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REVIEW
When my Name was Keoko
by Linda Sue Park
TECHNICAL REVIEW by Diana Conley
This 199 page young adult book is interesting enough for grown-up readers as well as the young adult audience it is intended for. It displays some fine examples of how well some writing techniques can be pulled off.
1. You have to research to know what you can and can't do and say, but don't drop ALL the information you find out into your story just because you can.
The reader will get bored with your story, or worse yet, mad at you for creating focus on so many unnecessary little details and tangents. Famous author Jean Auel is guilty of this. But she also backs it up with such an outstanding story-line that billions of readers are willing to forgive her.
Linda Sue Park, a born American of Korean parents, does tons and tons of research on her books, especially this one from the viewpoint of a brother and sister, during and after WWII. Which leads me to my next point:
2. Any more than one viewpoint in a story is too much. Stick to one–unless you pull it off as well as Linda Sue Park.
The point of view rhythmically alternates between girl and boy; brother and sister. The idea is to make this part very rhythmic or predictable. She labels each chapter, every time, with whose point of view to expect. With only one exception, she always alternates from sister to brother. The one time she deviates, it is clear in the text as to why she did it.
Other books by Linda Sue Park:
1. Seesaw Girl
2. The Kite Fighters
3. A Single Shard
All take place in Korea in or about the 13th Century.
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Diana C.
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