101 pages • 3 hours read
Sungju Lee, Susan Elizabeth McClellandEvery Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea is a 2016 memoir by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland, recounting Lee's childhood in North Korea, his survival on the streets after being abandoned by his parents, and his harrowing escape at age 16. Sungju eventually reunites with his father in South Korea, continues his education, and becomes an advocate for North Korean defectors. The book includes topics related to childhood trauma, violence, and substance use.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland is widely praised for its raw, compelling narrative of survival and resilience. Critics commend its educational value and emotional depth. However, some find the graphic depictions troubling for younger readers. Overall, it is a powerful, eye-opening memoir that fosters empathy and awareness of North Korean hardships.
Who Should Read Every Falling Star?
Readers who are captivated by real-life survival stories and coming-of-age memoirs will appreciate Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland. Fans of Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai will find this harrowing yet hopeful account of growing up in North Korea particularly compelling.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
880LBook Details
Korean Literature
Children's Literature
Asian Literature
Relationships: Family