As war breaks out in North Korea, twelve-year-old Sora is forced to become her brother’s keeper on the long, dangerous road to freedom.
Julie Lee’s historical fiction novel “Brother’s Keeper” follows twelve-year-old Sora and her eight-year-old brother Youngsoo as they navigate the dangerous landscape of the Korean War in 1950. When a bombing separates the siblings from their parents and baby brother during their family’s attempt to flee North Korea’s oppressive communist regime, Sora must take responsibility for getting herself and her brother safely to Busan – a journey of hundreds of miles through war-torn countryside in the bitter winter. Based on the author’s mother’s real-life escape experience, this heart-wrenching tale explores themes of family, gender expectations in traditional Korean society, and the devastating impact of war on civilians. The book includes valuable back matter with a glossary of Korean terms, a timeline of the Korean War, and photographs from the author’s family history.
This powerful narrative directly supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by showing students the human cost of conflict and the importance of peace. Sora’s character embodies both the Caring and Risk-taker traits as she demonstrates compassion toward her brother while making difficult decisions to ensure their survival. Teachers can use this book as a jumping-off point for discussions about forgotten historical conflicts, refugee experiences, and gender discrimination. Consider pairing it with map activities tracking Sora’s journey, research projects on the Korean War, or reflection prompts about difficult decisions characters make when faced with extreme circumstances. The accessible writing makes complex historical events comprehensible for middle-grade readers, while still maintaining the emotional authenticity that will spark meaningful discussions about justice, peace, and human rights.
