic (the Korean War) that I know little about. Ellie is a young Chinese American journalist in 1950 who becomes stuck behind enemy lines in Korea when her plane is shot down. Miraculously, she is rescued by an older Korean woman who mistakenly thinks that Ellie is her long lost daughter. With no other choice, Ellie escapes with the woman she names Emma and finds a temporary home of sorts with her and Emma's "on the outs" friend, Omo, her husband, and son. Their relationships with each other are prickly at best, yet Ellie has hopes of heading to Pyongyang on a route home to America. They endure many hardships together, most of which are difficult today for us to imagine. There are language difficulties, hunger and thirst, violence, ethnic rivalries, and forced prostitution. The author portrays the intricacies of the relationships among the Japanese, the Chinese and the Korean people. She also tackles the horrendous reality of "comfort houses" where women were forced into prostitution during the war. A very powerful book about the horrors of war.
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Linda V. (Independence, KY)
I Hope They Will Remember
Knowing nothing of the Korean War, I was interested in learning the history. This book delved into the politics and humanity with biting awareness. The writing was evocative and plunged me into the time frame and climate. Every page was ripe with creating a visual and a feeling. The characters each had a story to tell and despite coming from different backgrounds, love and respect was interwoven in each.
The depravity and senselessness of war continued throughout the novel. And given the current state of affairs in the world, saddened me even more. It seems no one remembers the pain and loss. Ms. Chung researched this novel well which brought the reality and pain even more to the forefront. I highly recommend this novel...so that, yes, hopefully, the young WILL remember.
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