Flower Swallow

Flower Swallow

â€œI never woulda guessed a bowl of curst noodles could cause so much trouble.â€ ~ Woong, North Korea, age unknown

It all started with a curse. When Woongâ€™s hunger drives him to steal the fancy meal set out by his superstitious mother, he invokes a shamanâ€™s wrath. Soon afterwards, a flood ravages his home, ripping him from his parents and hurtling him into street life during the catastrophic North Korean famine of the 1990s.

Traveling from place to place in order to survive, Woong meets a grandmother whose faith in the Dear Leader enables her to wait patiently for the arrival of food aid, an uncle whose plot to take over a grain silo could land the whole family in prison camp, and a mysterious character who may or may not have an angelic blessing.

Woongâ€™s journey is arduous, spanning several winters where cold and sickness are perils as deadly as starvation. Still, he holds on to hope of one day reversing the shamanâ€™s curse and forging a new life of freedom and belonging.

Hailed as Alanaâ€™s most masterful novel to date, Flower Swallow is a touching story appropriate for most ages. Readers of suspense, young adult, and historical fiction will find Woongâ€™s story inspiring and uplifting. It has been described as a â€œKorean Oliver Twistâ€ and compared to â€œLife is Beautifulâ€ because of its gentle handling of a very heavy topic. The ebook version includes discussion questions for book clubs, classrooms, or personal reflection and a bonus materials section from the author.
Country USA
Manufacturer Firstfruits Publishing
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2015-12-17
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Firstfruits Publishing
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2015-12-17
Format	Kindle eBook

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