The Young Will Remember

Chung follows her debut novel, Daughters of Shandong, with an unforgettable story set during the Korean War. It’s December 1950, and Ellie Chang, a 28-year-old Chinese American correspondent, is on assignment covering a battle in the mountains of North Korea when her military transport is shot down. In the icy chaos and confusion that follows, a Korean woman who calls herself Emma steps forward and identifies Ellie as her lost daughter. She and the Parks (a pastor, his wife, and son) take her in. They embark on a treacherous trek through the ravaged landscape, and eventually Ellie persuades them to head south, where they might have a better chance of finding Emma’s daughter. Chung is an exceptional storyteller, adept at maintaining a high level of tension and skillful at sketching complex and memorable characters. The Korean War is often referred to as the “Forgotten War”; this story demonstrates why it is anything but. Chung’s elegant and eloquent prose delivers a compelling message about the costs of war, the strength of women who survived unspeakable violence, and the power of a mother’s love.