So Far From the Bamboo Grove

I have to say that this is one of the saddest books I have ever read. This is a story of a little girl named Yoko and her Japanese family's journey to leave Korea to be safe. There are certain parts of this story that stick in my mind. The first is being told that you have to leave your home right now. I don't even know what I would pack because you have to carry it all. I cannot imagine leaving my brother either. Not only did they have to leave but they were put on a hospital train with wounded people. Those would be the most undesirable conditions of all. The other thing that sticks out in my mind is when they need to shave their heads, tape down their breast, and wear dead soldiers' clothing to save themselves from being raped or killed. These girls and their mother had a difficult journey to get to Japan including no food or having to dig in garbage to have something to eat. The last thing that put me over the edge was when Yoko's mother died in her arms. I cannot even imagine how I would handle myself in that situation.
The book wasn't a complete sob story though. In the end the Yoko and her sister, Ko, find some nice people who allow them to live on their property, they go to school, and have different jobs to help them make money. They are surviving. In the end their brother returns to them. This was a very happy ending but I wished that it could have ended with her father returning as well.
This book is not only informational and historical but it is also entertaining and perplexing. I couldn't put it down. I think it would be a great way to introduce history to children as well just like we are doing in class. It is a big contrast to give them one side of the story and then the opposing side of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested but would recommend that they brush up on the situation between the Japanese and Koreans before starting the book.
One last thing is that I love how the title is so fitting because they are far from their original home located in the bamboo grove, so far away from normal and safety.