When My Name Was Keoko

When My Name Was Keoko

Written by Linda Sue Park

Publishers: Yearling in 2002

Genre: General Fiction/Historical Fiction/Multicultural

Readability Lexile: 620L

Summary:

This is a book about a young Korean girl in Japanese rule. It is during the time of WWII in the 1940’s. Her family and everyone else in Korea have to change their ways so they can be closer to what the Japanese are. The Japanese are trying to take away all of the Korean culture. They are forced to change their names, cut down their favorite tree, and change their way of life. They are also struggling financially. Keoko’s brother joins the army so his family can have better food clothes and rations. He volunteers for a special attack for a kamikaze plane to bomb American ships but because of cloud coverage they are forced to abort their mission. Her family thinks he has died, but they are so happy when he returns home.

Evaluation:

This is high literature. It is a story that many Korean Americans can relate to with this happening somewhere in their family. You do not usually hear this kind of story. You usually just hear about the Holocaust so people forget about what was going on in Korea. It is a very good book to teach students about what happened there even though it has fictional things in the book. It is also a good book because the chapters go back and forth between Keoko/Sun-hee and her brother telling their side of things about the same events. It has a really good plot and it draws the readers in by the story line. The author uses language good to where it is natural and keeps the reader to want to read more. When you read the book aloud you can actually hear the characters talking.

Literary Elements:

-          Characterization- In this book you are really able to figure out the personalities of the characters and their emotions. You are able to see what the two main characters think and two sides of things. They all have struggles and strength with what is going on with Japan taking over.

-          Point of View- This story is told from two points of view. They are two characters telling the story in alternating chapter. Here you are able to see the point view of both character and experience what goes on in their heads as well as their lives.

-          Plot- This story has a very good plot. You are able to figure it out easily what is going on and what are the main ideas and details of the book. It is about a Korean family that has been taken over my Japanese rule.

Mini Lesson:

I would do a mini lesson on point of view for this book. I would have the students take a previous paper that they already have written and then write the same story from two different points of view.

Target Audience:

Middle School