Book Review: The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho & Deb JJ Lee

“Perfect for fans of Illegal and When Stars Are Scattered, this poignant and moving graphic novel in verse captures the dangers and hope that comes with fleeing North Korea and reaching for a brighter future through the lives of Yunho and Myunghee.”

Goodreads blurb for The Other Side of Tomorrow

Review:

Yunho and Myunghee are kids living in North Korea. Every day is a fight for survival, be it avoiding soldiers, bartering and scavenging for food, etc. They know their only hope for their futures is to sneak across the border to China, but even there they run the risk of being captured. Still, a chance at freedom outweighs the risks involved. The kids start off on different paths but are reunited after a chance meeting at the beginning of their escape.

I knew this was going to be a difficult read going in. It’s hard to grasp that the events in this book aren’t far off history or works of dystopian fiction. The book is set in 2013, but the situation is still relevant. The story and the illustrations portray this in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. Despite the horrific things the characters face, this is a story filled with hope.

Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperAlley and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The hope portrayed in the story.
• Beautiful illustrations.
• It was an eye-opener.

What I didn’t like:

• I can’t think of anything I didn’t like.

Afterthoughts:

This is definitely a book I plan on purchasing once the book is released. I would like to reread it.

Where to buy the book: