Sook Nyul Choi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sook Nyul Choi
Sook Nyul Choi, 2009
Born	1937 Pyongyang, Korea
Nationality	American
Genre	Children's literature

Sook Nyul Choi (Korean: 최숙렬; born in 1937) is a Korean American author. She writes amazing children's books. Her stories often share her own experiences.

About Sook Nyul Choi's Books

Sook Nyul Choi grew up speaking Korean. She writes about her life as a young person. She was a refugee during the Korean War. A refugee is someone who has to leave their home. They leave because of war or danger.

Choi shares her experiences through the characters in her books. She once said that she has two countries. One is her home country, Korea. The other is the United States, where she lives now. She wants to share Korea's history and culture. She wants to share it with all her American friends.

The Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Her first book for young adults was The Year of Impossible Goodbyes. It came out in 1991. This book tells the story of Sookan, a 10-year-old girl. It shows her life during a tough time. This was when Japan controlled Korea.

After World War II, the Russian Army took over North Korea. This created a new government there. The book tells about Sookan's life under these changes. It also describes her brave escape. She traveled from North Korea to South Korea. She was looking for freedom.

This book won many awards. It was named a "Best Book for Young Adults." It also received the Judy Lopez Book Award. Many people loved the story. It has been translated into several languages. These include Korean, French, and Japanese. You can also find it in Braille and as an audio book.

Why Her Books Are Special

Sook Nyul Choi's books are great for reading. They also help teach about history. They can be used in schools to learn about social studies. Her stories explore important ideas. These include freedom and how countries interact. They help readers understand history. They show how big countries can affect smaller ones.

Sook Nyul Choi's Life Journey

Sook Nyul Choi was born in Pyongyang. This city is now part of North Korea. During the Korean War, she had to leave her home. She moved to South Korea for safety.

Later, she moved to the United States. She wanted to continue her education. She earned her college degree in 1962. After that, she became a school teacher in New York. She later moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, she started writing books. She also gave lectures and taught creative writing.

Sook Nyul Choi was married to Nung Ho Choi. They had two daughters together. Her older daughter, Kathleen Choi, was a child actress. She appeared on shows like Sesame Street. Her younger daughter, Audrey Choi, is also well-known. Audrey gave a TED Talk in 2016. It was called "How to Make a Profit While Making a Difference."

Books by Sook Nyul Choi

• Year of the Impossible Goodbyes. New York: Dell, 1991. ISBN: 0-440-40759-1
• Echoes of the White Giraffe, Houghton Mifflin, 1993
• Halmoni and the Picnic, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1993
• Gathering of Pearls, Houghton Mifflin, 1994
• The Best Older Sister, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 1997
• Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip, Houghton Mifflin, 1997. ISBN: 0-395-81180-5

Awards and Recognition

Sook Nyul Choi has received many awards for her writing.