Sook Nyul Choi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sook Nyul Choi
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Sook Nyul Choi, 2009
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| Born | 1937 Pyongyang, Korea |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Sook Nyul Choi | |
| Hangul |
최숙렬
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| Hanja |
崔淑烈
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| Revised Romanization | Choe Sukryeol |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Sungnyŏl |
Sook Nyul Choi (Hangul: 최숙렬; born 1937) is a Korean American author who writes books for children and young adults. She shares stories about her own life and experiences.
Contents
Writing Stories from Life
Sook Nyul Choi grew up speaking Korean. She writes about her experiences as a young person during the Korean War. This war made her a refugee, meaning she had to leave her home to find safety. Her books often feature brave young girls who face similar challenges.
Choi has said that she now has two homes: Korea, where she was born, and the United States, where she lives now. She wants to use her writing to teach American readers about Korean history and culture.
The Year of Impossible Goodbyes
Her first book for young adults was The Year of Impossible Goodbyes, published in 1991. This story is about a 10-year-old girl named Sookan. It shows her life and her family's struggles during the time Japan occupied Korea.
After World War II ended, the Russian Army took control of northern Korea. This led to the creation of Communist North Korea. The book tells about Sookan's life under these different rulers. It also describes her difficult escape from North Korea to South Korea to find freedom.
This book won many awards. These include "Best Books for Young Adults" and the "Judy Lopez Book Award." It has been translated into several languages, like Korean, French, and Japanese. You can also find it in Braille and as an audiobook.
Why Her Books Are Important
Choi's books are great for reading and writing practice. They also connect literature with social studies in schools. Her stories help readers understand big ideas like freedom and how different countries interact.
They teach about historical events in Asian nations. They show how powerful countries can affect smaller ones. Her works are often used by teachers to help students learn about history and culture.
About Sook Nyul Choi's Life
Sook Nyul Choi was born in Pyongyang, which is now part of North Korea. When the Korean War started, she had to flee to South Korea. Later, she moved to the United States to go to college.
She earned her degree from Manhattanville College in 1962. After college, she became a school teacher in New York. She then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, she started working as a writer and a teacher of 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 on TV shows like Sesame Street. Her younger daughter, Audrey Choi, worked for the U.S. government. Audrey even featured her mother in a TED Talk in 2016. The talk 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
| Book | Awards |
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| Year of the Impossible Goodbyes | * Judy Lopez Book Award by the National Women's Book Association, 1992
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| Echoes of the White Giraffe | * State Book Award Master Reading List: Tennessee |
| Halmoni and the Picnic | * Featured on the Reading Rainbow television series
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| Gathering of Pearls | * 1995 Books for the Teen Age Award |
| Other Awards | * Tribute to Women Award by YWCA, Cambridge, MA 1992
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