Home is word that most people are familiar with, usually the place in which someone lives. Although, home is still a concept and some people stretch to a wide term such as a place with family or even other realms recognizing themselves as the omnipotent watcher. However, in Sook Nyui Choi’s book Year of Impossible Goodbyes home is quite different, home is something that most people do not think of having to value for it is a place where freedom exists. In this novel ten year old Sookan, a Korean girl living during the times of the Japanese suppression in World War II searches for escape after being terrorized by both the Imperial Army and the Communist Russian regime. Sookan searches to make it home to South Korea where true freedom lies.
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Sookan is respectful and admires her family members. As stated in the text, “I was startled to hear such wise advice from Inchun. But I nodded, and smiled.” (65). On her fist day of school Sookan is given advice by her younger brother, Inchun who is wise for his age. He has a mutual bond of respect, balanced by his admiration for her and Sookan respects that even though he is younger, he gives very knowledgeable advice that is worth following. She also admires her grandfather and looks up to his ability to read, write, and make calligraphy and respects and values the meaning of her aunt’s stories. Sookan also has an altruistic nature. As stated in the text, “I pushed my lunch box over toward her… I knew the little girl would like some.” (76). Sookan sees a girl sitting alone eating nothing but two rice balls and realizing she still has some of her own lunch left she offers it to the girl though only having a piece of egg and a small portion of rice and beans herself. She is uncomfortable and scared being somewhere she is unfamiliar with yet still goes over to offer the girl food though probably not eating much herself. Her lunch box is even taken away due to how nicely it was made as another girl was tasked with watching the room but knowing the risk that this might happen or something worse she does it anyway. Along with being respectful and …show more content…
Year of Impossible Goodbyes has taught its readers that dog days will be over, all it takes is a bit of patience. As stated in the text, “the nurse fed us and bandaged our feet, and said she would put us on a bus to Seoul when we were ready.” (166). After crossing the border and making it to South Korea, Sookan and Inchun find themselves in care of the red cross who are waiting to take them to their father in Seoul. Sookan has found freedom finally after a whole life of oppression and can live like a normal girl, something her mother had always wished for. She now has a nice house, her father, and her brothers in a place where she can go to school and the ability to pursue the future she wishes to have. Along with Sookan, I have also learned that family is supposed to do anything for each other no matter what it is. As stated in the text, “Why don’t you come with us? Convince Kisa to come with us, too. We’ll all risk it together.” (123). Sookan’s cousin, Kisa and Aunt Tiger have been working hard for the party in order to make arrangements to escape out of North Korea. However, in doing so they have drawn much more attention to themselves and leaving will cause the immediate capture of the whole family. Kisa and Aunt Tiger sacrifice themselves by staying and letting Sookan, Inchun, and her mother leave, knowing that they might die or live to see a much
Sookan is respectful and admires her family members. As stated in the text, “I was startled to hear such wise advice from Inchun. But I nodded, and smiled.” (65). On her fist day of school Sookan is given advice by her younger brother, Inchun who is wise for his age. He has a mutual bond of respect, balanced by his admiration for her and Sookan respects that even though he is younger, he gives very knowledgeable advice that is worth following. She also admires her grandfather and looks up to his ability to read, write, and make calligraphy and respects and values the meaning of her aunt’s stories. Sookan also has an altruistic nature. As stated in the text, “I pushed my lunch box over toward her… I knew the little girl would like some.” (76). Sookan sees a girl sitting alone eating nothing but two rice balls and realizing she still has some of her own lunch left she offers it to the girl though only having a piece of egg and a small portion of rice and beans herself. She is uncomfortable and scared being somewhere she is unfamiliar with yet still goes over to offer the girl food though probably not eating much herself. Her lunch box is even taken away due to how nicely it was made as another girl was tasked with watching the room but knowing the risk that this might happen or something worse she does it anyway. Along with being respectful and …show more content…
Year of Impossible Goodbyes has taught its readers that dog days will be over, all it takes is a bit of patience. As stated in the text, “the nurse fed us and bandaged our feet, and said she would put us on a bus to Seoul when we were ready.” (166). After crossing the border and making it to South Korea, Sookan and Inchun find themselves in care of the red cross who are waiting to take them to their father in Seoul. Sookan has found freedom finally after a whole life of oppression and can live like a normal girl, something her mother had always wished for. She now has a nice house, her father, and her brothers in a place where she can go to school and the ability to pursue the future she wishes to have. Along with Sookan, I have also learned that family is supposed to do anything for each other no matter what it is. As stated in the text, “Why don’t you come with us? Convince Kisa to come with us, too. We’ll all risk it together.” (123). Sookan’s cousin, Kisa and Aunt Tiger have been working hard for the party in order to make arrangements to escape out of North Korea. However, in doing so they have drawn much more attention to themselves and leaving will cause the immediate capture of the whole family. Kisa and Aunt Tiger sacrifice themselves by staying and letting Sookan, Inchun, and her mother leave, knowing that they might die or live to see a much