101 pages • 3 hours read
Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea
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Book Brief
Every Falling Star
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 2016344
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
North Korea • 1990s
2016
YA
12-18 years
880L
Super Short Summary
Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea is a 2016 memoir by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland, recounting Lee's childhood in North Korea, his survival on the streets after being abandoned by his parents, and his harrowing escape at age 16. Sungju eventually reunites with his father in South Korea, continues his education, and becomes an advocate for North Korean defectors. The book includes topics related to childhood trauma, violence, and substance use.
Dark
Unnerving
Challenging
Inspirational
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
6,910 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland is widely praised for its raw, compelling narrative of survival and resilience. Critics commend its educational value and emotional depth. However, some find the graphic depictions troubling for younger readers. Overall, it is a powerful, eye-opening memoir that fosters empathy and awareness of North Korean hardships.
Who Should Read Every Falling Star?
Readers who are captivated by real-life survival stories and coming-of-age memoirs will appreciate Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland. Fans of Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai will find this harrowing yet hopeful account of growing up in North Korea particularly compelling.
6,910 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
344
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
North Korea • 1990s
2016
YA
12-18 years
880L
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