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I Escaped
I Escaped North Korea!: A North Korea Survival Story
Imagine if you were told where to live and work, that your country's leader was an all-powerful god, and that if a relative did something wrong, your whole family would be punished. That is life in North Korea. In our story, after tragedy steals 14-year-old Dae's parents away, he tries to escape to freedom. Experience the challenges and adventures through his eyes in this unforgettable story of hope.The Survival Series that celebrates the awesome history of us.Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature winner Ellie Crowe and bestselling children's author Scott Peters tell this gripping story about one young refugee's escape from the oppression of North Korea.14-year-old Dae has been taught that North Korea is the best place in the world. Yet the painfully skinny boy can't help wondering why all his family has to eat is watery porridge made from grass.At school, Dae and his friends bow before the giant portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, their clothes flapping around their bony limbs. Dae begins to question why the Great Leaders look so well fed.When Dae's beloved father is hauled away to a hard-labor camp, the young teen must fend for himself. Alone, things turn from bad to worse and Dae dreams of rebellion—of fleeing across the scary border into China to look for work. For how else can he help feed his family and pay the bribes to free his father? But can he survive the deadly crossing? Does he have what it takes to escape? Includes a map to help readers plot Dae's journey.This is the 1st children's book in the I Escaped Series about brave boys and girls who face real-world challenges and find ways to escape disaster. Sure to appeal to fans of New York Times Bestseller Lauren Tarshis's I Survived Series, A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park, Inside Out And Back Again by Thanhhà Lai, and Refugee by Alan Gratz.The short chapters make for easy wins, and Dae's gripping situation keeps even reluctant readers turning pages just to find out what's going to happen next.Great for kids book clubs and classrooms--a study guide is available at with a special fact section on North Korea that's sure to satisfy curious minds.An empowering must-read for today's turbulent times.Collect the whole I Escaped Series"a must for every reading list"Can Dae find freedom? Read it and find out.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2019
233 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Crowe
65 books14 followersEllie Crowe loves to read and to write and is the author of Surfer of the Century, The Life of Duke Kahanamoku,(Lee and Low NY 2008), Hardcore Inventing, Invent, Protect, Promote and Profit (Skyhorse Publishing, NY 2009), Hawaii, A Pictorial Celebration, (Sterling Publishing NY), Exploring Lost Hawaii, Places of Power, History, Mystery and Magic, (Island Heritage, Hawaii 2003), content featured on the History Channel and the Travel Channel, and Hoku the Stargazer, The Exciting Pirate Adventure, (Island Heritage, Honolulu, Hawaii 2009), Gatorlands, Harold and the Poopy Little Puppy, The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, I Escaped North Korea, I Escaped the World's Deadliest Shark Attack, I Escaped Amazon River Pirates.
Awards: 2008 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, 2008 Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Once Upon a World Award, Carter G. Woodson Award, Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2010/2011 selection, Bank Street College Books of the Year, The Bloomsbury Review Editors Favorite, Cleveland Public Library Distinguished Children’s Biography List, Texas Women’s University Librarians’ Choice 2008, Kiriyama Notable Books 2008, BookList Best Children’s Books 2007, Five awards for literary excellence in 2004 from the Hawaii Book publishers Association, The Kahili Award in Literary Arts in 2004, 2002 Hawaii Tourism Association Award for Excellence; Starred review from School Library Journal.
Awards: 2008 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, 2008 Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Once Upon a World Award, Carter G. Woodson Award, Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2010/2011 selection, Bank Street College Books of the Year, The Bloomsbury Review Editors Favorite, Cleveland Public Library Distinguished Children’s Biography List, Texas Women’s University Librarians’ Choice 2008, Kiriyama Notable Books 2008, BookList Best Children’s Books 2007, Five awards for literary excellence in 2004 from the Hawaii Book publishers Association, The Kahili Award in Literary Arts in 2004, 2002 Hawaii Tourism Association Award for Excellence; Starred review from School Library Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 8, 2019
Gripping, and heart wrenching
I really enjoyed this book. The authors do a wonderful job of putting the reader into Dae’s world and the perilous situations he finds himself in. The story is gripping and full of heart wrenching suspense. Great for young readers. Recommended.
I really enjoyed this book. The authors do a wonderful job of putting the reader into Dae’s world and the perilous situations he finds himself in. The story is gripping and full of heart wrenching suspense. Great for young readers. Recommended.
July 17, 2024
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December 14, 2018
Just finished it! Love it but at the same time my heart is broken! I will write a full review within the next few days.
EDIT: Here is is the full review!
First off all I would like to thank the authors for giving me this copy so that I would bring you my opinion, and a special thanks to Ellie with whom I have exchanged emails.
"What a book...! I'm writing this right after I finished reading the book and I am completely amazed by what I just read.
In this book we are told the story of Dae, a 14-year-old boy who is literally starving to death in North Korea. Everything is controlled in this country, each step is monitored by their neighbors or colleagues. There are sessions of self-criticism where, in addition to having to list some disregard for some law, they also have to point a finger at their colleagues and denounce them. That is, imagine living in a world where there is no one you can trust, because the person will have to blame you sooner or later to survive.
Imagine a country were not taking your feces to school, to fertilize the fields, is a disrespect for the law!
Dae's father, tired of not being able to feed his family, tries to get around the situation, but is arrested for attempted theft. Then the boy's mother leaves town to find a way to get her husband out of jail. So Dae is alone and tries to survive on his own. When the opportunity to cross the border into China arises, Dae sees an opportunity to escape and be free. And that's when the story of Dae's escape begins!
What struck me the most was this young man's strength and courage throughout the story. Even in the face of adversity Dae managed to stay positive all the time.
The country lives completely closed in on itself, its Leaders are Gods on Earth and it is taught that the Americans and South Koreans are the devil and the cause of all the problems of North Korea.
This book reminded me of The Hunger Games and Snow's government. It reminded me of Gilead of "A Handmaid's Tale" and reminded me of all the stories I've read about the atmosphere of terror that has been experienced in the World Wars and which are more commonly spoken than these cases that are occurring right now in North Korea (and in other countries).
After all it seems like some dystopians books aren't so dystopian, right? The stories described in them are really happening on the other side of the world.
(...)
Continue reading the review on my blog: http://momentosdeataraxia.blogspot.co...
EDIT: Here is is the full review!
First off all I would like to thank the authors for giving me this copy so that I would bring you my opinion, and a special thanks to Ellie with whom I have exchanged emails.
"What a book...! I'm writing this right after I finished reading the book and I am completely amazed by what I just read.
In this book we are told the story of Dae, a 14-year-old boy who is literally starving to death in North Korea. Everything is controlled in this country, each step is monitored by their neighbors or colleagues. There are sessions of self-criticism where, in addition to having to list some disregard for some law, they also have to point a finger at their colleagues and denounce them. That is, imagine living in a world where there is no one you can trust, because the person will have to blame you sooner or later to survive.
Imagine a country were not taking your feces to school, to fertilize the fields, is a disrespect for the law!
Dae's father, tired of not being able to feed his family, tries to get around the situation, but is arrested for attempted theft. Then the boy's mother leaves town to find a way to get her husband out of jail. So Dae is alone and tries to survive on his own. When the opportunity to cross the border into China arises, Dae sees an opportunity to escape and be free. And that's when the story of Dae's escape begins!
What struck me the most was this young man's strength and courage throughout the story. Even in the face of adversity Dae managed to stay positive all the time.
The country lives completely closed in on itself, its Leaders are Gods on Earth and it is taught that the Americans and South Koreans are the devil and the cause of all the problems of North Korea.
This book reminded me of The Hunger Games and Snow's government. It reminded me of Gilead of "A Handmaid's Tale" and reminded me of all the stories I've read about the atmosphere of terror that has been experienced in the World Wars and which are more commonly spoken than these cases that are occurring right now in North Korea (and in other countries).
After all it seems like some dystopians books aren't so dystopian, right? The stories described in them are really happening on the other side of the world.
(...)
Continue reading the review on my blog: http://momentosdeataraxia.blogspot.co...
December 19, 2018
I'm usually pretty analytic in my reviews, explaining as objectively as I can why this thing worked or that thing didn't. I feel reluctant to do that with this little gem, not only because virtually everything works, but also because I feel that such a process would be too prosaic for what is a truly magnificent narrative.
It's difficult for me to express how well-written this book is, because its merits transcend the confines of the text. Everything about I Escaped North Korea! happens on a personal level, and by that I mean that the story is incredibly relatable - a veritable achievement, considering its context.
For children reading it, the book will be a clear departure from the hopeless mediocrity that surrounds them. For their parents, it will be a nostalgic literary reminder of a time where children's books respected their audience, and didn't try to protect them from imaginary evils - while the very real evils were visible for all to see.
And perhaps this is the novel's best quality: its amazing ability to approach the raw, cruel reality of our world in a way that is true and yet still appropriate for a child. As another reviewer mentioned, this is actually an important book to read even as an adult.
"Problems" such as slow internet or your phone case developing a crack are exposed in all their ridiculousness when you read about orphans stealing coal from a train to sell for food, or about begging strangers for the last drop of their soup. Not to mention, coming face to face with soldiers at the border, begging them to allow you to cross, knowing that certain death awaits behind you. Rings a bell?
It's difficult for me to express how well-written this book is, because its merits transcend the confines of the text. Everything about I Escaped North Korea! happens on a personal level, and by that I mean that the story is incredibly relatable - a veritable achievement, considering its context.
For children reading it, the book will be a clear departure from the hopeless mediocrity that surrounds them. For their parents, it will be a nostalgic literary reminder of a time where children's books respected their audience, and didn't try to protect them from imaginary evils - while the very real evils were visible for all to see.
And perhaps this is the novel's best quality: its amazing ability to approach the raw, cruel reality of our world in a way that is true and yet still appropriate for a child. As another reviewer mentioned, this is actually an important book to read even as an adult.
"Problems" such as slow internet or your phone case developing a crack are exposed in all their ridiculousness when you read about orphans stealing coal from a train to sell for food, or about begging strangers for the last drop of their soup. Not to mention, coming face to face with soldiers at the border, begging them to allow you to cross, knowing that certain death awaits behind you. Rings a bell?
January 10, 2019
Dae-hyun is starving. The bones in his face and body are sharply defined and his legs are like sticks. His father has been arrested, and his mother has gone to try to get him released. And if a single person decides to inform on them, he will lose the few possessions he has left. The garbage is picked-over, so he fills his stomach with grass. But just across the river in China, the smell of noodles wafts across to where Dae is--the North Korean side of the border.
Appropriate for middle-grade through adult, I Escaped North Korea! Is a fast-paced read, with three-dimensional characters and real-world implications. Highly recommended.
Appropriate for middle-grade through adult, I Escaped North Korea! Is a fast-paced read, with three-dimensional characters and real-world implications. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2019
Young Dae-hyun is a good boy. After years of “education”, he venerates the Great and Dear Leaders. He confesses to little sins in class. He believes the South Koreans are evil and that honour and obedience are paramount. But his family is pinch-faced and starving, and when his father is arrested for trying to feed them, Dae faces a struggle for survival.
This is a thrilling and educational story.
I was offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Fuller critique here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
This is a thrilling and educational story.
I was offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Fuller critique here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
March 16, 2019
I Escaped North Korea! is a well-written book about the successful escape attempt of a North Korean boy, Dae, who seeked to free himself from the extreme hardships he experienced in his country. The story details how Dae flee across the frozen Yalu River into China and then to South Korea in hope of a better life. Although the story is fictional, it is written based on true conditions in North Korea. I particularly appreciate the authors including some fascinating facts at the end of the book. Such information adds even more educational value to the already interesting and enlightening story!
May 1, 2024
Wow, this is really an amazing book.
It's easy enough to read for children to understand and to begin learning what is happening in North Korea, but personal enough for an adult to read and emphasise with.
You really feel for the main character and root for him. It's heartbreaking to hear the conditions in NK.
Here are some quotes;
📕Dead boys walking, that's what he and Ji-ho were. But not for much longer. At last, they had a plan. Soon, they'd have food. If they survived the crossing.
📕North Korean border guards shot to kill. But he had no choice. He was all alone. His father had been arrested. His mother had disappeared. And he was starving. Every day in his village, more and more people died of starvation.
📕Their teachers had told them all about the evil Americans, who were as bad as the South Koreans. They were the enemies and the cause of all of North Korea's problems.
📕Ms. Chung began the math lesson. "If you kill one Yankee devil and your comrade kills two," she said, "how many dead Yankee devils do you have?"
"Not enough!" Ji-ho shouted.
📕He'd failed to bring poop to school. They fertilized the school soybean crop with poop. Dae hadn't brought his family's share.
📕Several months ago, he'd been forced to watch a man's execution. Ms. Chung had taken the whole class. He'd looked at the ground, though. He hadn't wanted to see.
📕Almost 30,000 North Korean refugees have made the dangerous journey to South Korea. The escape route Dae followed has been shut down, forcing refugees to find other ways out. People continue to flee in hopes of a better life.
It's easy enough to read for children to understand and to begin learning what is happening in North Korea, but personal enough for an adult to read and emphasise with.
You really feel for the main character and root for him. It's heartbreaking to hear the conditions in NK.
Here are some quotes;
📕Dead boys walking, that's what he and Ji-ho were. But not for much longer. At last, they had a plan. Soon, they'd have food. If they survived the crossing.
📕North Korean border guards shot to kill. But he had no choice. He was all alone. His father had been arrested. His mother had disappeared. And he was starving. Every day in his village, more and more people died of starvation.
📕Their teachers had told them all about the evil Americans, who were as bad as the South Koreans. They were the enemies and the cause of all of North Korea's problems.
📕Ms. Chung began the math lesson. "If you kill one Yankee devil and your comrade kills two," she said, "how many dead Yankee devils do you have?"
"Not enough!" Ji-ho shouted.
📕He'd failed to bring poop to school. They fertilized the school soybean crop with poop. Dae hadn't brought his family's share.
📕Several months ago, he'd been forced to watch a man's execution. Ms. Chung had taken the whole class. He'd looked at the ground, though. He hadn't wanted to see.
📕Almost 30,000 North Korean refugees have made the dangerous journey to South Korea. The escape route Dae followed has been shut down, forcing refugees to find other ways out. People continue to flee in hopes of a better life.
May 13, 2025
My kids gave this 5 🌟 so that's what I'm recording. Personally, I'd give it a solid 4, and I thought the book was well executed and engaging.
I did really appreciate a lot of things about this book. First and foremost, the accuracy was great, even if it was a heavier topic for a kid's book. I happened to be reading an additional non-fiction book on North Korea simultaneously, and the similarities were spot on. I was able to elaborate and expand thanks to the book I was reading on the side, and this novel followed real accounts and experiences of many North Korean defectors. There were so many opportunities for discussion, which is my favorite way to solidify my children's learning.
The only thing that left me wanting was the character development. I didn't feel particularly partial to any of the characters- which might be by design as most of impoverished North Koreans have to develop some level of detachment for survival. My kids didn't seem encumbered by the lack of character depth; they moreover probably appreciated the brevity and fast-moving storyline.
I did really appreciate a lot of things about this book. First and foremost, the accuracy was great, even if it was a heavier topic for a kid's book. I happened to be reading an additional non-fiction book on North Korea simultaneously, and the similarities were spot on. I was able to elaborate and expand thanks to the book I was reading on the side, and this novel followed real accounts and experiences of many North Korean defectors. There were so many opportunities for discussion, which is my favorite way to solidify my children's learning.
The only thing that left me wanting was the character development. I didn't feel particularly partial to any of the characters- which might be by design as most of impoverished North Koreans have to develop some level of detachment for survival. My kids didn't seem encumbered by the lack of character depth; they moreover probably appreciated the brevity and fast-moving storyline.
June 2, 2020
The book called "I escaped North Korea", was very interesting and will easily hook you to the book. The book is full of adventure and I ensure you that the people who hate reading will love it too. I really liked the part where the officer stopped the North Korean migrant bus, and how the Si- mo and Dae persuaded the officer to take them to South Korea and not snitch on the behind their backs. My least favourite part was when Dae had to go to the borders and sell drugs to a Chinese buyer. The boy had to go because the old owner would have got beaten up. The punishment for children is much lesser. This child labour and I hate hit. Over all the was amazing and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
June 14, 2020
Book for children aged 10 years+. Gives a crisp insight into the terrible issues that plague North Korea's common people. The narrative doesn't dwell too much on the situations or what the characters feel deep inside which I guess makes it easier for a young reader to move on without getting too caught up with all that's going on. I thought it was well written for the targeted age group.
May 27, 2022
This realistic fiction novel was a quick read. The account portrayed the suffering of the North Korean people with honesty, but was careful to not overburden young readers with too many graphic details. Fans of the I Survived series would enjoy this.
October 24, 2024
I read this with my kiddos. I enjoyed this story. It did a great job telling about the escape of North Korea. I like it much more than the I survived series for sure. I can’t wait to read another one.
January 12, 2024
Wonderful simple story for young children to grasp the cruel reality many North Koreans face.
May 12, 2025
Cool facts inside
October 31, 2023
Middle grade fiction - I wish this book gave more information on life in North Korea for kids to understand why it was so important he left. It was missing a lot of details that I feel would have made me feel for the characters more.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews