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A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea Kindle Edition
by Eunsun Kim (Author), Sébastien Falletti (Author), & 1 more
4.5 out of 5 stars 361 ratings
Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive countries in the modern world. As a child Eunsun loved her country...despite her school field trips to public executions, daily self-criticism sessions, and the increasing gnaw of hunger as the country-wide famine escalated.
By the time she was eleven years old, Eunsun's father and grandparents had died of starvation, and Eunsun was in danger of the same. Finally, her mother decided to escape North Korea with Eunsun and her sister, not knowing that they were embarking on a journey that would take them nine long years to complete. Before finally reaching South Korea and freedom, Eunsun and her family would live homeless, fall into the hands of Chinese human traffickers, survive a North Korean labor camp, and cross the deserts of Mongolia on foot.
Now, Eunsun is sharing her remarkable story to give voice to the tens of millions of North Koreans still suffering in silence. Told with grace and courage, her memoir is a riveting exposé of North Korea's totalitarian regime and, ultimately, a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
Product details
File Size: 773 KB
Print Length: 241 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 21, 2015)
Publication Date: July 21, 2015
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
361 customer ratings
5 star 68%
4 star 20%
3 star 8%
2 star 2%
1 star 3%
Top Reviews
J. Call
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring, learning experienceReviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This is a wonderful book that shows what life is like in North Korea and the extremes that people are willing to go through to escape from that country. The author and her family went through horrendous things in order to get to freedom in South Korea. It filled me with gratitude for many things in my life that I take for granted such as food, clothes, a warm house, peace and safety, and modern conveniences. It made me appreciate the country and community that I live in.
It amazed me that such living conditions exist in North Korea in the 21st Century. I kept reminding myself that these things were happening now and not sometime in the 1800’s. Also, it was an eye opener to how the people are brainwashed and controlled by the government to the point that they don’t know what is really happening in the outside world or even to think for themselves. They only hear and see what the government wants.
All in all it is a book that keeps you reading just to find out if the author survives. It is tragic, inspiring, suspenseful and enlightening. I would recommend it to all adults as well as high school and middle school students.
19 people found this helpful
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Martie
5.0 out of 5 stars A Thousand Miles and MoreReviewed in the United States on August 2, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is an amazing story of courage and will and hope.Kim Eun-sun relays her experiences escaping North Korea with dexterity. Although this book is translated, I find this translation quite able to render her words clearly.
There are, however, a few errors in English making the prose stunted in places. I appreciate the translation in any case. It is not about perfect writing here, it is about the story. It is also about the implications of Kim’s chronicle. One that is heartbreaking with a ray of hope. Therein lies one of the points.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kim’s story. I am now more aware of the trials and tribulations that North Koreans face living under a strict and terrifying totalitarian regime.
Testimonies such as this are vital. Everyone must know what is going on in North Korea. North Korea is a lone country. This we know by reading _A Thousand Miles to Freedom_. It truly was a thousand miles and more.
10 people found this helpful
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Ferro
3.0 out of 5 stars Another interesting defector accountReviewed in the United States on July 14, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Although the North Korean escapee genre is becoming a well-trod path, I’m always fascinated to read any new additions. While the geographical journey they take is similar, their individual stories are not. Kim Eun-Sun has an interesting tale to tell, but the translation is bland, there are a couple of proof-reading mistakes, and the writer does not do enough to vitalize or differentiate this account from those before it. Having said that, its not bad. I did enjoy it, and it’s easy and straightforward to read. Most probably anyone who has had anything to do with Korea will like this book.
9 people found this helpful
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Tinsleyandco
5.0 out of 5 stars What a read!Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2016
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Loved the book. I actually got to read it before it was delivered through Amazon. I just couldn't wait. Very easy read and surprisingly read it in a few hours. Her journey through the famine, dispair, hopelessness and finally victory just drew me in and didn't let me go. I am in awe at the determination of the NK to escape the murderous regime of the fat man and the ancestors before him. This is my third NK defector memoir and I must say that her story drew me in the most. She went through so much and here she is victorious and telling her story. Bravo, Eunsun. You are an inspiration to most of us crying over senseless first world problems when at your young age, you have endured things most of us could never imagine.
9 people found this helpful
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Ginny from Michigan
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightened About North KoreaReviewed in the United States on September 26, 2017
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I could not put this book down. It exposes the ugly style of their leader and his domineering role over the people of North Korea. How fortunate the author was to leave that country, the many hardships she endured, and the determination she had to finally find freedom. It made me realize how lucky we are to have been born in a free country....America, the Beautiful, America the Free!!
8 people found this helpful
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darby
4.0 out of 5 stars escape from North KoreaReviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book is an autobiography of a young girl, her mother, and an older sister. It follows her until she is in her early thirties. While telling their personal story it also describes living in North Korea from the 1990s until now. It is a place of horror...violence, brainwashing, starvation, and no freedoms. This family barely escaped twice and were returned to North Korea from China with which NK and China have an agreement. It is a long journey for the mother and the younger daughter with many stops along the way, sometimes at the hands of coyotees as we would call them here. A forced "marriage" after the sale of her mother produces a son which they will leave behind in order to continue their escape or possibly lose their lives in the hands of the Chinese police or even the husband.
They find jobs along the way to live and also to leave China. Uncertainty and fear follow them. The older sister remains in China and marries a man she loves and who loves her.
I would hope people will read this book for the facts of North Korea but also for the treatment of refugees who can reach South Korea.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars ... first experience with North Korean defectors and I really enjoyed it. I have watched the news and read ...Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This book was my first experience with North Korean defectors and I really enjoyed it. I have watched the news and read accounts of what they think is going on, but this first hand experience reflected on by the author is touching and informative. I really had no idea how terrible the situation is over there. It is quite an eye-opener as to the true reality that a lot of refugees face as they try to obtain a better life. Eunsun Kim's story of optimism in the face of dire circumstances was empowering. The fact that she states hope in almost all of her circumstances in truly unbelievable. I was also touched by her true desire for an education. Her difficult life is filled with fear, humiliation, separation, isolation, starvation, famine, despair, and hopelessness, however, I found the story to be uplifting rather than depressing because the author is careful not to dwell on the negative. I really expected this book to hang on the explicit details of her negative situations, but was uplifted by the way she, her sister and mother hung on until opportunity provided a way for them to escape their current situation; they were very persistent. I enjoy happy endings and was relieved that this one had one. She deserved and worked for it. This book is a good,quick read that I believe will touch most readers.
8 people found this helpful
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Top international reviews
Thaddea
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant readReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2019
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
really interesting read with a lot of description so you can really feel as if you were Eunsun (obviously not to the same extent) but you can def put yourself in the characters shoes easily. i definitely learned a lot from reading this book and although it has loads of information it’s not too overpowering which makes it enjoyable to read and easier to understand so i have reread it about 5 times as a result because it is so interesting.
One person found this helpful
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Chen Zhenyi
5.0 out of 5 stars ... this book in one night and it was never boring to keep readingReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2016
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I finished reading this book in one night and it was never boring to keep reading. It's an amazing and shocking story that I have never imagined before. Along with reading, I feel so much respect toward her and her family for their toughness and braveness. It is absolutely an awesome book for educating us to fight against regimes like in North Korea and love our own lives whenever we feel difficult and impossible.
5 people found this helpful
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Pablova
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to readReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Decent book. Easy to read. Good insight into life in North Korea.
One person found this helpful
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Neil
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2016
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
A very moving account of life in North Korea, which highlights the horrors of life in the failed state. Kim, like so many before her tells us what in many ways we don't want to hear. A brilliant book.
One person found this helpful
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B. Hawkins
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but poorly translated or ghostedReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2015
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Not as good as other books by escaped N Koreans. Not well translated (American?) It is still worth reading.
3 people found this helpful
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