“Instead of remaining silent, she chose to speak out…that’s the power of one person.”
- President Barack Obama
“The strongest section recounts Lee’s harrowing life on the streets as he banded together with friends, stealing, begging, borrowing, and fighting to subsist (“Maybe everything had been taken from us, but we still had our word, and that meant something”); deadening their pain with alcohol, smoke, and opium; and mourning lost friends. A testament to resilience, Lee’s story pulls back the curtain on life in North Korea.”
- Publisher’s Weekly
“This book, with its unrelenting poignancy and honesty, is a necessary read to begin that long, hard, necessary look.”
- JARED YATES SEXTON, author of The Man They Wanted Me to Be
Winner, the George Borden Writing for Change Award, 2022, Nova Scotia Book Awards
“Lyrical writing focuses on the aftermath of the Holocaust, a vital, under-addressed aspect of survivor stories.”
- Sydney Taylor Award Notable, 2021
- Kirkus, starred review, 03/21
- Kirkus Best YA Biography and Memoir 2021
- Gold Standard Selection, the Junior Library Guild
-BC/Yukon Book Prizes, Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize
“… a powerful commentary on one of the many costs of wars. An essential purchase …”
- Kirkus, starred review, 10/08
A Cave in the Clouds
“A well-written account of the atrocities faced by women in war zones. Life for them is based on hope. Hope to be free from all the pain they suffer.”
- A Best Biography, Memoir & Speaking Out, STARRED selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Standing Tall
“A young man’s inspirational coming-of-age story of working hard, laughing a lot, and always standing tall.”
- Goodreaders
The Tale of Two Nazanins
“The Tale of Two Nazanins weaves together the lives of two women-one leading a life of opportunity, the other living in abject poverty-and a fight for justice that, if only for a moment, brought the Iranian regime to its knees. An inspiring story of the bonds of sisterhood, this extraordinary book speaks to the power of every individual to foster positive change in the world.”
The Last Maasai Warriors
“They are living testament to a vanishing way of life on the African savannah. Wilson and Jackson are two brave warriors of the Maasai, an intensely proud culture built on countless generations steeped in the mystique of tradition, legend and prophecy. They represent the final generation to literally fight for their way of life, coming of age by proving their bravery in the slaying of a lion. They are the last of the great warriors.”
-Amazon review
“An emotional and engrossing work that sheds light on daily life in this opaque country. Highly recommended for readers interested in North Korea as well as those who enjoy inspirational stories.”
- Starred review Library Journal