Review Detail

Memoir and fantasy quest come together in a tribute to history, families overcoming adversity, and the resilience of peoples in the midst of colonial oppression. Each chapter begins with a short testimony from the authors’ grandparents, presenting snapshots of personal history as Seung and Eunji’s more mystical but equally difficult story unfolds. This framing creates a strong parallel between the narratives, toeing the line of allegory, and to that end, it powerfully communicates the dynamics between colonized nation and oppressor. Mandates to use a foreign language, no civil rights, extortionist policemen/tax collectors. Something Seung has to come to terms with is seeing the humanity in the Dragon people - the man who would trample him into the dirt is not an embodiment of evil, just a man, but at the same time that can make him more monstrous, for how can a fellow human condone such despicable things as Seung and the Tiger people have endured?

Considering the story in isolation, it’s fairly simple. The first half establishes the world, the lives they wish to change; in the second, Seung and Eunji are forced to act. I felt it skipped over some elements that make for a traditionally satisfying narrative (characters taking risks and reaping the reward or learning from the failure; establishing patterns and breaking them, etc) but as a tribute, there’s no mistaking what the book wants to say.

With dual first-person POVs, this is a very accessible read for the YA audience in history and how key events can shape a nation’s collective spirit and identity. The dialogue is modern (sometimes oddly so). Between the action (rebels in the woods, an impending wedding) and the characters’ internal thoughts and commentary on events, the latter gets at least half the page time, maybe more. This isn’t a story of revolution, but the desperation and courage to join the fight.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**