BookBrowse Reviews The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung

BookBrowse:

A deeply human, woman-centered story set in the Korean War, following a correspondent who finds herself in enemy territory.

This review is available to non-members for a limited time. For access to our digital magazine, free books,and other benefits, become a member today.

Eve J. Chung's Daughters of Shandong was the winner of the BookBrowse Debut Book Award in 2024, and was also a popular BookBrowse Book Club and First Impressions selection. The Young Will Remember has likewise been a hit with our readers, with 24 out of 25 reviews rating the book 4 or 5 stars.

What the book is about:

The Korean War is raging. War correspondent Eleanor Chang is American-born with parents from Taiwan. The medi-vac plane she is traveling in is shot down in North Korea and attacked. She escapes into the countryside. Eleanor is rescued by a local family. Together they all struggle to find a safe haven away from the South Korean, North Korean, and American armies. Their goal is to reach Japan. The winter weather is brutal, food and shelter scarce, and people to trust are rare. They are able to muddle through communicating speaking Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and English. As they walk the forbidding terrain promises are made. Promises are kept. This is a look at Korean culture and the story of civilian chaos during a war none of them wanted. I am recommending it to my public library and other readers I know (Barbara B).

Readers quickly found themselves emotionally invested in the story…

What I expected was a good historical story; what I found instead was something deeply human, emotional, and unforgettable. Eve J. Chung brings history to life through characters who feel achingly real—flawed, brave, vulnerable, and enduring in ways that linger long after you close the book (Olivia G). Characters are so well defined, I became emotionally attached to their lives. I empathized with them through their decisions and actions (Robin S).

…and in many cases learned about the history of the Korean War.

Although I knew a certain amount about Japan's colonial relationship with Korea, I was pretty vague about the Korean War itself. To see it portrayed from these women's experiences was illuminating and very moving (J Marie V). This story didn't just entertain me; it educated me. It sent me down a historical research rabbit hole, eager to learn more about a war and a generation whose stories are too often overlooked. That, to me, is the mark of exceptional historical fiction—when fiction becomes a doorway to real history and deeper understanding (Olivia G). The inclusion of letters and newspaper clippings between each chapter increases the historical depth of the narrative and gives additional context beyond what the characters are experiencing (Kathleen K).

Reviewers felt the novel was an intense, immersive experience…

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 (Emily H). The writing was evocative and plunged me into the time frame and climate. Every page was ripe with creating a visual and a feeling (Linda V). The plot keeps pulling the reader in and the prose flows smoothly. The author's writing is very descriptive, allowing the reader to readily visualize and feel what is happening. At times I felt as though I was right there dodging bullets with the civilians in the novel (Dianne Y).

...and recommend it wholeheartedly for its character-driven focus and humanity.

This is a book for readers who appreciate richly textured, character-driven historical fiction and would make an excellent choice for book clubs. I'll be adding it to my own library—and I'm already recommending it to family and friends (Sandy G). While Ms. Chang presents the awful realities of life in a frozen war zone with accompanying starvation, injuries, fear, sickness, and death during the winter of 1950, the book is also deeply human. We witness unexpected kindnesses and connections among people that elevate the story into an unforgettable reader experience (Donna M).

This review first ran in the June 10, 2026 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.