94 pages 3 hours read

Linda Sue Park

When My Name Was Keoko

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Answer Key

Chapters 1-9

Reading Check

1. “[B]e quiet and ask questions.” (Chapter 1)

2. “By order of the Emperor, all Koreans are to be graciously allowed to take Japanese names.” (Chapter 2)

3. The Korean flag (Chapter 4)

4. The Japanese form of writing that consists only of picture-characters (Chapter 5)

5. She keeps a small stem of the tree, repots it, and hides for the future. (Chapter 7)

6. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in the US. (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Sun-hee says that the Japanese introduced new laws, as well as a new curriculum at school that requires studying “Japanese language, culture, and history.” As a result, Korean culture and language are forbidden to be shared or spoken publicly. (Chapter 1)

2. In Chapter 3, Sun-hee remembers when her family was listening to the Olympics broadcast on their radio. Uncle became angry when a Korean runner was referred to by his Japanese name and was carrying the Japanese flag instead of the Korean flag. Uncle leaves the house and returns with Abuji hours later with bruises from an assault as a result of changing newspapers from Japanese to Korean.