When My Name Was Keoko

Park, L. S. (2002). When My Name Was Keoko  . New York: Clarion Books.

Interest Level: 6 - 8

Grade Level Equivalent: 5.1

Lexile® measure: 610L

DRA: 44

Guided Reading: V

This is the story of a Korean family named Kim who experience repression from the Japanese in 1940-1945. The story is told from both the perspectives of Sun-hee(10 years old) and her older brother Tae-yul(13 years old). The story begins with the family having to change their names to Japanese names. Obviously they are not happy about this as they are trying to hold onto their Korean culture as long as they can. Life for the Kim family becomes more and more difficult as the war progresses. Tae-yul enlists in the army and is sent on a Kamikaze mission. He intends to blow the mission. Everyone thinks he is dead, and is overjoyed when they discover that he made it out alive.

This is a very good story and gives a perspective on WWII that is never seen in schools. I did not even know much about what happened at this time in this area. I think it would be eye opening for all students and I would use it in WWII units in grades 5-12.

The way the story is written lets us in the heads of both of the siblings, which also allows for two perspectives on the same event. This lets the reader feel connected to both characters on the same level, which we do not always get because most books are only written from one perspective. The struggles of the family are written about in a way that the reader wants to cry, fight, and be joyous as the family is also going through these same emotions.

Mini-Lesson:

Students could write a story from two different perspectives of the same event.