When my Name was Keoko Novel by Linda Sue Park (Farsi)

Description

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park is a historical novel first published in 2002, set in Korea during the Japanese occupation of World War II. The Japanese government bans the Korean language and national symbols, forcing families like those of Tae-yul and Sun-hee to adopt Japanese names. Through alternating narrators, Park skillfully explores gender roles and personal responsibility within a society under colonial rule. As war tensions rise, each family member seeks a way to preserve identity and dignity: Sun-hee keeps a forbidden diary, her uncle secretly publishes an underground newspaper, and Tae-yul joins the Japanese army to protect his uncle from arrest. The novel offers a powerful portrait of resistance, sacrifice, and cultural survival.