Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Year of Impossible Goodbyes
by Sook Nyul Choi

As with "So Far From the Bamboo Grove", reading this book leaves me feeling astonished about the resiliency of children and families experiencing such immense trauma. This book tells the story of 10 year old Sookan and her family, as they endure the Japanese occupation in Korea, followed by the Communist Russian control. Remarkably, Sookan and her younger brother make the incredible journey to safety in South Korea.

I have never been particularly good at remembering historical events, and I am somewhat embarrassed to admit how little I know about World War II and the events surrounding this conflict. Reading this novel, as well as "So Far From the Bamboo Grove," has helped me to gain a much better understanding of some of these events. I think that although this book is troubling and painful, reading it truly helps to gain a more deeper understanding of war and the consequences of war on families.