Her uncle is involved in the resistance, but for safety’s sake, even the men, do not discusses the topic in detail. Sun-hee wishes to know about the important topics that the men in her family discuss, but she is excluded. She is a studious child who excels in school and Japanese language and writing.

Sun-hee, as a girl, is kept close to home and her experiences are more internal and emotional. Park uses the Korean terms of address such as Hynungnim (older brother used by younger brother) and Opah (older brother used by younger sister) throughout the story to help readers feel the “rank, respect, and affection” in a Korean family. Told in the fist person and alternating between 10-year-old daughter, Sun-hee, and 13-year-old son, Tae-yul, the tale portrays the rigid roles family members play in traditional Korean culture based on sex and birth order. Looking at the cover, potential readers may wonder who those children are and be enticed to read the book.Linda Sue Park’s When My Name Was Keoko tells the historical fiction tale of the Kim family from 1940 to 1945 during the final years of Korea’s occupation by Japan. The book cover shows old photographs of a Korean boy and girl dressed in Japanese-style school uniforms from the occupation era.

It was an attempt to wipe out her identity as a Korean, by forcing her to have a new Japanese name written with different kanji (Chinese characters). It was more than just the “Japanization” of her Korean name by changing the pronunciation. In 1940, by Japanese decree, Kim Sun-hee became known as Kaneyama Keoko.

Tae yul when my name was keoko