The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina M. Cho

Before diving into my Christmas read run tomorrow (so excited about the upcoming cheer!), I'm taking a more serious direction. Today's read is a graphic novel for middle graders and takes a look at two North Korean children, their lives and their escape from the country. I do wonder how harsh this one will get, but also hope it gives readers a good impression about the difficulties these people face. After reading about the author, I'm sure she'll get the reality across nicely.

Settle into a chair and lets see how this novel goes.

THE OTHER SIDE OF TOMORROW

by Tina M. Cho

Illustrated by Deb J.J. Lee

HarperAlley

Middle Grade Contemporary  /   Graphic Novel

224 pages

ages 8 to 12

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.

From never knowing where they’ll find their next meal to avoiding soldiers lurking at every corner, many North Koreans have learned that sticking around can be just as deadly as attempting to flee . . . almost.

Both shy, resourceful Yunho and fierce, vibrant Myunghee know this. So when they each resolve to run away from the bleak futures they face, it’s with the knowledge that they could be facing a fate worse than death.

While Yunho hopes to reunite with his omma, who snuck across the border years ago, Myunghee is reaching for dreams that are bigger than anything the regime would allow her to have. The two are strangers to each other until a chance encounter unwittingly intertwines their fates and Myunghee saves Yunho’s life.

Kept together by their dreams for a brighter future, they face a road plagued by poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of discovery and imprisonment. But with every step toward freedom, there is also hope. Will it be enough for both of them to make it to safety without losing each other along the way?

GOODREADS   /   B&N    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With raw moments, which pull at the heart strings, these pages raise awareness with a glimpse of the situation North Koreans face, especially when trying to flee, and keep it pretty age appropriate.

This book is told from two points of view, Yunho's and Myunghee's. Yunho's grandmother escaped into China a couple years before, leaving him with his mother and the promise that she'd send for him as soon as possible...and he's waiting for this day. Myunghee, on the other hand, lives with her grandmother and helps however she can to make ends meet until. Both suffer a horrible moments, and both finally attempt to flee—each separately and unaware of the other. When fate finally brings them together, it appears that things might get better, but it's only the beginning of a very long and harsh journey.

Like the legs of the journey, the read is broken down into sections. The first covers their very separate lives in North Korea as both fight to help their small families keep food on the table. The next parts break according to the country they find themselves in, China being the longest by far. This helps to keep the steps clear as the adventure and landscape might get a bit blurred in the tension. The switch between the characters is always clear and handled nicely as the reader gets to see both of their developments and struggles. Even when together, their thoughts aren't always shared and show the different aspects individuals face.

The illustrations are detailed and bring across the scenes and cultures nicely. They also incorporate enough artistic symbolism to strengthen certain emotions and atmosphere at the right time. These, along with the text, are kept on the smaller side, not overly so but a little tighter than I've seen in many graphic novels for this age group. The smaller print, while totally okay, required more concentration and brings down the ease of the read. But this read is anything but 'easy' when the theme is considered.

The author does a good job and laying some of the issues facing North Koreans bare (well, as nicely as my little knowledge is aware of) and draws in plenty of sympathy as the two characters face one very dangerous situation after the next. There is an execution of a loved one, harsh jail situations, child trafficking, and loss of loved ones. While these are kept it in a range appropriate for the age group, it also will be a bit much for more sensitive readers. For this reason, I'd suggest the read first for ages 10 and over.

This is a well-done book which awakens awareness for the struggles North Koreans face and what they might face when they try to flee. I do recommend this not only for individuals wanting to learn more about the topic but also for classroom, group, and homeschoolers. The entire thing ends off with a few pages of text, which deepen the theme and give more explanations.

And here they are...

Tina Cho is the author of Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans, Korean Celebrations: Festivals, Holidays and Traditions, My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God Around the World, The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story, and God’s Little Astronomer. Her lyrical middle grade graphic novel, The Other Side of Tomorrow, debuts from HarperAlley in 2024. After living in South Korea for ten years and meeting North Koreans, Tina, her husband, and her two kids reside in Iowa, where Tina also teaches kindergarten.

Deb JJ Lee (they/them) is a trans nonbinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. They have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, NPR, Google, Radiolab, and more. They are known for their award-winning graphic memoir, In Limbo, about mental illness and difficult relationships with trauma. Their cat, Marlie, has three teeth.