Tina Cho
Author of The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
Works by Tina Cho
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Agent
- Adria Goetz
Members
Reviews
With raw moments, which pull at the heart strings, these pages raise awareness with a glimpse of the situation North Koreans face, especially when trying to flee, and keep it pretty age appropriate.
This book is told from two points of view, Yunho's and Myunghee's. Yunho's grandmother escaped into China a couple years before, leaving him with his mother and the promise that she'd send for him as soon as possible...and he's waiting for this day. Myunghee, on the other hand, lives with her show more grandmother and helps however she can to make ends meet until. Both suffer a horrible moments, and both finally attempt to flee—each separately and unaware of the other. When fate finally brings them together, it appears that things might get better, but it's only the beginning of a very long and harsh journey.
Like the legs of the journey, the read is broken down into sections. The first covers their very separate lives in North Korea as both fight to help their small families keep food on the table. The next parts break according to the country they find themselves in, China being the longest by far. This helps to keep the steps clear as the adventure and landscape might get a bit blurred in the tension. The switch between the characters is always clear and handled nicely as the reader gets to see both of their developments and struggles. Even when together, their thoughts aren't always shared and show the different aspects individuals face.
The illustrations are detailed and bring across the scenes and cultures nicely. They also incorporate enough artistic symbolism to strengthen certain emotions and atmosphere at the right time. These, along with the text, are kept on the smaller side, not overly so but a little tighter than I've seen in many graphic novels for this age group. The smaller print, while totally okay, required more concentration and brings down the ease of the read. But this read is anything but 'easy' when the theme is considered.
The author does a good job and laying some of the issues facing North Koreans bare (well, as nicely as my little knowledge is aware of) and draws in plenty of sympathy as the two characters face one very dangerous situation after the next. There is an execution of a loved one, harsh jail situations, child trafficking, and loss of loved ones. While these are kept it in a range appropriate for the age group, it also will be a bit much for more sensitive readers. For this reason, I'd suggest the read first for ages 10 and over.
This is a well-done book which awakens awareness for the struggles North Koreans face and what they might face when they try to flee. I do recommend this not only for individuals wanting to learn more about the topic but also for classroom, group, and homeschoolers. The entire thing ends off with a few pages of text, which deepen the theme and give more explanations. show less
This book is told from two points of view, Yunho's and Myunghee's. Yunho's grandmother escaped into China a couple years before, leaving him with his mother and the promise that she'd send for him as soon as possible...and he's waiting for this day. Myunghee, on the other hand, lives with her show more grandmother and helps however she can to make ends meet until. Both suffer a horrible moments, and both finally attempt to flee—each separately and unaware of the other. When fate finally brings them together, it appears that things might get better, but it's only the beginning of a very long and harsh journey.
Like the legs of the journey, the read is broken down into sections. The first covers their very separate lives in North Korea as both fight to help their small families keep food on the table. The next parts break according to the country they find themselves in, China being the longest by far. This helps to keep the steps clear as the adventure and landscape might get a bit blurred in the tension. The switch between the characters is always clear and handled nicely as the reader gets to see both of their developments and struggles. Even when together, their thoughts aren't always shared and show the different aspects individuals face.
The illustrations are detailed and bring across the scenes and cultures nicely. They also incorporate enough artistic symbolism to strengthen certain emotions and atmosphere at the right time. These, along with the text, are kept on the smaller side, not overly so but a little tighter than I've seen in many graphic novels for this age group. The smaller print, while totally okay, required more concentration and brings down the ease of the read. But this read is anything but 'easy' when the theme is considered.
The author does a good job and laying some of the issues facing North Koreans bare (well, as nicely as my little knowledge is aware of) and draws in plenty of sympathy as the two characters face one very dangerous situation after the next. There is an execution of a loved one, harsh jail situations, child trafficking, and loss of loved ones. While these are kept it in a range appropriate for the age group, it also will be a bit much for more sensitive readers. For this reason, I'd suggest the read first for ages 10 and over.
This is a well-done book which awakens awareness for the struggles North Koreans face and what they might face when they try to flee. I do recommend this not only for individuals wanting to learn more about the topic but also for classroom, group, and homeschoolers. The entire thing ends off with a few pages of text, which deepen the theme and give more explanations. show less
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade graphic novel written in verse, telling the story of two tweens from North Korea and their planned escape to a brighter future. I wanted to like this far more than I did, but a few of the writing choices didn’t work for me. The illustrations are stunning. The book has some dark content, so it would be better if adults read and evaluate its suitability for their kids before handing it over.
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Plot Preview:
A book based on two young children fending for themselves in the totalitarian regime of North Korea has to have tremendous merit. Through this graphic novel, we get a glimpse of how rigid the governmental regulations are, how tough it is for the less-fortunate citizens of the country to survive, and how little the residents can trust anyone around them for fear of being reported, or worse, killed.
Most of us don’t know much about life in that closed dictatorship, so this book offers a gritty look at the situation there. The plot captures the restrictive atmosphere and the fear of the people perfectly. It also depicts the citizens’ external subservience to the regime’s dictates, even if they believe something else within. It is easy for us outsiders to question why these people are blind to their woes and why they don’t protest or overthrow the dictators, but only if we ourselves were in that position would we be able to accept that sometimes, surviving means compromising on many accounts, including rebellious tendencies and ethics. If nothing else, the story generates a sense of gratitude for our privileged life, and makes us appreciative of the freedom we take for granted.
While opting for this graphic novel, I hadn’t realised that it was written in verse. I am not comfortable with poetry in any form, so I read the text as ordinary prose and it worked well enough for me. I did see glimpses of a poetic writing style, with some words strung together in a harmonious repetition to deliver a greater impact. Beyond this, I have no comment to make on the poetic merit of this work. That said, the ‘verse’ factor might work against the book; not many readers, regardless of age group, readily opt for books written in verse.
The story journeys through five countries, just like our main characters do. The first part, set in North Korea, is the lengthiest and the most impactful. The middle three sections (covering China, Laos, and Thailand) are good but not extensive. The plot feels somewhat rushed here. The final section is based in the USA, the weakest subset of the book. I am familiar with Southeast Asia, so it was easy for me to keep track of the characters’ escape through multiple countries. But to western readers, including a map might have been helpful.
The illustrations are stunning, as can be seen from that gorgeous cover art. The graphics seem to be shaded in a kind of watercolour effect, so the art appears as fluid as the verses. The expressions on the characters’ faces is especially praise-worthy; we can actually feel their emotional vulnerability in many of the panels.
A special note at the end provides details on North Korean history – this is brilliant.
While the core plot definitely worked for me, some of the writing decisions left me dissatisfied.
- I didn’t expect to see strong Christian content in this book. Having a pastor as one of the rescuers meant that some lines were deeply rooted in belief, which was fine. But going much beyond those scenes to establish the power of faith in the Christian God as being essential in their escape? I don’t know how to feel about that. In such a grounded story, adding the faith component wasn’t necessary, even if some refugees would certainly lean on faith to guide them to safety. Considering the universality of the story, I think the book should have focussed more on the practical resilience of the characters than on their spiritual enlightenment. Alternatively, the blurb should have clearly indicated the faith-based content so that readers can take a call with complete information. (Note: Practising Christian here. So no, this feedback has nothing to do with my own faith.)
- There are a few scary sequences that might be triggering to sensitive younger readers. I understand that this is based in reality, but a certain dilution of the extreme events such as the public execution would have been better.
- Having two POVs in first person is not a great idea for middle-grade books, especially when each perspective lasts barely a couple of pages. The frequent swap in perspective can get confusing.
- There is a certain idealisation of asylum life in the USA. The characters seem to get an almost instant resolution for all their needs there, and they don’t face any racial or other discrimination. It is too smooth to be believable. This especially jars when we remember that, though the story is set in 2013, the book is coming out in 2024, and everyone knows what the dominant rhetoric of the upcoming US president is.
All in all, I did love the idea behind this story, and I learnt a lot of life in North Korea. I just wish the issues mentioned above had been handled better. Regardless, this is a great option for anyone wanting an OwnVoices middle-grade option about one of the most restrictive countries in the world. Do note that the content gets quite intense at times. Parents/guardians/teachers, please read this book first and judge its suitability for the little ones in your life.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAlley for providing the DRC of “The Other Side of Tomorrow” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
2013, North Korea. Yunho is a shyshow more
ten-year-old who stays alone with his grandmother after his mother escaped across the border to China to earn money and improve their circumstances. She had promised to send for Yunho as soon as possible, but it has been almost two years now with no update. Yunho is good at finding scrap metal, which he sells to the government in exchange for some much-needed money.
Eleven-year-old Myunghee is an independent school dropout who scavenges the mountainside for wild roots and vegetables, and trades them in the market. She lived with her ailing grandmother, but after the latter’s death, Myunghee is all alone.
Circumstances throw Yunho and Myunghee together, first at an horrifying public event, and then as part of a group with a common dream – escape. With the help of a pastor and some local agents, the group travels through four countries until they can apply for asylum. The journey is fraught with danger, but is it better to chance death while running towards a brighter future, or to stay in a country where there is no future?
The story is written in the alternating first-person perspectives of the two kids.
A book based on two young children fending for themselves in the totalitarian regime of North Korea has to have tremendous merit. Through this graphic novel, we get a glimpse of how rigid the governmental regulations are, how tough it is for the less-fortunate citizens of the country to survive, and how little the residents can trust anyone around them for fear of being reported, or worse, killed.
Most of us don’t know much about life in that closed dictatorship, so this book offers a gritty look at the situation there. The plot captures the restrictive atmosphere and the fear of the people perfectly. It also depicts the citizens’ external subservience to the regime’s dictates, even if they believe something else within. It is easy for us outsiders to question why these people are blind to their woes and why they don’t protest or overthrow the dictators, but only if we ourselves were in that position would we be able to accept that sometimes, surviving means compromising on many accounts, including rebellious tendencies and ethics. If nothing else, the story generates a sense of gratitude for our privileged life, and makes us appreciative of the freedom we take for granted.
While opting for this graphic novel, I hadn’t realised that it was written in verse. I am not comfortable with poetry in any form, so I read the text as ordinary prose and it worked well enough for me. I did see glimpses of a poetic writing style, with some words strung together in a harmonious repetition to deliver a greater impact. Beyond this, I have no comment to make on the poetic merit of this work. That said, the ‘verse’ factor might work against the book; not many readers, regardless of age group, readily opt for books written in verse.
The story journeys through five countries, just like our main characters do. The first part, set in North Korea, is the lengthiest and the most impactful. The middle three sections (covering China, Laos, and Thailand) are good but not extensive. The plot feels somewhat rushed here. The final section is based in the USA, the weakest subset of the book. I am familiar with Southeast Asia, so it was easy for me to keep track of the characters’ escape through multiple countries. But to western readers, including a map might have been helpful.
The illustrations are stunning, as can be seen from that gorgeous cover art. The graphics seem to be shaded in a kind of watercolour effect, so the art appears as fluid as the verses. The expressions on the characters’ faces is especially praise-worthy; we can actually feel their emotional vulnerability in many of the panels.
A special note at the end provides details on North Korean history – this is brilliant.
While the core plot definitely worked for me, some of the writing decisions left me dissatisfied.
- I didn’t expect to see strong Christian content in this book. Having a pastor as one of the rescuers meant that some lines were deeply rooted in belief, which was fine. But going much beyond those scenes to establish the power of faith in the Christian God as being essential in their escape? I don’t know how to feel about that. In such a grounded story, adding the faith component wasn’t necessary, even if some refugees would certainly lean on faith to guide them to safety. Considering the universality of the story, I think the book should have focussed more on the practical resilience of the characters than on their spiritual enlightenment. Alternatively, the blurb should have clearly indicated the faith-based content so that readers can take a call with complete information. (Note: Practising Christian here. So no, this feedback has nothing to do with my own faith.)
- There are a few scary sequences that might be triggering to sensitive younger readers. I understand that this is based in reality, but a certain dilution of the extreme events such as the public execution would have been better.
- Having two POVs in first person is not a great idea for middle-grade books, especially when each perspective lasts barely a couple of pages. The frequent swap in perspective can get confusing.
- There is a certain idealisation of asylum life in the USA. The characters seem to get an almost instant resolution for all their needs there, and they don’t face any racial or other discrimination. It is too smooth to be believable. This especially jars when we remember that, though the story is set in 2013, the book is coming out in 2024, and everyone knows what the dominant rhetoric of the upcoming US president is.
All in all, I did love the idea behind this story, and I learnt a lot of life in North Korea. I just wish the issues mentioned above had been handled better. Regardless, this is a great option for anyone wanting an OwnVoices middle-grade option about one of the most restrictive countries in the world. Do note that the content gets quite intense at times. Parents/guardians/teachers, please read this book first and judge its suitability for the little ones in your life.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAlley for providing the DRC of “The Other Side of Tomorrow” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
What a beautiful picture book! The vibrant illustrations are swimming with colors and details that make it feel like the reader is under the water. The engaging story can be read three ways. The youngest readers will enjoy "reading" the pictures. Older readers can enjoy the charming narrative, and the oldest readers can go through and read the amazing facts sprinkled on each page. I loved the Bible verses focused on God's creation that are included on every spread, so I guess the book could show more also be read via the Bible verses! There is an ocean of things to love in God's Little Oceanographer. show less
This was such a beautiful book. How can you not fall in love with it just looking at the cover?
Dayeon is visiting her grandmother and wishes she could be a haenyeo mermaid, a diver, like her. But she had a frightening experience last summer and now she's scared of the ocean. With her grandmother's gentle encouragement and lots of practice, she slowly returns to the sea. While her grandmother dives deep, Dayeon explores in the shallows and slowly begins to lose her fear. Eventually, she is show more able to dive deep and even though she is still frightened, with the support of her grandmother and the other haenyeo, she knows the ocean is now her home as well.
Back matter explains the history of the haenyeo tradition and how it is honored today. It's a beautiful picture of camaraderie among the women and respect for the natural resources they need.
The story reflects that beauty in its stunning lines and colors, showing the ocean alive with light and movement. Purples, blues, oranges, and yellows swirl across the page, with birds flying overhead and sea creatures flying through the waves below.
Verdict: This lovely work will appeal to a large number of children, from preschool storytimes about the ocean, swimming, and handling fears, to older elementary children learning about other cultures and traditions. A must-have addition to any library.
ISBN: 9781984814869; Published August 2020 by Kokila; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library show less
Dayeon is visiting her grandmother and wishes she could be a haenyeo mermaid, a diver, like her. But she had a frightening experience last summer and now she's scared of the ocean. With her grandmother's gentle encouragement and lots of practice, she slowly returns to the sea. While her grandmother dives deep, Dayeon explores in the shallows and slowly begins to lose her fear. Eventually, she is show more able to dive deep and even though she is still frightened, with the support of her grandmother and the other haenyeo, she knows the ocean is now her home as well.
Back matter explains the history of the haenyeo tradition and how it is honored today. It's a beautiful picture of camaraderie among the women and respect for the natural resources they need.
The story reflects that beauty in its stunning lines and colors, showing the ocean alive with light and movement. Purples, blues, oranges, and yellows swirl across the page, with birds flying overhead and sea creatures flying through the waves below.
Verdict: This lovely work will appeal to a large number of children, from preschool storytimes about the ocean, swimming, and handling fears, to older elementary children learning about other cultures and traditions. A must-have addition to any library.
ISBN: 9781984814869; Published August 2020 by Kokila; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 15
- Members
- 409
- Popularity
- #59,483
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 18
- ISBNs
- 26
- Languages
- 2