Join me in wishing a happy book birthday to Julie Lee and her debut middle grade novel, Brother's Keeper, out from Holiday House today!
Julie shares the inspiration behind the story:
When I was growing up, my mother—the inspiration behind BROTHER’S KEEPER—told me stories of her life in North Korea. She lived through the Japanese occupation, the brief but joyful period of liberation, then northern Korea’s conversion to a communist state. She witnessed the mood of her country grow increasingly dark. Communist propaganda began infiltrating homes and classrooms. Outspoken students suddenly began disappearing on their way home from school. It was a life fraught with fear and terror.
So, when the Korean War broke out and chaos ensued, many North Koreans took that opportunity to flee to the south. But there was confusion and fear about the journey itself. My own mother didn’t leave until months into the war, in the dead of winter.
It was not an easy journey. Korea is a mountainous country with many rivers. And winters can be brutal. Fleeing refugees had to stay ahead of battle lines, which were also moving south. At times, instead of running toward their destination, it seemed as if they were being chased.
It is during this harrowing journey that BROTHER’S KEEPER takes place. Twelve-year-old Sora and her little brother Youngsoo become separated from their family amid a bombing and must make this dangerous trek on their own. On the journey, Sora must come to terms with her role as a noona—which in Korean means older sister to a younger brother. It’s a label that sometimes stands in the way of her own dreams of going to school and living a life that goes against tradition and her mother’s stifling expectations. For Sora, it’s a title loaded with responsibility, some resentment, but also love.
In writing this book, I wanted to highlight the Korean War—also known as the Forgotten War—an event often overlooked in history, particularly from the civilian perspective. Millions died because of this little-known conflict. Families were torn apart across the border. And while incredible accounts of courage and resilience abound among Korean War survivors, their stories remain largely untold.
I spent five years researching refugee accounts, poring through books and journals, studying collections of Korean War photos, and reaching out to experts on Korean history. I interviewed my mother and spoke with other Korean Americans and listened to their family stories.
But in the end, BROTHER’S KEEPER is more than a Korean War story. It’s about an ordinary family facing great hardship. It’s about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons. It is in part, my mother’s story, my story, and perhaps your story as well, connecting all of us, across different times and places.
My hope is that readers will relate to Sora’s fears and frustrations, her courage and compassion. Because to see ourselves in a forgotten history, would be the greatest act of remembrance of all.
So, when the Korean War broke out and chaos ensued, many North Koreans took that opportunity to flee to the south. But there was confusion and fear about the journey itself. My own mother didn’t leave until months into the war, in the dead of winter.
It was not an easy journey. Korea is a mountainous country with many rivers. And winters can be brutal. Fleeing refugees had to stay ahead of battle lines, which were also moving south. At times, instead of running toward their destination, it seemed as if they were being chased.
It is during this harrowing journey that BROTHER’S KEEPER takes place. Twelve-year-old Sora and her little brother Youngsoo become separated from their family amid a bombing and must make this dangerous trek on their own. On the journey, Sora must come to terms with her role as a noona—which in Korean means older sister to a younger brother. It’s a label that sometimes stands in the way of her own dreams of going to school and living a life that goes against tradition and her mother’s stifling expectations. For Sora, it’s a title loaded with responsibility, some resentment, but also love.
In writing this book, I wanted to highlight the Korean War—also known as the Forgotten War—an event often overlooked in history, particularly from the civilian perspective. Millions died because of this little-known conflict. Families were torn apart across the border. And while incredible accounts of courage and resilience abound among Korean War survivors, their stories remain largely untold.
I spent five years researching refugee accounts, poring through books and journals, studying collections of Korean War photos, and reaching out to experts on Korean history. I interviewed my mother and spoke with other Korean Americans and listened to their family stories.
But in the end, BROTHER’S KEEPER is more than a Korean War story. It’s about an ordinary family facing great hardship. It’s about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons. It is in part, my mother’s story, my story, and perhaps your story as well, connecting all of us, across different times and places.
My hope is that readers will relate to Sora’s fears and frustrations, her courage and compassion. Because to see ourselves in a forgotten history, would be the greatest act of remembrance of all.
More about Julie Lee:
Julie Lee graduated from Cornell University with a degree in history. After working in market research for over ten years, she decided to pursue writing full-time. Currently, Julie lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. When she is not spending time with her family, she is working on her next book while pursuing her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Brother’s Keeper is her debut novel. You can visit Julie at www.julieleeauthor.com.
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