Sungju Lee

Sungju Lee is a North Korean defector and author known for his memoir "Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea," published in 2016. The book details his experiences as a young boy in North Korea and his eventual escape to South Korea. Lee spent several years as a street child in North Korea after his family fell from favor with the government in the 1990s. During this period, he led a gang of other homeless boys, struggling to survive through theft and foraging while avoiding authorities and rival groups. After reuniting with his father in South Korea, Lee pursued his education and earned degrees from Sogang University and South Korea's Kangnam University. He has since become an advocate for North Korean human rights and works to raise awareness about conditions within the country. Lee currently serves as a senior researcher at the National Youth Policy Institute in South Korea and speaks internationally about his experiences. His memoir is notable for being one of the few first-hand accounts of North Korean street life written specifically for a young adult audience.

Readers connect strongly with Sungju Lee's personal memoir "Every Falling Star" about his experiences in North Korea. The book holds a 4.27/5 rating on Goodreads from over 4,000 readers and 4.7/5 on Amazon from 500+ reviews. Readers appreciate: - Direct, accessible writing style for young adult audiences - Details about daily life in North Korea - Balance of brutal honesty and age-appropriate content - Inclusion of photos and maps Common criticisms: - Some scenes feel rushed or underdeveloped - Readers wanted more details about certain periods - A few note the translation could be smoother Many reviewers mention being moved to tears and gaining new perspective on North Korean refugees. Several teachers report successful use in middle/high school classrooms to teach about human rights. One reader summarized: "This book accomplishes something rare - making an unimaginable situation feel personal and relatable while maintaining historical accuracy."

Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea (2016) A memoir chronicling Lee's experiences as a young boy in North Korea during the 1990s famine, his life as a street boy after his parents disappeared, and his eventual escape to South Korea.