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Hyeonseo Lee

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story

Hyeonseo LeeNonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015

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Book Brief

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Hyeonseo Lee

The Girl with Seven Names

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

North Korea • 1990s

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story, Hyeonseo Lee recounts her journey from North Korea to China and eventually South Korea, starting as a curious teenager who only intended to visit China. Her journey becomes a harrowing survival tale as she navigates life as an illegal immigrant, flees danger, and ultimately secures asylum in South Korea, reuniting her family and advocating for North Korean defectors. The book includes topics such as human trafficking, brutal assaults, and near-deportation experiences.

Inspirational

Challenging

Mysterious

Emotional

Adventurous

Reviews & Readership

4.5

132,209 ratings

91%

Loved it

7%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee captivates readers with a gripping account of her defection from North Korea. Praised for its heartfelt narrative and deep insights into North Korean life, the memoir also faces criticism for occasional pacing issues and lack of broader geopolitical analysis. Overall, it remains a powerful testament to resilience and courage.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Girl with Seven Names?

Readers who are captivated by stories of resilience, political intrigue, and personal transformation will enjoy The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee. Fans of Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden and In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park will find this memoir of defection from North Korea equally compelling and thought-provoking.

4.5

132,209 ratings

91%

Loved it

7%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

North Korea • 1990s

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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