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Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter's Search for Her Mother and Herself
Songmi Han, Casey Lartigue
4.60
77 ratings15 reviews
Like much of the North Korean population, Songmi Han was living in desperate poverty. As a young child, she and her family lived a life of dire hardship, and many meals consisted of little more than grass. Domestic abuse, long hours of grueling physical labor, emotional abuse, and primal hunger were her constant companions. School was out of the question and she, along with her mother, had to steal food to survive. Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter’s Search for Her Mother and Herself, written by Songmi Han and Casey Lartigue Jr, is the perilous and gripping account of Songmi’s childhood and her escape from North Korea.
As written in this book, “mindless patriotism can only last so long.” Most people know that life in North Korea is difficult and that leaving the country is not an option. In this book, Songmi Han tells her story of growing up in this military state, and her words are nothing short of shocking and endearing at the same time. The descriptions of public executions, presumably intended for population control, are painful and distressing. According to Songmi, though, this was not the worst thing she endured in North Korea. The book is endearing because there is a strong emotive undertone. Relationships, psychological well-being, and self-reflection are also important themes in this read. The most poignant part of the book is the very last page. The book’s cover may seem simple, but it is just perfect for this story.
The best part of the writing is the raw description of the events. Songmi recalls experiences from her childhood in vivid detail, both through the eyes of the child that she was and the woman she has become. The maltreatment she received by adults and the realization that North Korea was not the utopia that was described in her preschool class affected her young spirit profoundly. Additionally, I enjoyed the authors' tone. The writing itself was fluent and professionally edited, but I could still discern that the protagonist is a foreigner. This added an element of authenticity to the writing. At the end of the book, a very long list of acknowledgements further testifies to Songmi’s deep gratitude for everyone who had helped her. I really liked this part, and I sincerely hope that all those people will one day read her words. What a wonderful tribute!
The descriptions described above really made it a life-changing experience. Because of this book, I have spent many hours researching the influence of totalitarian governments on the lives of their citizens because the story Songmi narrates is just remarkable. The four or five other stories I have read because of hers are just heartbreaking. As good books do, this one has really ignited a curiosity about the topic.
At one point in the book, Songmi wondered if anyone would want to read her story. This was surprising to read, as most people who will read this cannot fathom the depravity and oppression that many North Koreans must endure. All high school government, psychology, and history students should read this book. I also recommend it to readers who are interested in the plight of refugees and those who draw inspiration from reading about the trials of others. Every person who reads this story will learn something from Songmi’s experiences. As noted in the book, you may have to read it twice to fully understand it; it’s that powerful.
--From the Online Book Club, July 2022
GenresMemoir
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2022
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4.60
77 ratings15 reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Bernardita González
3 reviews
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September 10, 2022
Review from Chile
This was a very fresh and honest account of a north korean refugee. I cried and laughed with her story. I hope to be able to meet her someday, just to tell her how much I admire her courage and grit! Such an inspiring young woman. Five Stars!
5 likes
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Soomin Kim
1 review
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January 9, 2023
a story to be told all over the world
i had to stop reading her story and take a break. it was impossible to keep reading it because it was so sad. this book made me ask lots of questions like why is the life so unfair?, is it meaningful to live a life?, what should we do to make a difference in north korea, and so on. they are not answered by her story but one thing is sure: she has not given up answering to them just like the ones reading her story.
4 likes
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Eunkoo Lee
1 review
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January 11, 2023
I saw the entire process of Songmi and Casey writing this book together. Songmi was very open in sharing her story despite revealing some embarrassing details about her life in North Korea. She also told her story to Casey in English, even though English is not her native language and she learned it recently. Her story is about North Korea, but it is really a lovely story about a mother and daughter who happened to be born in a terrible situation and overcoming that.
Casey was very senstive in making sure he accurately told Songmi's story. It was really impressive because he is an American with no connection to North Korea, but he has done so much to help North Korean refugees tell their stories in books and speeches. He helps North Korean refugees believe in themselves and helps build up their confidence.
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Horace Derwent
2,393 reviews227 followers
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Want to readNovember 22, 2022
I risked my life to ESCAPE from North Korea to eat 30 boiled eggs!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYZA4...
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Terry Walsh
6 reviews
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June 17, 2023
Recently I had the opportunity to meet Songmi Han and Casey Lartigue Jr. at a hearing on Capital Hill where Ms. Han addressed the group and described her experience in North Korea before she escaped to South Korea. Her story was so compelling that I bought her book. Her book was almost traumatic to read, as she goes in to much greater detail about the hardships and abuses she suffered. It is hard to fathom where she got the motivation to endure and survive, eating grass for survival, for example. Even as a very young child she had the stamina of a much older person, walking for hours to try to locate her mother, and later, walking three hours up a mountain to gather wood, which she would then carry back three hours to her aunt's house, where they barely fed her. Thankfully, her mother is able to arrange for her escape, which is at last successful.
Mr Lartigue has done a wonderful job helping Ms Han tell her story. One hopes that her story is spread far and wide so the world knows the reality of life in North Korea.
I hope that someday, Ms Han writes a sequel about her life in South Korea. It would also be interesting to know what contact, if any, she has with those relatives still in NK and what has become of them. Were any of them punished when Songmi's escape was discovered?
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Eben Appleton
2 reviews
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January 16, 2023
An inspiring story of a North Korean daughter's search for her mother...and herself
First time author Songmi Han has written an inspiring autobiography with Casey Lartigue Jr. titled "Greenlight to Freedom." This compelling, riveting story, is told through the eyes, memory and perspective of a young girl who lives during the famine in North Korea during the 1990's.
Songmi faces challenges, heartache, fears and disappointments when her mother that she loves deeply leaves her behind to search for food to feed her daughter.
Her resiliency, courage and determination and the risk she took when she set out to find her mother, warmed my heart and moved me in ways I can't explain.
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Janilyn Kocher
4,502 reviews97 followers
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May 9, 2023
A young woman’s story of growing up in North Korea and the. Escaping, due to her mother’s support and money.
I didn’t quite understand how her mother has been able to leave but it was much harder for the author to escape.
Interesting story.
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Shaun Kim
18 reviews1 follower
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July 16, 2023
Among all the NK books
Another NK book?
Very pleasant surprise!
With such depressing and impossible subjects, Han wrote it uniquely interesting way.
I couldn't put the book down until finishing it.
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Klemen Lipovšek
70 reviews
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April 29, 2023
This is an amazing work! Very brave and very honest.
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Zoreida Mendoza
3 reviews
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July 25, 2023
Touches your heart
Inspirational. What she went through and did to reunite with her mother. I admire how strong she was, and am so happy she found some inner peace.
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Annora
259 reviews11 followers
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February 3, 2024
I read whatever I can get my hands on when it comes to DPRK memoirs. Some I’ve just had to wait to buy because the library doesn’t have them. This is one of the ones I bought and it was worth it. I read straight through it in one sitting.
The story is obviously difficult for her to tell, and I admire the author for having the courage to speak up. There’s explicit details about troubling times, but you can tell there’s even more that is being left untold.
She survived impossible odds, despite losing some of those she loved. She is a success story, brave, and telling her story of a world so many of us barely even think about.
This is a memoir I would recommend for someone who isn’t familiar with North Korea to start with.
dprk memoir refugees-and-defectors
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♡ Nicole ♡ (ThroneOfSnark)
153 reviews3 followers
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May 9, 2023
An excellent memoir from Songmi. I don't know how I would function if I couldn't see my mom for so long. She is my everything and it was heartbreaking to see how Songmi had to live without her for so long. I was impressed at her resilience and how she was able to find her mom in these random places so many times as well.
I wish we knew what happened to her "Dad", I was torn when he was taken away... We never hear anything about him again and I can't help but think DPRK killed that man.
I am rooting for Songmi and her newfound life with her son! Also as a Girls' Generation fan, I am curious which song was her mom's ringtone lol. I really feel it must have been "Into The New World".
4-5-stars
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AnnMarie Bonanno
1 review
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June 6, 2023
No.Korea total destruction of human spirit
I felt thankful to not be born there and do sorry for those who are. What a frightful and wretched existence .thankful she made it out. Loved the suspense. But she’s broken. As all people born there are. They suffer every day thru are alive. The Book makes you think.
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Steve Bera
246 reviews3 followers
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December 19, 2024
Interesting read. Maybe the least sophisticated and informative book about N Korea defections, but this little girl tells such a moving and personal story it is interesting.
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Cathy Cabrices De DeCastro
40 reviews7 followers
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November 22, 2024
It reads easy but the subject is hard.
Great subject and book about a very relevant matter. Glad to know that the author is living and healing every day.
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