Excerpt from The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

George snatched the mochi bag from me, ripping the top. "I'm not scared of the mochi granny," he said. "And we are friends-good friends. That's why I want you to stay here. You, of all people, should not be at the Chosin right now. You know what I mean, don't you?"

The nurses' outrage dwindled to a hush, and Barbara cocked her head, uncertain. They might have been confused, but I knew exactly what he meant. Of course I did.

If anyone else had referenced my ethnicity, I might have gone ballistic, but George was Japanese American. During World War II, our government had sent his family to an internment camp even though George's father was fighting for us in France. The Miyashitas didn't get released until the last camps closed-just four years ago.

"They're really bloody mad at China over there," George continued. "If I were you, I'd lie low for now. MacArthur's foaming at the mouth. Rumor has it, he's pushing to bomb Manchuria. If it were up to him, we'd go nuclear."

A chill shivered down my spine.

As a woman in this field, I always had to be brave, to work harder and smarter for every scrap and bone-never complain, and above all, never cry. I kept my fear in a box and labeled it opportunity, but it was still a slippery beast. Courage and madness were different shades of the same color, and I couldn't tell which I had painted myself with when I said, "I'm willing to take the risk, George. I won't put my life on hold because some jerks can't tell the difference between me and a Red."

I stood my ground, holding my head so high that I had to tilt it back. That was the only way I could look down at someone taller than me.

George rolled his eyes and threw his hand up. "Fine, Ellie. But only because I'm starving, and I need you to feed these to me while I keep my hands on the controls. I swear to God, if you cause any trouble-"

"I won't cause trouble," I cried, bouncing with adrenaline while Barbara and the other nurses cheered. "I'll feed you like you're my firstborn child. Let's go!"

Excerpted from The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung. Copyright © 2026 by Eve J. Chung. Excerpted by permission of Berkley Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.