68 pages • 2 hours read
Yeonmi Park, Maryanne VollersIn Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2015A 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
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and Maryanne Vollers chronicles Yeonmi Park's harrowing journey from North Korea to freedom. Born in Hyesan, Yeonmi and her family initially thrive due to her father's trading business, but the family's fortunes dwindle following the economic collapse of the 1990s. After her father's imprisonment and struggles, Yeonmi and her mother escape to China, only to be ensnared in human trafficking. They endure significant hardships but ultimately make it to South Korea, where Yeonmi works to rebuild her life, share her story, and advocate for human rights. Descriptions of abuse, including human trafficking, are present throughout the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and Maryanne Vollers receives commendation for its gripping, raw narrative of survival and escape from North Korea. Reviewers appreciate Park's powerful, emotional storytelling. Some, however, critique the book for perceived dramatization and occasional inconsistencies. Overall, it remains a compelling, eye-opening read about resilience and freedom.
Who Should Read In Order to Live?
A reader who would enjoy In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and Maryanne Vollers is typically interested in compelling stories of resilience and freedom. Fans of Malala Yousafzai's I Am Malala or Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone will find this memoir equally inspiring, as it vividly portrays the harrowing escape from North Korea and the pursuit of liberty.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1010LBook Details
Immigration / Refugee
Korean Literature
Society: Class
Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice