94 pages • 3 hours read
When My Name Was Keoko
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002
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Introduction
When My Name Was Keoko
- Genre: Fiction; middle grade historical fiction
- Originally Published: 2002
- Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 670L; grades 4-7
- Structure/Length: 32 chapters; approx. 208 pages; approx. 6 hours, 12 minutes on audio
- Protagonist and Central Conflict: Korean 10-year-old Sun-hee and her 13-year-old brother Tae-yul narrate this story set during the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. After the Japanese declare Korean language and culture illegal, Sun-hee, Tae-yul, and their family rebel in subtle ways to keep their identities alive, putting them all in danger.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Depictions of wartime violence and violence against civilians
Linda Sue Park, Author
- Bio: Born in 1960 in Urbana, IL; daughter of immigrants from Korea; writer of novels, nonfiction, poetry, and picture books for young readers; served as a panelist for the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award, and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
- Other Works: Archer’s Quest (2006); A Long Walk to Water (2010); Prairie Lotus (2020)
- Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2003); ALA Notable Book for Children (2003)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:
- Resistance and Liberation Occur Differently for Every Individual
- Sacrifice and Struggle Deepen the Appreciation for Community
- The Ability to Shift Morals and Expectations During War
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:
