Honor Korean War Remembrance Day on July 27 with powerful stories and history for all ages. Explore books that shed light on the conflict, the people who served, and the “Forgotten War’s” lasting impact.
Preschool
The House Before Falling Into the Sea
by Ann Suk Wang
As war refugees seek refuge in Kyung Tak’s family home amidst escalating conflict, the once serene abode transforms into a bustling sanctuary. Amidst chaos and overcrowding, Kyung learns the profound value of unity and compassion during adversity, realizing that strength lies in supporting one another during the darkest of times.
Middle Grade
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
A tale based on true events follows the coming-of-age of a girl who is motivated by an act of racism at school to learn about her ancestral heritage and her grandparents’ experiences as lost children during the Korean War.
In the Tunnel by Julie Lee
Fourteen-year-old Myung-gi flees North Korea with his family during the height of the devastating Korean War, beginning an epic struggle for survival that pushes them to the brink.
Young Adult
Devotion by Adam Makos
A young adult adaptation of the bestseller that details the true story of two Navy pilots from divergent racial and economic backgrounds who forge a deep friendship during the Korean War as they face extraordinary circumstances.
Adult
The Last Story by Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
Margot Lee’s mother, Mina, isn’t returning her calls. It’s a mystery to twenty-six-year-old Margot, until she visits her childhood apartment in Koreatown, LA, and finds that her mother has suspiciously died. The discovery sends Margot digging through the past, unraveling the tenuous invisible strings that held together her single mother’s life as a Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant, only to realize how little she truly knew about her mother.
The Caretaker: A Novel by Ron Rash
In 1951 Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Blackburn Gant, a polio survivor who tends to a hilltop cemetery, sees his life disrupted when he must care for his friend’s wife, Naomi. Naomi, a poor and ostracized maid who scandalously married Blackburn’s friend, builds a close bond with him as they both fear for Jacob’s return from overseas. Their friendship faces a critical turning point that will affect multiple lives in this powerful novel exploring male friendship, family loyalty, and the destructive nature of misguided love.
By Amy Longwell