After reading My Brother’s Keeper, I knew I had to read this one too. This story is told from the perspective of Myung-gi (a good friend of Sora) and his family struggles amidst the same setting, the Korean War.

Like most families, Myung-gi’s parents have talked about escaping North Korea in search for a better future but before that could happen, his father was captured by the secret police. Not knowing if his father is alive, Myung-gi and the rest of his family decide to escape before he too gets captured. Myung-gi is suddenly given more responsibilities as the only male in the family and the burden gets too much for him. He had to put aside his love for reading, protect his family and at the same time, look for his father.

Being an academic, manning up was no easy task for Myung-gi. He made the painful decision to join the military in search for his father throwing him in the war zone, fearing for his life. Although this is not as heart wrenching as Sora’s story, it still hurts to see Myung-gi make difficult choices for himself and his family. It also gave me a different insight to the Korean War from a male perspective.

The story was told in Myung-gi perspective but also provided flashbacks from his military duties trying to survive in the tunnel and also his escape with his family. What I didn’t enjoy were the abrupt jumps from his flashbacks, it made me lose my momentum a few times. I am a reader who thrives on character development and growth and this perfectly showcased Myung-gi’s character from a boy who loves reading and is constantly sheltered by his father to a boy who shouldered on responsibilities in protecting his sister and mother.

Overall, this is a great introduction for middle graders to help them understand the repercussions of war and how it affects families and children. It is important to let them read up on historical events through fictional characters and stories. But I feel that adults would also enjoy reading this. I know I did.

Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the arc.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
Read until 50%.

Trying to read books within a certain time limit really doesn't work well when you have chronic pain...
I wanted to finish this book, but my body just didn't let me. The part of the book I actually managed to read was pretty good tho! So I would still recommend it, despite not finishing it!

i liked the cover first like it drew me in, and then saw the synopsis and i had to pick it up but i was sadly disappointed by how the story went. it had its potential but not what i expected

Beautiful, harrowing, heartbreaking. This book shows the horrors of war and the struggles of coming of age during dangerous times.

Book Review of In the Tunnel by Julie Lee

4.3 stars and would’ve given 5 stars because the writing was superb, but the epilogue was very disappointing to me and I felt like it was also immoral having a man remarry instead of reunite with his family and really I felt he had no excuse even from a weak-human pov since he knew where they would be/where they would’ve headed, plus seemed very out of character for this person as well. And there were no consequences to this immoral act as well.

But, after this, let me just say: Wow. It has been a long time since I’ve read a book so beautifully written. Lee’s writing-style is so poetic! I can feel, see, taste everything. On top of this, nothing is overdone. There are no long-winded descriptions slowing down the plot. Just enough description to get a sense of the surroundings, character’s emotions, and so forth, but not too much to bore somebody like myself who has a small attention span haha.

I found switching between the past and present tense was really clever, and done in such a way that was not confusing and flowed well.

One qualm I kinda had was when Myung-gi and his sister went to steal corn from the farmer. I’m not sure how I felt about that. I get they were in a foreign land and starving, but was it really necessary? Could they not have asked the bookkeeper they ran into to help them out with food instead? Could they not hunt in those parts—and if not, why? I feel like it’s morally questionable at best (could be wrong though) and wasn’t sure how I felt about Myung-gi mentioning how Alpha would do this, making it appear as a good thing. There were also no consequences following their act of stealing, only a consequence for having gotten lost in the fields. I’m not sure morally speaking if this was okay, and just want to mention it in case other parents see an issue with it or want to discuss with their kids.

This book was fairly dark especially for being geared toward middle grade (I think..?). There were a lot of near death experiences and loss of life. The reality of war and evils of communism were very in your face. A young sensitive reader might want to wait till they are older or skip certain parts. 

The characters were well fleshed out. Uhma was such a strong woman, and beautiful mother who made countless sacrifices for her children. There was so much character growth too! The MC started out a bit insecure and cowardly, but really became a strong character toward the end. 

(This is a spoiler—>) The epilogue was disappointing and it was not the ending I wanted. I was disappointed that alpha who was portrayed as being so strong and noble “remarried” instead of going to find his lost family both from a moral standpoint but also because you would’ve thought he would’ve sought out his lost family. It wasn’t like he didn’t know where they were going. It seemed very out of character. It’s also disappointing from the MC’s pov. I really wanted him to hear from his father that he was forgiven for not keeping watch, and so forth. I also felt terrible for his mother. 

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. I purposefully took a long while to read it, actually, because I just did not want to be done. I found it so inspiring—it was helping my own writing. I would often take breaks from reading to work on my own books. I plan on definitely reading more from this author and keeping a lookout for new book releases. She is definitely now one of my favourite authors and this has probably been one of my favourite fictional reads of the year.

This has been posted on my blog at: AuthorCaraRuegg.com

This book about a Korean boy told in flashbacks and flash forwards was very moving. I think that this novel ought to be read by 8th grade school children everywhere. It tells the story of Myung-gi and we first find him in a tunnel, alone. How did he get there? Well that is the story of the Korean War.

I had not idea that Japan occupied Korean for ten years before the Americans came. I had no idea North Korea came into existence because of the occupation of Soviet Russia. Isn't it amazing all of the things which aren't covered in history class?

I recommend this book whole heartedly to the 12-16 yr old age group.

The storytelling was 5 starts, the flashbacks-flashfowards were 3 stars which gives it an over all 4 stars from me. I would love to read what this writer will write next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for this ARC.

'In the Tunnel' tells the very real story of a country divided and one family on the run for a better life. The boy, Myung-gi, mourns the loss of his father and vows to get him back. Switching between a North and South divided to a North and South at war, the novel outlines the conflict of post-WW2 Korea.

I liked the historical aspect of this novel, but the execution and structure of this was a tad bit too fast-paced for my liking. I understand that the use of quotes from other literature was symbolic for the chapters, but it irked me the way they were repeated with no (to me) real significance.

I found it difficult to determine the main audience for this, but eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn't for me as I was never emotionally invested in Myung-gi's journey.

This book is beautifully written. It takes readers on a heartfelt journey as a young boy embarks on a search for his father, who mysteriously disappeared during the wartime in Korea. The narrative is incredibly moving, leaving a lasting impact and evoking a range of emotions. The author's ability to depict the characters' experiences in such a compelling way makes this book truly heart-wrenching and beautiful to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC.

✨¡Gracias a NetGalley por mandarme una copia avanzada de este libro a cambio de una crítica honesta!

✨Myung-gi es un joven coreano que relata sus vivencias como persona afectada por la guerra de Corea (1950-1953). Cuenta cómo tiene que huir de su casa, ya que la represión en Corea del Norte se vuelve insoportable, cómo junto a su madre y su hermana pasan una verdadera odisea para poder llegar a Corea del Sur -especialmente cuando su padre ha sido secuestrado por la policía secreta norcoreana, y con 14 años tiene que convertirse en el "hombre de la casa"

✨Creo que ha sido un libro que se lee relativamente rápido, ya que los capítulos son cortos, a pesar de que haya saltos temporales constantes - se narra al mismo tiempo la historia de Myung-gi cuando huye de Corea del Norte, así como su alistamiento en el ejército para ir a buscar a su padre. Además, el estilo de narración es bastante ligero, teniendo en cuenta la dureza de los temas que se tratan en la novela.

TW: guerra, muerte, duelo, violencia

What a truly amazing book about a part of history that I know almost nothing about. Too little attention is paid to the conflicts in both Korea and Vietnam. How are we to learn from the mistakes of the past If we know so little about them. This book went along way towards opening my eyes to the political turmoil that resulted in the Korean War. The characters were well developed. The story was cohesive, and the dual timeline that ultimately met in the end, kept a good level of tension that kept the story going. I am so grateful that I found this book and I will definitely pass it on to others.

In the Tunnel is the story of Myung-gi and his family after WWII. Like the rest of the world, they are excited to learn the devastating war is finally over. As part of Post-War agreements, Korea is split in two. The North half belonging to Russia and the South to the USA. Myung-gi lives in the North. As Russian troops descend into North Korea, another war quickly erupts, this time between the North and South.

This is a dual timeline book. One part of the story shows 16 year-old Myung-gi, a soldier in search of his father, trapped in an enemy tunnel as he contemplates much of his life. This part of the story is told in present tense. We also jump to what led Myung-gi to this place beginning when he is 12 years old.

I can see for sure how some readers would enjoy this book. I haven't seen any children's books on the topic of the Korean war, and I learned a lot about the time period and what was going on. Going into this book, all I knew about the Korean war was that there is a Korean War monument. Reading this story helped me put more pieces of the puzzle together.

I also appreciated seeing how books Myung-gi read over his lifetime, quotes and ideas, came to his mind and encouraged him when he needed them.. I've never seen books portrayed in quite this way and I really enjoyed that aspect of Lee's storytelling.

That said, I don't think I was the right reader for the book. It was so heavy and gruesome. I kept looking for even tiny points of light or positive human connection to drive the story on, but there seemed to be only despair and darkness. I found myself pretty bogged down just trying to get through it. I also struggled with the HUGE amounts of metaphors and simile throughout the book. This book could be a great study on those, but as I was reading, I often found the back to back use of this literary device a bit jarring and it drew me out of the story.

Who would like this story: I wouldn't recommend this story for children under 10 years old as it is graphic and pretty heavy. I think kids who are interested in the affects of war, who want to learn about the Korean War, who like poetic language, and are looking for an emotionally heavy read would like this book.

In The Tunnel is a historical fiction novel centred on the Korean War, chronicling one boy’s journey around Korea in search of refuge, and also in search of his father. Myung-gi’s life is marked by occupation – first by the Japanese throughout the Second World War, and then by Russia after the Japanese imperialist forces are defeated at the end of the war, and then by the Americans GIs in the South. Using two dual narratives running perpendicular to each other, Lee shows us both Myung-gi as a sixteen-year-old soldier for South Korea, hoping to find his father but trapped in a Chinese enemy tunnel, and then Myung-gi growing up from age nine onwards, eventually meeting as the book comes to a close.

As someone interested in Korea and Korean history, and who studied this period during my schooling (albeit briefly), this book was made for me in every way. It provides a scope of an extremely interesting and overwhelming period of history, detailing an overview of how the major events impacted normal Korean people. This is where that book shines – in the human, emotional element of a family torn apart, of a young boy battling with his grief and his guilt, and trying to become who society says he should be, while wanting nothing more than to shut off. I adored the ending, Lee provided us with hope and a happy ending, while also showcasing reality at its most devastating, giving us an insight into how these are still modern-day problems.

As a children’s book, there was much that Lee was unable to include or go into much depth with, such as the politics at play, and also many of the even more horrendous atrocities that occurred. This is understandable, considering the intended age-range, and the fact that the book is told through Myung-gi’s child-like eyes, and he cannot comprehend or understand much of what is happening to his country and its people. For an average reader, children, and those unfamiliar with this period and looking to learn about it, this book is perfect.

I adored this book, and am sure everyone else will to. Quick, easy, but so absorbing, it is unputdownable.

Captivated from the very line, Julie Lee's "In the Tunnel," is a harrowing novel about a North Korean family during the height of the Korean War. It centers on the young boy who places a heavy burden on himself to find his missing father, taken by police, and to also take care of his family in his father's absence.

Heart wrenching and and suspenseful, "In The Tunnel" is a beautiful book that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

An authentic, powerfully moving story with a remarkable new voice.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

In the Tunnel gives a sobering view into life during the Korean War through the eyes of a teenage boy.

What I Liked:

-Lee did a nice job writing Myung-ge's internal struggles. They felt realistic and were understandable.

-Lee also did a nice job showing the awfulness of war, while keeping everything tactful and appropriate for younger readers.

-Yoomee was a fun character. I would have liked to see a little more of her.


What I Struggled With:

-I would have appreciated more setting details. I had a hard time mentally building the landscape and knowing what things were supposed to look like. Some more small details, like their clothes' style, what the buildings looked like, technology, etc., would have helped a little.

-The transitions between young Myung-ge and sixteen-year-old Myung-ge threw me off a little since sixteen-year-old Myung-ge's chapters are written in present tense, while young Myung-ge is written in past tense. Once I got into the rhythm of the tense switches, it didn't bother me though.


Overall:

If you're looking to get a glimpse into what the Korean War was like, consider In the Tunnel.

This was another good historical fiction book by this author. I am glad I got the chance to read it.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Myung-gi and it does have a dual timeline. It follows Myung-gi from the time before he joins the war to him having to enlist at the age of 16. It’s really sad to read about since he was such a young character and having to go through harrowing events for his family to survive. He had a lot of strength and did a lot to even find his father. I wouldn’t be able to do the things he did.

This author always does a great job of getting the reader emotionally invested in the story. You get invested in the characters lives even if they are around for a short time. The dual timeline does a great job of showing the past and present and how it has effected Myung-gi.

Overall, this was another solid read from this author. I’d recommend it if you like historical fiction.

This book was beautifully written. I'm not familiar with the Korean environment, but these chapters hit hard. In the Tunnel is a novel filled to the rim with unflinching sorrow, but I loved how the characters were written. This book kept me on my toes and I was thoroughly surprised at how much I enjoyed this.

Everything about In the Tunnel breathed aliveness. The hardship that the main character endures is so raw. I loved the way that the chapters breathed through and was so captivating. Julie Lee does not deal with the topics of the Korean War lightly, and there is a lot of historical information woven in here that is truly interesting.

I could definitely feel like this book was breathing and the mood that Julie sets is sombre yet wistful. This book was heartbreaking and tense, yet still wonderfully written and gorgeously put together. The ending was absolutely devastating and I’m glad that the characters had an ending, even if it may not be the perfect finale. The setting is so real, and Julie did an amazing job knitting this work together.

tw: trauma, racism, themes are not described lightly.

> 4 stars

A boy's journey to search for his father who goes missing during wartime in 1945 Korea, this is a story of hardship and growing up while trying to stay alive.

I first read Brother's Keeper last year and it was a wonderfully told story of two young children's struggle to survive the travel to Busan alone during wartime. In the Tunnel is a story that takes place mostly parallel to Brother's Keeper, with some of the same characters. Both these books show a very human account of what happened during the Korean War between North and South. Both books are a history lesson and heart-felt story all in one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel. It's good for all ages.

I absolutely loved this book. It was heartbreaking, but also one of the most beautiful writing I have ever read. I found myself highlighting entire passages, especially those about books and Myung-gi's relationship with reading. This was an extremely eye-opening look into a time in history that I know very little about, as well as it being a very timely novel when we are in the midst of higher than normal book banning and censorship. I know that this book will stick with me for a very long time.

This story was written beautifully and I loved the characters and the conversations that were had here. I'm not the hugest fan of historical fiction but this was captivating.