Echoes of the White Giraffe

Year of Impossible Goodbyes #2

by Sook Nyul Choi

In this sequel to Year of Impossible Goodbyes, the unforgettable heroine, Sookan, is now a refugee in Pusan, South Korea, where she strives to make her world normal again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Asia, Childrens, 20th Century

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

From the days of her childhood, Sook Nyul Choi wanted to be a writer. The first stories, poems, and articles she wrote were in Korean, her first language. Later, after teaching for many years in New York City schools, she began to write in English.

Sook Nyul Choi writes both for children and for young adults. Her own experiences in Korea help to shape her books. One of her main goals is to help young Americans learn about the culture and history of Korea.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating sequel to my mind, which further's Sookan's journey into the uncertain South Korea, teen years, and attempts at creating normalcy. Always a pleasure to get a taste into another culture's history through the eyes of an intriguing character.

[Nancy Bielski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad there was a follow up to Year of Impossible Goodbyes! It wasn't as good, but, as I said, it was nice to know what happened to the family.

[Bertram E2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The protaganist of this book, a little girl, is a refugee of the Korean war. She was living with her family in Seoul before the war started. Then one day, planes bombed the city of Seoul and they were forced to leave her house and move to another place. The family got seperated when they were trying to escape, the girl was with her brother and her mom, but her dad and her three brothers were nowhere to be seen, so they escaped by themselves to the city of Pusan, which is located in the Southern side of Korea. The book is similar to ALWTW in a way that both of the protaganist was a refugee of a civil war, and both of them got sperated from their families when they were trying to escape.

[Josie Derstine · Rating 2 out of 5]

- The book is written in first person by the character Sookan, who is a 15-year-old refugee in South Korea. She and her family fled from her hometown of Seoul when it started to be bombed and invaded because of the war. She was separated from half of her family but had her mother and younger brother with her in their refugee camp in Pusan. Throughout the book, she describes the change of lifestyle she had to adapt to and her thoughts and feelings through these difficult times. In this new area she builds and attends a new schoolhouse, joins the church choir, helps take care of her family, and even meets a boy she is very interested in. In her culture, it is not allowed for girls and boys to even have a conversation without a certain reason to. However, her and Junho connected by singing together in choir and couldn't stay away from each other after that. He had come to find her house, left her secret letters, and even asked to take a photo in secret that they could both keep forever. Sookan was excited by the boy but she also knew that she would eventually be going back to Seoul, where her life would be completely different once again. She struggles to stay positive but finds hope in her new friend and the memories of a singing poet who used to sing for her village but had passed away. In the end of the book, the war is ended in an agreement to keep the north and south divided. Sookan and her family travel back home and find their old home mostly still standing. Her three other brothers reunited with them there, but they also received the news that their father was dead. After some time, Junho shows up at her house to see her. They talk about their plans, him becoming a priest and her going to study in the United States. After this, they don't get to see each other again before going their separate ways but they both know that they will be friends forever. Finally, Sookan passes the tests required to move to the United States and she packs up and gets on her flight. She is nervous and scared for the future, but she also knows that it is her calling and chooses to follow her heart.
- Culture in South Korea is different than American culture in multiple ways. People there appreciate school and education because it is not something everyone has access to, especially during war times. In America, many more people have the opportunity to go to school. Also, boys and girls are not permitted to visit each other unless they are engaged, and it is looked down upon for them to try to have conversations. In our culture, it is fine for everyone to talk and be friends. Finally, it is typical for the kids to take on the jobs of their parents in order for society to flow smoothly. In America, this sometimes happens but a lot of the time, individuals get to decide on their own career.
- Sook Nyul Choi wrote this book to portray that the people that endure tough war times are strong enough to hold their lives and traditions together. Throughout the book, various characters would face challenge after challenge and still have hope for the future. For example, when Sookan’s friend Bokhi received news that her parents had died, she was upset but continued to come to school to learn (page 42). In the end of the book, she was reunited with her cousins and lived with their family. Although her parents had passed, she eventually found happiness in taking care of her younger cousins.
- The theme of the text is to follow your heart. From the beginning to the end of the book, Sookan knew that she wanted to study enough that she could go to college in the United States. Even through the war had slowed down her path to education, she still continued to strive for her goal by helping build a new school then studying in it. By the end, she had passes her tests and was on her way to America (page 137).
- I would not recommend this text because the plot is not very interesting. The most tragic thing that happens to Sookan is her father dying and her secret relationship with Juhno. However, even these parts are written in a way that is not very intense or exciting. The book is pretty predictable overall, so I would not recommend it to anyone who enjoys plot twists and excitement (like most people do).

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
The first half of this book was so interesting to me and then it just sort of died into boringness. My sons, whom I read this to (who are 13 and 11) weren't into the book most of the time. What a bummer. I have to say, the title of the book's point did not really flow the whole way through at all, even though they tried their best to wrap it back around to it at the end there.

Sookan is a refugee within her own country of Korea. She is living in the mountains of Pusan and has to climb up and down the mountain for an hour a day in order to go to her choir, schooling, or into town. There is a voice who wakes them all in the mornings that brings comfort to her.

Sookan makes a couple friends and has an old friend from home she is able to talk to still, which she loves. One new friend is a young man who sings in choir with her. She misses her home but keeps thinking of the craziness of the war and when they left. The people of Pusan have no knowledge of what hardships they had to go through.

[Catherine Petrini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in Sook Nyul Choi 's semi-autobiographical trilogy is just as engrossing as the first. Sookan and her mother and younger brother have escaped North Korea and are living as refugees in the South, crowded into a plywood shack in a refugee settlement, desperate for word of her father and older brothers. Still, she sings in a choir, attends school, and spends time with friends, including a handsome boy who makes her want to ignore her society's strict rules about boys and girls keeping their distance from one another. But all along, she knows that this is only temporary; someday, the will be able to go home and be reunited with the rest of the family. Won't they? A compelling read about a place and time that may be unfamiliar to American readers.

[Xin Ru Toh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially thrown off by the fact that this sequel seemed to skip an entire segment of Sookan's life, as we last saw her entering Seoul, but this book opened with her as a refugee in Pusan. Nonetheless, I later realised that this was an intentional choice, as the book used flashbacks to her time in Seoul in order to draw parallels or contrasts. This book focused on the relationships Sookan formed with other refugees as well as the locals - in particular, a forbidden semi-romantic relationship that is frowned upon in Korea's conservative society. This was a muted story with not much happening in the way of a plot, but was still an interesting sequel good for young readers who are interested in historical fiction.

[Grace (은혜) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all, but not as good as the first one.
I didn’t understand the lack of continuity from the first book but it grew on me and I liked that it could be read as a stand alone novel.
The plot is simple, which didn’t bother me too much, I rather enjoyed the change of pace from many books I’ve been reading. Lol. But the flow of conversation is a bit odd and too informative at times to feel like a genuine conversation between two characters.

The subtle (??) Romance was eh but I’m not really into romance books and it was innocent so it didn’t put me off.
It is a children’s novel and I think suits well for it.

[Melissa Hua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historically based lit at its best

As a sequel to Year of Impossible Goodbyes this book follows Sookan and her family through the hardships of one war after another. Great read for middle school aged kids who want to understand the struggles of Koreans post World War II. The Gathering of Pearls is the third book in this trilogy.

[Mickeymouse1986 · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Echoes of the White Giraffe' by Sook Nyul Choi is the second book of the American Korean author which seems to be kind of biographical in a way. The book is a little bit of a cheese love story not really to my liking to be very honest. I didn't like the book so much also due to the fact that it is sometimes very poetic but without any depth.

[Sarah Bowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this as much as Year of Impossible Goodbyes. I did not like how focused on her relationships this book was. Plus she did a lot of sneaking without much consequence and the whole book just felt off to me.

CC: hiding things from parent, family separation, death of a parent, prejudice against refugees

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a sequel. Reading about the Japanese occupation, then the Russian occupation, then the Korean War, all through the eyes of a young girl was moving. I cried during reading this book. So much hardship! And yet, they kept going, and things became normal, over and over.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the sequel to The Year of Impossible Goodbyes. It covers the Korean War conflict. I enjoyed the first book more but this was still a good read. I learned more about Korean customs and how the war affect families. There was a strong theme of loss in this book as well as resilience.

[Seager (God Loves You!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great sequel to “The year of impossible goodbyes.” It showed the simpler side of life as well has the hardships and challenges of life. It’s not as action packed as the first book but it’s a great book!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful, quiet, and pure. And so much love.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2. Continues the life of Sookan after she is forced to flee the bombings in Seoul.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good follow up to The Year of Impossible Goodbyes. I wish all the gods of war would read this and see what it means to be a child in a war zone.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bit to romantic for me, but not bad overall.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but not as much as Year of Impossible Goodbyes.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sad but a good book.

[Debi Crawford-Poyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the second book is this series for young teens. It informed about life for the Korean people who escaped the area of what is now North Korea and how they lived after WWII in refuge areas in South Korea.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sookan, who is now fifteen, is becoming older. And with age, comes responsibility. Her mother always tells her not to mess up or people will say things hurtful comments. They will say "she [Sookan] is like that because she doesn't have a father or older brothers." At school, Sookan joins a singing group, there she meets Junho. Junho is quiet and collected, he's also very smart. Junho and Sookan instantly become "everlasting friends". Thinking about her future, Sookan decides she wants to study in the States. When the time comes for her to start packing for the States, Junho can't bear with Sookan leaving, so he tells her to meet him at a photography studio so they can take there picture together and keep it as a memory. Sookan knows this would get her mother upset because a young girl isn't supposed to take her picture with a boy. But she goes anyway. In the end, when it is time for to Sookan go to the States, she goes to look for Junho to say good-bye, but he is nowhere to be found. She then thinks it's better that way, to not say good-bye, to keep their every-lasting friendship.

[Ling Fang Ye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sookan, a fifteen years old girl who lives in Pusan, Korea, a refugee. She got separation from her father and brothers because of civil war, she didn't get any information from them, but Sookan and her mother hope they can go home every day and her mom write down the information about her father and her brothers and post them on the board of refugee information center, hope can get additional clues about them. In school, she got to know a boy, Junho. Junho is very nice to her. But last, she go to US. Their departure let both of them sad, but finally she didn't tell him she was leaving. Perhaps, she wants to keep their friendship. After rain comes fair sunshine, all things will be better, please close your eyes, to enjoy this wonderful moment.

[Shenek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isn't it amazing how life goes on... (this is the sequel to Year of Impossible Goodbyes).

My favorite part of this book was the fact that I've been to the places mentioned and it made the book clearer and the places more meaningful. It felt very authentic in the attitudes, thoughts, and outlook of the people. It made the book feel deeper since I have a little bit more of an insider's perspective.

At the end of this book the author moves to America because she wants to see what Americans and other foreigners think about Korea. I feel a little sad about that- because I think in general Americans are selfish and don't think much about other countries.

[Rah~ri · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked this up
at the store tonight.
didn't mean to read it all yet.
but it flowed like the finest of poetry
and just carried me along.
to be able to touch ever so lightly,
gently, such a harsh subject as war ?
and to still keep the elemants of life so ever present
and to convey the continuity of "life"
even amidst all the destruction...?
What an important thing
for young(or oldish) readers to see.
great little book.
sweetly written.
still left with a slight lump in my throat
and much to think about.
glad i got to read it.

[Erin Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Set in South Korea in the 1950s, Sookan and her mother and younger brother are living in a refugee camp in Pusan on the top of a mountain, separated from her father and older brothers. Sookan adjusts to life, making friends and developing a crush on a boy from a prominent family. I was enthralled by the first half of the story and realized (rather embarrassingly) that I do not have much knowledge of Korean history, but the second half seemed to speed along too quickly through the years and the dialogue felt a little stilted.

[Bert Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interestingly enough, I read the first and third book in this series before reading the second book. So in many ways, I already knew what would happen in this book. That in no way distracted from the story, as I love Choi's writing and the way she guides Sookan through her trials and tribulations.

Definitely a wonderful story.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Echos of the White Giraffe is the story of a girl who was forced to move because of the Korean War. She ends up on top of a mountain that she has to climb every day on her way home from school. I think it's a good book because she finds a new friend that she can rely on, and it was probably really hard on her, so she really needed somebody to rely on.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phil's mom gave me this to read about what life was like for the people who had to leave their homes during the Korean War. It is very well written even though I found out later it is meant as a children's book. It is second in a series of 3-although unfortunately, I read it first.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Sing Down the Moon, I do not remember much from this book. I o remember some of the story and I read it once and tried for a good long while to find it so I could read it again. It's safe to say I was extremely pleased.