What do you think?
Rate this book
Daughter of China #3
I'll Cross the River
Defect or Die
"Lay still-pretend you are dead," Young Soon told her trembling young son as she lay, bleeding, on the ground, and nestling her nursing baby closer.
After reading a smuggled newspaper article about life beyond North Korea, widowed and pregnant Young Soon is determined to flee her beloved country with her son and baby to find food and safety in neighboring China...across the river.
How could the daily messages blaring from the loud speakers be wrong? Loyal communists believe government announcements that North Korea is the only country prospering, as the rest of the world is depressed and starving. Was it all a lie?
Near the riverbank and above the guardhouse looms a great red dragon. Its tail sweeps back and forth across the rive and smaller evil-looking creatures scurry beneath it. Far above the red dragon, Heaven's warriors, dressed in white, charge courageously. The dragon seems distracted, but not defeated. What's to become of Young Soon and her children?
Miles away in China, Mei Lin has a heart-pounding dream about a baby crying out to her from murky waters. Who is this baby? How will she find him?
I'll Cross the River is a true-to-life novel that depicts the incredible human tragedy occurring today inside North Korea. The prayers of many bring two families together in a story you will never forget.
"Lay still-pretend you are dead," Young Soon told her trembling young son as she lay, bleeding, on the ground, and nestling her nursing baby closer.
After reading a smuggled newspaper article about life beyond North Korea, widowed and pregnant Young Soon is determined to flee her beloved country with her son and baby to find food and safety in neighboring China...across the river.
How could the daily messages blaring from the loud speakers be wrong? Loyal communists believe government announcements that North Korea is the only country prospering, as the rest of the world is depressed and starving. Was it all a lie?
Near the riverbank and above the guardhouse looms a great red dragon. Its tail sweeps back and forth across the rive and smaller evil-looking creatures scurry beneath it. Far above the red dragon, Heaven's warriors, dressed in white, charge courageously. The dragon seems distracted, but not defeated. What's to become of Young Soon and her children?
Miles away in China, Mei Lin has a heart-pounding dream about a baby crying out to her from murky waters. Who is this baby? How will she find him?
I'll Cross the River is a true-to-life novel that depicts the incredible human tragedy occurring today inside North Korea. The prayers of many bring two families together in a story you will never forget.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2008
281 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 2, 2010
Hard one to rate. It gets 5 stars for content and about 3 stars for writing. I knew going into it that the author was a journalist, not a novelist, and it reads that way. Her characters are not deeply developed, pretty one-dimensional. But the story isn't the focus of the book. It uses the story to get a message across, and the message is what I read it for.
The people in North Korea are starving to death. Right now. They are trapped in a communist country worshipping their dictator and know no other life. They worship the dictator and anyone who speaks against the dictator or the government or is simply "reported" for doing so, or any other tiny infraction, is sent to a hard labor camp, beaten, or publicly executed. Women and children too. Orphans wander the streets with no one to care for them stealing food....they are considered the most worthless members of society by both the citizens and the government. The North Korean mother in the story is boiling grass and tree bark to try and save her fmaily from starvation. She watches the soldiers eat meat and rice yet her family has no rations, no food for months. She knows no other life. Until her brother returns from a military trip outside NK with a faith in the God Who Loves and news about what the outside world is really like. He brings her food and desperate plan to escape.
On the other side of the border in China, a young Chinese woman sets off on a secret missionary journey. While she has food and better conditions, she also lives under a Communist government and her Christian convictions have already bought her prison time. She is the main character of faith and has dream about a baby caught in a river and is called to pray for him though she doesn't know why.
Honestly, it all sounds too crazy to actually be happening in the modern world. Yet the book was written mainly from accounts of North Korean defectors and Chinese Christians, some of whom work for the underground that tries to hide North Koreans when they do make it across the river to relative "freedom" in China. The Chinese government will either shoot them or send them back to North Korea.
It was especially painful to read the North Korean mother's account of watching her children starve, but then you understand why she would risk her life and theirs to get out of the prison of North Korea to give them life. Her encounters with God without ever hearing the Westernized version of the gospel were really powerful for me.
The message really touched me. I was inspired to read it by the Tucson missionary, Robert Park who's been in the news since Christmas for crossing into North Korea demanding that Kim Jong il step down from power and release the prisoners and allow food to be brought in to them (all the food aid the world send to North Korea goes to their military, not the people who need it). Robert has since been returned to the US after 6 weeks in North Korea, after no negotiations from the US but a lot of prayers from all over the world. Honestly, if not for what he did, I would never have given the people in North Korea a thought or been called to pray for them. So I can say my eyes were opened by him and by this book. Not an easy read, but the subject matter is one we shouldn't ignore.
The people in North Korea are starving to death. Right now. They are trapped in a communist country worshipping their dictator and know no other life. They worship the dictator and anyone who speaks against the dictator or the government or is simply "reported" for doing so, or any other tiny infraction, is sent to a hard labor camp, beaten, or publicly executed. Women and children too. Orphans wander the streets with no one to care for them stealing food....they are considered the most worthless members of society by both the citizens and the government. The North Korean mother in the story is boiling grass and tree bark to try and save her fmaily from starvation. She watches the soldiers eat meat and rice yet her family has no rations, no food for months. She knows no other life. Until her brother returns from a military trip outside NK with a faith in the God Who Loves and news about what the outside world is really like. He brings her food and desperate plan to escape.
On the other side of the border in China, a young Chinese woman sets off on a secret missionary journey. While she has food and better conditions, she also lives under a Communist government and her Christian convictions have already bought her prison time. She is the main character of faith and has dream about a baby caught in a river and is called to pray for him though she doesn't know why.
Honestly, it all sounds too crazy to actually be happening in the modern world. Yet the book was written mainly from accounts of North Korean defectors and Chinese Christians, some of whom work for the underground that tries to hide North Koreans when they do make it across the river to relative "freedom" in China. The Chinese government will either shoot them or send them back to North Korea.
It was especially painful to read the North Korean mother's account of watching her children starve, but then you understand why she would risk her life and theirs to get out of the prison of North Korea to give them life. Her encounters with God without ever hearing the Westernized version of the gospel were really powerful for me.
The message really touched me. I was inspired to read it by the Tucson missionary, Robert Park who's been in the news since Christmas for crossing into North Korea demanding that Kim Jong il step down from power and release the prisoners and allow food to be brought in to them (all the food aid the world send to North Korea goes to their military, not the people who need it). Robert has since been returned to the US after 6 weeks in North Korea, after no negotiations from the US but a lot of prayers from all over the world. Honestly, if not for what he did, I would never have given the people in North Korea a thought or been called to pray for them. So I can say my eyes were opened by him and by this book. Not an easy read, but the subject matter is one we shouldn't ignore.
May 4, 2014
Very good, eye opening book. Fictionalized account but compiled from actual North Korean Refuges. I searched to find out a little about the author and found out that China really does send these poor starving people who have risked their lives escaping back to North Korea. I was so surprised to learn the propaganda the NK government tells them and the living conditions inside the country. Well worth your time to read, in fact I'd highly recommend it. The library near me doesn't carry this book but has two of her other books
November 2, 2018
These are two stories - based on true reports - alternately told and coming together in the end.
Two girls go on a missionary trip in rural China, always in danger to be thrown into prison for that. Young Soon and her children are starving in North Korea. But they believe the brainwashing propaganda of their "Dear Leader". Over 400.000 people died of starvation in North Korea since 1995. A number I wasn't aware of. Only the military have enough to eat.
So this book was informative and interesting and I liked the characters. The middle part was the best.
I was impressed by what strong faith did, though I thought some of the wonders were too much (in just one village in such a short time). What I didn't like was the chapter "Heaven" which was too made up and kitschi, it didn't really fit in. We don't know what heaven looks like.
Two girls go on a missionary trip in rural China, always in danger to be thrown into prison for that. Young Soon and her children are starving in North Korea. But they believe the brainwashing propaganda of their "Dear Leader". Over 400.000 people died of starvation in North Korea since 1995. A number I wasn't aware of. Only the military have enough to eat.
So this book was informative and interesting and I liked the characters. The middle part was the best.
I was impressed by what strong faith did, though I thought some of the wonders were too much (in just one village in such a short time). What I didn't like was the chapter "Heaven" which was too made up and kitschi, it didn't really fit in. We don't know what heaven looks like.
October 3, 2016
This is the only book I've read in this series, so far, but frankly, I believe that everyone, especially every Christian, should read this book. First of all, it woke me up to and gave me a small reminder of the harsh reality of Christian and non-Christian life in other areas of the world. On the day I started to read this book, I was dealing with a 'tough' issue. By the end of the day, because of this story, I had turned away from focusing on what was going on in my own life and instead spent that time praying for those throughout the world who are struggling with truly difficult issues, life and death issues. I am grateful for the affect this book had upon me.
February 7, 2014
I was curious about life as a Christian in China and North Korea and it was free on my kindle. It was okay, I finally made it through the book, but I wasn't ever really drawn in. Yes, I wanted to know what happened, but not enough to stay up late reading. Basically, their lives are really hard and they are very persecuted, that I already knew and this book didn't really tell me anymore than that. I wanted to be compelled to action, I wanted to love the characters and feel what they felt, but I just didn't. Not a complete waste of time, but not life-changing either. Meh, 2 stars.
March 13, 2017
A good book showing the hardships of life in North Korea and the challenges and dangers of evangelizing in China. I liked how the author weaved her two stories together and how it opened my eyes to a small glimpse of the truth of life in North Korea.
Read
August 15, 2017As a few others have said, this is a hard book to rate. Honestly, the writing itself isn't that great, and the section about Young Soon in Heaven was just a little odd, to me.
The point of the book, however, was to highlight the injustices occurring in both North Korea and China -- from starvation to religious persecution to sex slavery and so on. I also liked the fact that the author included ways the reader can get involved in the back of the book.
The fact that the stories included are all based on real events is heart-breaking. It's hard to believe that this is still going on today.
The point of the book, however, was to highlight the injustices occurring in both North Korea and China -- from starvation to religious persecution to sex slavery and so on. I also liked the fact that the author included ways the reader can get involved in the back of the book.
The fact that the stories included are all based on real events is heart-breaking. It's hard to believe that this is still going on today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
An interesting look into the window of life for a North Korean resident who is driven to leave her country. The involvement of a Chinese female evangelist is brief and abruptly ends too soon. However, the hunger for the gospel in China certainly was enjoyable to read. If only this were a nonfiction book.
May 27, 2018
Crossing the River With God By My Side.
I truly believe that when we are allowing God to work through us, there isn't anything we cannot overcome. These young ladies were sent by God to spread His Word knowing not what they would face, but trusting Him to protect and guide them every step.
I truly believe that when we are allowing God to work through us, there isn't anything we cannot overcome. These young ladies were sent by God to spread His Word knowing not what they would face, but trusting Him to protect and guide them every step.
June 6, 2023
VERY best book I have ever read! I use this in book clubs every time. I don’t want to give away too much, except one line in the book near the end really spoke to me and I quote it often. Best book, the others of hers are good also, but this is a story that will stay with you, and hopefully make u appreciate if you have food and a bike you are considered rich in N Korea
February 8, 2017
Informative, sad piece of literature
Interesting read while learning the truth about South Korean leaders, how any one can sit back and watch their country starve is hard to imagine..
Interesting read while learning the truth about South Korean leaders, how any one can sit back and watch their country starve is hard to imagine..
November 13, 2017
Eye opening
It was easy to become involved in the characters lives. I enjoyed this author's style of writing - she draws you in by her descriptions. I definitely recommend this book.
It was easy to become involved in the characters lives. I enjoyed this author's style of writing - she draws you in by her descriptions. I definitely recommend this book.
June 26, 2017
Awesome read
Did have some typos or minor edits needed, but it brought to light that this is current day issues not just decades ago issues.
Did have some typos or minor edits needed, but it brought to light that this is current day issues not just decades ago issues.
September 5, 2017
Awesome book
March 16, 2020
A very touching story! I will definitely be praying for the people of North Korea.
April 22, 2024
WOW, just wow. More than an excellent read. After I completed reading the book, days later I was still thinking about the content.
Just something you need to read.
Just something you need to read.
March 11, 2017
Eye-opening read about life as a Christian in mainland China, and as a parent in North Korea. There were some elements of theology I didn't agree with but no big deal. Overall, I found it compelling and time well spent.
September 20, 2016
Heartbreaking and Eye Opening
This book will open up your eyes to the plight of people living and starving in North Korea. They are without hope because there is no way out of their situation except to escape the country at the risk of being killed on their way out. If they do manage to get into China, they are still at risk for being sent back to North Korea, where they and any family members will be imprisoned and tortured, then executed. Though the character of Young Soon is fictional, the reader cannot resist becoming drawn to her plight of trying to get enough food for her children.
Meanwhile, this book also shows how dangerous it still is to be a Christian in China. The missionary trip of the two Chinese girls shows that danger. They have to make up a reason for their journey, write letters to their families using code words, and avoid speaking in front of certain people, and hide their true mission from people associated with the government in order to avoid being arrested, imprisoned and tortured.
Even though the journey these two young ladies are on is perilous, when they preach and teach in isolated mountain villages, many people believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are brought into his family. Many miracles are worked through these two young women. The deaf hear, people with skin conditions are healed, and others with various diseases are healed. Some reviewers of this book are skeptical of these things happening, but I have seen healing through faith before. Anyone who is familiar with the evangelical churches will believe that these miracles did happen.
I read this book in one afternoon and evening. It was so interesting and eye opening to the horrific conditions the people of North Korea face on a daily basis. It also showed that China is still a totalitarian communist country that is only putting on a shining face to the rest of the world while behind the scenes it has not changed at all. This book is a must read for all Christians so that they can understand how good we have it in the United States and in other Western Countries, while our Christian brothers and sisters in communist countries show great bravery in the face of persecution and threat of death.
This book will open up your eyes to the plight of people living and starving in North Korea. They are without hope because there is no way out of their situation except to escape the country at the risk of being killed on their way out. If they do manage to get into China, they are still at risk for being sent back to North Korea, where they and any family members will be imprisoned and tortured, then executed. Though the character of Young Soon is fictional, the reader cannot resist becoming drawn to her plight of trying to get enough food for her children.
Meanwhile, this book also shows how dangerous it still is to be a Christian in China. The missionary trip of the two Chinese girls shows that danger. They have to make up a reason for their journey, write letters to their families using code words, and avoid speaking in front of certain people, and hide their true mission from people associated with the government in order to avoid being arrested, imprisoned and tortured.
Even though the journey these two young ladies are on is perilous, when they preach and teach in isolated mountain villages, many people believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are brought into his family. Many miracles are worked through these two young women. The deaf hear, people with skin conditions are healed, and others with various diseases are healed. Some reviewers of this book are skeptical of these things happening, but I have seen healing through faith before. Anyone who is familiar with the evangelical churches will believe that these miracles did happen.
I read this book in one afternoon and evening. It was so interesting and eye opening to the horrific conditions the people of North Korea face on a daily basis. It also showed that China is still a totalitarian communist country that is only putting on a shining face to the rest of the world while behind the scenes it has not changed at all. This book is a must read for all Christians so that they can understand how good we have it in the United States and in other Western Countries, while our Christian brothers and sisters in communist countries show great bravery in the face of persecution and threat of death.
September 28, 2016
A wonderful story that you have too read
I enjoyed this book. It gives you a deep insisted into how poor the people of North Korea are. It's the story of Young Soon who is starving in North Korea. Her husband has died leaving her with two small children and being pregnant. Her husband died from starvation. The book shows her struggles of what she has to do to even collect grass to make soup to feed her children. Her sister Ja comes to help her and searches for grass with her. There comes standard time that her brother who was a soldier returns and tells her she must leave and go to China where she'll have a better life. He takes her young daughter and goes to China, she will follow after she gives birth. In China there is a young woman Mei Lin who is an evangelist spreading the word of God. As she travels she makes many covers and has a recurring dream about a baby. When Young Soon leaves Korea she is killed and her son and news baby are left behind. This is a wonderful story of two young women who both live on Communist counties and how in the end their lives interact with each other even though the two have never met. I believed you will enjoy this book and learn a little about what living on these two countries is l like.
I enjoyed this book. It gives you a deep insisted into how poor the people of North Korea are. It's the story of Young Soon who is starving in North Korea. Her husband has died leaving her with two small children and being pregnant. Her husband died from starvation. The book shows her struggles of what she has to do to even collect grass to make soup to feed her children. Her sister Ja comes to help her and searches for grass with her. There comes standard time that her brother who was a soldier returns and tells her she must leave and go to China where she'll have a better life. He takes her young daughter and goes to China, she will follow after she gives birth. In China there is a young woman Mei Lin who is an evangelist spreading the word of God. As she travels she makes many covers and has a recurring dream about a baby. When Young Soon leaves Korea she is killed and her son and news baby are left behind. This is a wonderful story of two young women who both live on Communist counties and how in the end their lives interact with each other even though the two have never met. I believed you will enjoy this book and learn a little about what living on these two countries is l like.
July 29, 2008
This is a compelling story of the struggle for freedom, for finding their dreams, and finding hope in a dire situation. I couldn't put this book down when I first read it. It's 3rd in a series of Chinese contemporary culture, weaving together two stories that are fictionalized reality. The story follows a young girl in China who lives for Jesus and wants to spread His love around her country as she faces the threat of imprisonment and abuse by her government. This book introduces a North Korean woman who, along with her two young children and fellow villagers, are slowly starved to death while her government gorges itself on delicacies. This book is disturbing, infuriating, but it will ignite a fire to see justice for victims of evil regimes.
February 4, 2016
This book was written in a very elementary writing style which I found somewhat boring. I enjoyed parts of the story about the North Korean woman who, along with her children and sister, were all starving to death but were led to believe that the entire world was starving through political brainwashing. The parts about the Chinese Christian girl were way too preachy and her ability to heal people through a touch of her hands was over the top. I skimmed through a great deal of this one. This is supposed to be based on facts of the plight of the people in North Korea, and also religious persecution in China towards Christianity. I did come away from this book shocked about the starvation of the people in North Korea.
November 16, 2016
A unforgettable and very touching story of a mother's love. Set in North Korea , we find what is really happening in this country. The need to hear the truth is ever present as the population is submerged in propaganda and lies. They are forced to accept starvation as their fate.
The author describes the courage of a mother who wants to save her children by crossing the river to China. There is also woven still an other tale that shows how two young women are determined to spread the hope of Christianity.
I must admit I knew nothing of what the people in North Korea are suffering.
I thank the author for her enlightening story.
The author describes the courage of a mother who wants to save her children by crossing the river to China. There is also woven still an other tale that shows how two young women are determined to spread the hope of Christianity.
I must admit I knew nothing of what the people in North Korea are suffering.
I thank the author for her enlightening story.
August 3, 2016
I liked the content of this book, especially the chapters about North Korea. But I also felt that there could have been a huge story to be built on here, with even more growth and development of the characters. The main plot was overshadowed by the large amount of religious content about evangelism and doing God's work, which I don't usually mind in a Christian fiction book. However in this book it was too repetitive and I suppose one dimensional, the characters being either believers or non-believers. Things were too simple to be truly believable.
October 30, 2014
This book was fantastic! It gets your attention right away and keeps it through out...It is basically two stories in one. The first is about a woman with small children living in North Korea and struggling with starvation and hunger. The other is a woman from China who is a missionary trying to help the people of North Korea. How these two lives intersect and what happens is profound and amazing. A wonderful Christian story that really gives insight into what life in the "Hermit Kingdom" is really all about. If I could give this book a hundred starts I would!
September 25, 2016
Touches my soul
I can't explain how much this story has touched me. I will say that this story will encourage you to pray for these people and ask for GOD'S protection over them and that GOD will open up this country and others around the world to his truth and opportunity for salvation. These people truly need our prayers and this beautiful thought provoking book certainly brings that front and center. The characters are all so real. Each and everyone of them telling of the desperation this country is in. Very well written.
I can't explain how much this story has touched me. I will say that this story will encourage you to pray for these people and ask for GOD'S protection over them and that GOD will open up this country and others around the world to his truth and opportunity for salvation. These people truly need our prayers and this beautiful thought provoking book certainly brings that front and center. The characters are all so real. Each and everyone of them telling of the desperation this country is in. Very well written.
December 22, 2016
This book opened my eyes to the real, continuing struggle of the North Korean people and Chinese believers. It provided a good impetus for prayer. A fictionalized account of 2 women. One is a North Korean woman who has lost her husband and is trying to find a way for her children not to starve. The other is a Chinese Christian who is doing her best to follow God's direction to evangelize in a closed country. There are a couple of chapters near the end that paint a picture of "heaven" -- I wasn't a fan of those chapters.
March 9, 2009
I have to say I have loved all three of these books and soooooo hope the author writes another. My heart goes out the the Christians of China and their persucution. And oh, the people of North Korea. My heart if broken for them and I love the info at the back of the book on how to get involved. All three of these books are easy and quick to read but for a Christian it gives you so much more awareness and how to pray for other Nations......
January 31, 2014
What I liked about this book was the peek inside N. Korea that it offered. Keeping in mind that the book is fiction and the fact that it is difficult to get information about DPNK, it still offered a glimpse of what could possibly be life in rural, impoverished areas of the country. The writing was pretty simplistic and I tired of reading the book sometimes because of that, but for the cultural and social aspects and the topic itself, it was worth a read.
January 28, 2014
Hard to rate, the story was okay but the writing was sub-par. A little predictable and the religion part was a little unbelievable. The characters were shallow and I didn't feel connected to them at all. Switching back and forth between the 2 women was done a bit haphazardly and didn't flow well. Other authors can pull off writing from 2 points of view but this felt off some how.
It was a Free kindle book so I'm not surprised at the quality.
It was a Free kindle book so I'm not surprised at the quality.
October 18, 2015
While I wasn't overly fond of the supernatural healings by the main character, I thought the book was excellent otherwise. This book has really increased my awareness of what is going on in North Korea and how deplorable the conditions are there. I also found the book very accurate in what life is like for those in North Korea and for those who defect. The book flowed really good and has really held my interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews