DESCRIPTION:
“When I found the courage to lift my head, I expected to stare down the barrel of a gun, but instead there was a woman in front of me, the back of her white skirt embroidered with columns of yellow chrysanthemums.”
1950. It’s the coldest winter in decades, and twenty-eight-year-old Chinese American journalist Ellie Chang is on a military flight to cover a battle in the mountains of North Korea when her plane is shot down.
As she emerges from the fallen aircraft onto an icy field surrounded by the enemy, Ellie is sure it’s the end, certain she’ll never make it home to her parents…until a woman pushes her way through the crowd and claims Ellie as the lost daughter that she’s been searching for since the last war ended. Never mind that Ellie doesn’t speak a word of Korean.
Ellie is taken in by her rescuer—a woman who calls herself “Emma”—and the Paks, a pastor’s family. She knows she can’t stay and yet there’s no way she’ll survive on her own.
As the war intensifies, the sky alighting with bombs overhead, Ellie convinces Emma and the Paks to travel south towards an elusive promise of safety, and where Ellie insists they are more likely to find Emma’s real daughter, stuck on the other side of the frontlines.
Emma’s decision to claim Ellie, and Ellie’s choice to take her hand will connect their lives forever.
Moving and triumphant, The Young Will Remember sheds light on a “Forgotten War,” the resilience of love within our darkest histories, and the indefatigable determination of mothers to protect their children.
Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and this novel explores it beautifully. Through her relationships with Emma and the Paks, Ellie discovers connections that transcend blood ties. Both Ellie and Emma are remarkable characters. Ellie is intelligent, determined, and compassionate, while Emma embodies the fierce, all-encompassing love of a mother who refuses to give up hope.
The Young Will Remember, a powerful and emotional novel, sheds light on a frequently overlooked chapter of history. Through richly drawn characters and heartfelt storytelling, Eve J. Chung masterfully captures both the horrors of war and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This thought-provoking and deeply moving story lingers long after the final page, reminding readers that even in humanity’s darkest moments, love, sacrifice, and found family can provide a path forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment