Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea

Sungju Lee · Susan Elizabeth McClelland

Sep 2016 · Abrams

About this ebook

Written for a young audience, this intense memoir explores the harsh realities of life on the streets in contemporary North Korea.

Every Falling Star is the memoir of Sungju Lee, who at the age of twelve was forced to live on the streets of North Korea and fend for himself. To survive, Sungju creates a gang and lives by thieving, fighting, begging, and stealing rides on cargo trains.

Sungju richly recreates his scabrous story, depicting what it was like for a boy alone to create a new family with his gang, “his brothers,” to daily be hungry and to fear arrest, imprisonment, and even execution. This riveting memoir allows young readers to learn about other cultures where freedoms they take for granted do not exist.

Ratings and reviews

A true touching story not to be missed. gave insights into the real life struggles of north Koreans on a daily basis.

About the author

Sungju Lee speaks across Europe, Asia, and North America about his experiences and about North Korean political social issues. He lives in South Korea but studies in England. Susan Elizabeth McClelland’s first book, Bite of the Mango, was a worldwide sensation, published in more than 30 countries. She lives in Toronto, Canada.