My Freedom Trip

Author: Francis & Ginger Park

Illustrator: Debra Reid Jerkins

Copyright: 1998

Publisher: Boyds Mill Press

Park, F., Park, G., & Jenkins, D. R. (1998). My freedom trip. Honesdale, Pa.: Boyds Mill Press.

Reading Level: 5-6

Lexile Measure: 510L

Genre: Historical fiction.

Description: Character, values, journey, freedom, courage.

Delivery Suggestion: Read aloud.

Summary: Soo, a child from North Korea, escapes to South Korea in the dark night. The story is written based on memories of the author’s mother. Right before the Korean War broke out, Soo secretly crosses the 38^th parallel, attempting to join her father on the other side. Her mother waits behind because it is dangerous to compete this task with more than one person. The child remembers her mother’s words, “Be brave Soo!” –even though there seems to be an enemy soldier always near her. These words from her mother stay with her for years to come.

Electronic Resources:

Korean War This kid friendly resource provides viewers with facts about the Korean War, the events that led up to it, and the events that followed it. This website can help a student gain knowledge about the time period that the story takes place in and the factors of the war the character is living through.

Geography This resource provides viewers with geographic information regarding the Koreas and Asia. It also provides visuals such as a map, which a student can use to get a better understanding of Soo’s journey.

Vocabulary: Pagoda, trembling, peasant, sorrowfully, yut, embracing.

Teaching Suggestions:

-Use this book to supplement a history lesson regarding the Korean War. Students can get a better understanding of what life was like for people living through it.

-Use this book to discuss courage. Many signs of bravery are shown during the text, especially for such a young girl during such a hard time.

-Use this book to supplement a geography lesson about Asia, specifically North Korea, and South Korea.

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Have students briefly conduct research about the Korean War, using different types of resources, such as encyclopedias, other forms of text, and online sources. Have them fill out a worksheet, which is asking the ‘who, what, where, when, why, and how’ of the Korean War. This will provide students with background knowledge that they can use while reading the story.

During Reading: Have students write down any signs or forms of courage that are displayed throughout the story. Have them include the characters involved and what they do to display acts of bravery. What words in the text signal that it was an act of courage?

After Reading: Have students work in small groups to share and discuss the different acts of courage that they noticed during the story. Have them collaborate their ideas and make a T-chart that lists the character on one side and the act on the other side.

Writing Activity:

Have students write a response in their writing journals explaining what courage means to them. Then, instruct them to include an experience where they acted with great courage or witnessed such an act. Have students share these experiences with each other in small groups.