The moving and dramatic account of two very different twelve-year-olds is told in parallel diary entries, and shown in lovely, crisp, various-sized panels, filled with detail. While nature is still beautiful in 2013 North Korea, grinding poverty, fear, and hopelessness have drained the world of bright color. Moments of imagination and emotional connection brighten and deepen the hues, cluing the reader to the powerful effect hope has on both shy and obedient Yunho, and determined and spunky Myunghee. The two encounter each other repeatedly in moments of crisis, eventually becoming companions on an epic journey. Broken into five substantial chapters, set in five countries, the impact of bad politics looms large: famine, tyranny, and  intolerance. Their emotional lives also take center stage, as they struggle with jealousy, guilt, anger, doubt, and the surprising difficulty of freedom. Back matter includes a brief primer on North Korean history and on the Asian underground railroad. Virtually all characters are Asian, from Korea, China, Laos, Thailand, and the U.S. Thanks to Harper Alley and NetGalley for a review copy in return for an unbiased review..

4. First of all, I love the art! The palette is great at matching the mood. There is always something to look more closely at. Students will enjoy the visual quality and format, I love the characters telling the story. The interweaving of their voices and points of view add depth. The journey of the children and the various people who help and hinder them give plenty of material for classroom discussion. I feel that I should mention the characters are helped by a church group and there is some discussion of Christian ideas. However, this is clearly a nonfiction recounting, and religious beliefs of any type can be mentioned as a way refugees, and others, cope with difficult situations. Students who liked, “When Stars are Scattered” and “The Red Pencil” will like this one, too.

This book is great for middle schoolers who want to learn more about the history of North and South Korea. It also provides insight to the adversity and rights that were limited to North Koreans. This allows for readers to understand why asylum and being a refugee in another country serves as great aid to those escaping dictatorships.

I knew this would be beautiful, but Deb still blew me away with their art. And I love that the story was in verse, too. Such a heartbreaking book, but I’m thankful it’s out in the world to bring awareness to what refugees go through to survive.

The Other Side of Tomorrow tells the story of two North Korean children, Yunho and Myunghee, and their search for family and freedom. The chapters alternate between their points of view, a first for me in a graphic novel. Being caught up in the story, I didn't notice this until their stories intersected, at which point I had to go back to begin again. Yet every minute spent with these two was worth it, and I don't want to give any spoilers, except to say that the character of the pastor and the themes of forgiveness made this book a must-add to the classroom library shelves of my Christian school.

In looking up whether this book was fact or fiction, I came across Cho's post on Harper Stacks where she recounts how she first learned about the Asian Underground Railroad working to rescue North Koreans. While living in South Korea, she became aware of the refugee crisis hearing pastors preaching about the work of organizations trying to help. Just as Cho didn't know of these stories before working with these aid groups, I know her graphic novel will be revelatory to my students as they discover a refugee crisis previously unknown to them, just as I did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Being a fan of Deb J.J. Lee's illustrations, I knew I would love The Other Side of Tomorrow. Predictably, it has a beautiful art style and striking panel composition. There's both a sense of movement and lyricism in its lay out and color. Additionally, the story of The Other Side of Tomorrow is moving. It's a story about love and perseverance, but also the burdens children should never have to bear. They grow up in a moment as they balance their own loss with the challenges to come.

Myunghee and Yunho are youths who have seen what no child their age should ever see - deaths of most of their family members including executions at the hands of the generalissimo. Alas, this is life in 2013 North Korea where every home must display a portrait of the dictator or suffer the consequences, including execution. One of the youths is left an orphan; the other makes it a goal to run away to their omma (mother) who has sought refuge in China. By happenstance, Myunghee and Yunho are brought together for the same goal – to escape North Korea in hopes of a better life in another country. Through the rivers, mountains, and jungles they bravely and narrowly escape soldiers who have no qualms of executing them on the spot if discovered. Will they finally make it to their destination alive?

I have read several graphic novels based on North Korean life. It is so unfathomable to me what the people must endure as I relish my freedoms and democracy. Inarguably, dictatorship and communism are ugly. I can understand why the U.S. fought in the Korean War to prevent the reunification of the Korean peninsula. This story makes me incredibly sad, whether it is based on truths or fabrication or exaggeration. I can only be relieved for my Korean friends who live in the safety of my country.

This stunning graphic novel deals with escaping North Korea from the POV of two children with grace. Children reading this graphic novel will relate to Yunho and Myunghee while also learning about the heartbreak, yearning, fear, and hunger that make up their existence. The visuals are breathtaking and the writing is lyrical, yet very approachable.

This is an excellent addition to any collection and will be added to my school library.

Thank you to Net Galley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperAlley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

What a heartwarming/ heartbreaking yet beautiful tale. The illustrations are like a dream but the themes are so poignant and the characters so lovable and real.
I will definitely recommend it.

It’s 2013, and both Yuhno and Myunghee live in North Korea where you never know when you’ll run into a soldier. Both are determined to escape; Yuhno hopes to reunited with his omma, Myunghee wants to pursue dreams she won’t be able to in North Korea. When Myunghee saves Yuhno’s life, the two start on a journey to freedom.

However, the journey to freedom and safety is a treacherous one. Will they both make it to their destination before something else gets to them?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho to review! One of the things that drew me to this graphic novel was the art on the cover by Deb JJ Lee. It is stunning, just like the art in the rest of the book. There are some truly beautiful panels in this book, even if the story itself isn’t always the most beautiful.

Reading this, you might think that it happened a long time ago, but it isn’t as long ago as you might think. Because North Korea is so closed off from the rest of the world, it isn’t focused on as much in history or social studies classes. Putting this story in graphic novel form definitely makes it accessible to teens, and the story is sure to hook you from the beginning.

The emotions throughout this journey also come through beautifully. It’s not an easy subject to tackle, and Cho and Lee do it in a way that is easily accessible for teens and adults alike. Definitely a heart-wrenching, gripping story you’ll want to have on your TBR!

A truly inspiring account of something that people should be raising much more awareness for, a breathtaking read both with its writing and its art.

Cho juxtaposes the bleak with the hopeful in this narrative through the alternating perspectives of Yunho and Myunghee. Two children, strangers to one another, forge a friendship in China after their escape from North Korea, but their journey isn't over yet. Under risk of being repatriated, readers follow Yunho and Myunghee working in a Christmas lights manufacturing factory, hopping safe houses, and narrowly avoiding capture. What was done really well was the undercurrent of anxiety and danger without the full visual--partly due to this being a middle grade level book--but I think that made me even more weary of what I wasn't seeing. As things similar to the events in this story happen every day in the real world, sharing stories like this is what will hopefully generate compassion, empathy, and understanding which will bring more people together than tearing them apart. Lee's illustrations complemented the narrative with their heartwrenching beauty. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this work via NetGalley and the publisher.

I had some file issues, so it was hard reading the full book in one sitting. However, it was an interesting and captivating story that could be heart wrenching at times. The watercolor-like art style was an interesting choice that made the story seem a little more real.

The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina M. Cho and Deb J.J. Lee tells the dual story of two children, Yunho and Myunghee, and their escape from North Korea.

This book was excellent and moving. The art does the job of distinguishing between the two perspectives of the children fairly well and I was constantly moved by the journey and trials Yunho and Myunghee had to endure just for a better life. I'll definitely be getting this for my library.

Yunho and Myunghee are kids living in North Korea. Every day is a fight for survival, be it avoiding soldiers, bartering and scavenging for food, etc. They know their only hope for their futures is to sneak across the border to China, but even there they run the risk of being captured. Still, a chance at freedom outweighs the risks involved. The kids start off on different paths but are reunited after a chance meeting at the beginning of their escape.

I knew this was going to be a difficult read going in. It's hard to grasp that the events in this book aren't far off history or works of dystopian fiction. The book is set in 2013, but the situation is still relevant. The story and the illustrations portray this in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. Despite the horrific things the characters face, this is a story filled with hope.

Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperAlley and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

This book is inspiring with it's touching story. I think many children from different countries can relate to the story at some point. All the struggles that immigrant children go through daily. There were moments that made me so sad for the characters because they went through so much suffering just to stay alive. Their only hope was to move to a better place. Moving also comes with different struggles like language barriers which can cause anxiety and fear. I think kids would benefit from reading this book because it allows them to put themselves in someone else's shoes and learn what life is like on the other side.

The Other Side of Tomorrow is a beautiful graphic novel about 2 young children that are trying to flee from North Korea to safety. The illustrations were wonderful, and I definitely connected with the characters and the prose. I felt like the story and the stakes were told really well.

Thanks to Tina Cho, HarperCollins Children's, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this. I really liked the whole story and the journey the main characters went through. I actually felt like I learnt things, but it was laced with preaching and a lot of if you pray, all will be well and I felt like the whole underlying message was about christianity, it was not what I signed up for and it really tanked the whole book for me...

The Other Side of Tomorrow is an incredibly beautiful graphic novel about two children fleeing from North Korea. Yunho's omma snuck across the border years before and he wants to get back to her. Myunghee is recently orphaned and dreams of her freedom in another country. The story is told through their alternating perspectives, showing their lives in North Korea and the different challenges they faced as they tried to escape. The art is full color and absolutely gorgeous and the prose is very poetic and beautiful, even as it treads on difficult subjects. Any fan of graphic novels will enjoy this for the art and anyone with even a passing interest in what is happening in North Korea will enjoy it for the story.

This is a story that as a white American you don't really think about. Sometimes we are so blind to people from other countries stuggles and it shouldn't be that way. The story is very compelling and gripping, it sucks you in. I fully binged the entire book in a little over an hour. The story combined with the illustration style is a beautiful combination. Highly highly recommend this story.