I enjoyed the story, but I want to preface my review with this thought: I think if you’re unfamiliar with the Korean language and culture, it may take a bit more work to catch everything that’s talked about. A lot of Korean words are sprinkled in and while they are often translated, sometimes a reader may need to rely on context clues. If you have at least a basic Korean language vocabulary built, then you may find that the mixed in language adds to the story. The voice actor seamlessly delivered the narration, and the flow was very pleasant and easy to listen to, albeit a tad slow.

The story was evenly paced and well-mapped out. This really was an emotional journey— often-times heart wrenching. As a mother, I felt that I could easily put myself in a place where I could imagine her feelings, understand her actions, and sympathize with her situation.

I did feel that the ending was a bit anticlimactic, especially after such an emotional journey. Maybe I was looking for a bit more closure? With that said, the author’s note was very touching and gave me a lot of insight into the story. The idea of finding your place when there doesn’t seem to be one for you had me really reflecting on my personal situation.

“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.”

Thank you Brilliance Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced readers copies! I decided to do the advanced listeners copy rather than read the digital arc as it’s easier for me right now and I liked the narrator.

Along the veins of Pachinko and Peach Blossom Spring, this historical fiction is set in mostly Japan and is deeply influenced by the real life story of the author’s grandmother. It’s both heartbreaking and inspiring, and insightful into what circumstances were like then. It addresses identity, culture, belonging, purpose, motherhood, faith and religion, and war. Miyoung is a resilient, smart, and devoted character that you can’t help but cheer on as challenges arise that put her in difficult and emotional situations.

While I did like it, it didn’t quite enamor me like Peach Blossom Spring, or even Pachinko. I don’t like comparing stories, especially if I know that it was inspired by an author’s life or someone they know. Still, I’m grateful to have been provided copies to read and the personal author’s note at the end is worth reading too. If you like historical fiction set in East Asia, you may also like this one. There’s another upcoming release called Stone Angels that seems to fall into this same category, so keep your eye out!

Content includes a brief romantic scene (not detailed), some racial discrimination, and death of various family members. 3.5 out of 5

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for my copy of White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton Narrated by Michelle H. Lee in exchange for an honest review. It published December 1, 2024.
First off, I have to say, that the narration was really well-done!
Wow! I listening to this book so quickly, I did not want to put it down. This story was so compelling and informative. Be sure to not skip the author’s note!
This book was very well-written, it’s totally readable and the character development was really good. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book at the time period where Japan was occupying Korea, and early on in the war, so I appreciated that perspective.

I love historical fiction that makes me think about historical events from a new perspective and sends me down a google hole to learn things I don’t know. This certainly did that. This story is based on the author’s grandmother, and the personal connection to the character is evident. It’s a sweet read about difficult choices that women have had to make to get along.

*White Mulberry* by Rosa Kwon Easton, narrated by Michelle H. Lee, is a profoundly eye-opening exploration of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience—one that will leave you thinking long after the audiobook has ended. This is a story that doesn’t just entertain; it challenges you to look beyond surface-level perceptions and dive deep into the complexities of family, heritage, and belonging.

The narrative weaves a poignant tale that spans generations, anchored in the life of a young woman caught between two worlds: the one she’s born into and the one she’s trying to build for herself in a new country. Easton’s writing is rich with texture, vivid imagery, and emotion, and Michelle H. Lee’s narration is the perfect vessel for this intricate and sometimes heartbreaking journey. Lee’s voice is steady and immersive, bringing a soothing yet powerful quality to the story as she effortlessly shifts between different characters, each with their own voice and experience.

What makes *White Mulberry* so eye-opening is its ability to show the deep, sometimes painful process of reconciling one’s heritage with the pressures and realities of living in a new culture. The book explores the immigrant experience not as a singular, monolithic narrative, but as a complex and multifaceted journey—full of love, loss, sacrifice, and resilience. It forces you to question what it means to belong, and how far one is willing to go to preserve one's roots while navigating a foreign world. Through the protagonist’s struggles, you come face to face with the sacrifices made by generations of immigrants and the nuanced struggles that come with the pursuit of both personal dreams and familial expectations.

What stands out most in this audiobook is how well it illuminates the tensions between the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. The rich cultural context is delicately presented, giving listeners insight into customs, traditions, and the emotional weight they carry. The white mulberry tree itself becomes a symbol of both endurance and the passage of time—a living reminder of the sacrifices that define the family’s journey and legacy.

Michelle H. Lee’s narration enhances these themes by infusing each line with the proper emotional depth, making the characters feel as real and relatable as the listeners themselves. Her ability to convey both the warmth of familial bonds and the sharpness of generational conflict brings a unique dimension to the storytelling, heightening the impact of the book’s most poignant moments.

*White Mulberry* is more than just a story—it’s a lens through which you can better understand the immigrant experience, the complexity of identity, and the universal search for belonging. Rosa Kwon Easton’s storytelling is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and Michelle H. Lee’s narration ensures that this is an audiobook you’ll not only listen to, but feel. It opens your eyes to the intricacies of family, culture, and the paths we choose in life—making it a truly essential listen for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the human experience.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Based on the life of the author's grandmother, WHITE MULBERRY follows Miyoung from a young age into adult- and motherhood. Born to the second wife of a some-what successful Korean business man, Miyoung and her sister never enjoyed much luxury in life. As both her sisters are married off to strange men (and sent to foreign countries for better opportunity), Miyoung clings desperately to the hope of furthering her education and escaping a similar fate.

When given the chance of immigrating to Japan to live with her middle sister to attend middle school, Miyoung leaps at the opportunity to escape her own arranged marriage. However, leaving a Japan-occupied Korea for the island nation itself exposes Miyoung to deep-rooted racism and hatred. Forced to choose between her identity as a Korean or success in her new country, Miyoung sets aside her past to focus on building a future.

Compelling and deeply personal, WHITE MULBERRY offers a glimpse into the lives of Koreans during the WWII era-- and the abuse they endured at the hands of their Japanese invaders. My biggest disappointment is this story feels only half finished and there wasn't a satisfying ending to Miyoung's arduous journey.

I have loved Korean/Japanese historical fiction ever since reading Pachinko. And this one did not disappoint. Miyoung faces many trials in her young life. She is a strong woman. That, I think it's what draws me to this time period and culture. The strength of the women. It is beautiful.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

White Mulberry tells the story of Miyoung, a young Korean girl born under Japanese occupation who will do whatever it takes to get an education, including moving to Japan and trying to pass as Japanese. As time goes on, she finds comfort in religion and an activist.

This was a very well told story that probably not a lot of white Americans know about. As bookstagrammer @winstonandbooks says “Japan really made out smelling like roses” as they have largely avoided being held accountable for the way they treated Koreans along with over a dozen other Asian countries they occupied throughout history.

This is a wonderful audio rendering of a fictional tale set in early-to-mid last century Japan and focusing on a young Korean girl who becomes a young woman and eventually makes her way back home. I enjoyed this new angle on Korean-Japanese history. The narration was superb. Still, the tale felt a bit shallow and romantic. While we have insights into the thoughts of our heroine, they feel prescribed and in service of moving the plot ahead. I felt that she was more of a conglomerate than a lived character. I couldn't understand her desire to go home after building a successful career in Japan, nor her desire to rip her son away from his family there. I felt she was selfish and ignorant. She hadn't thought things through, including who would take care of her son, if not her in-laws. Only mentions are made to some bullying her son experiences, which would've been a less self-centred and understandable driver; instead, she has this sudden epiphany that's she's a mother and wants her son all to herself. Woman have to want to have it all, I guess. I also feel that a real person would've probably experienced far greater barriers and hardships than our heroine, given what I've read about other contemporary events and given what I myself experience in Japan in the present day. I was also a bit troubled about the fact that the author waited until the inspiration for the story (also oddly named Halmeoni, like the grandmother) passed away before making this fictional account; apparently, the real person was uncomfortable with having her story told. Maybe my misgivings about the fictional character above were too true of an account to share openly. Still, it feels disrespectful without a clear indication that Halmeoni wished for a tale written "through her eyes."

2.5 stars rounded up.

White Mulberry follows Miyoung, a Korean girl in Peongyang during Japanese occupation. She moves to Japan to be able to continue her education, and she pretends to be Japanese to avoid discrimination. I picked this up because I'm interested in the time period, but I honestly didn't get much out of it. This is not my first Korean-occupation historical fiction read, but I am also not an expert in the time by any means. So I wanted more. The writing was not the best, and I quickly realized I would not be rating this book much higher than a 3.

The pacing of this book is off. It will randomly take huge time jumps that don't really make sense, and are done in a way that make big things just... not matter. And, as other reviews state, the end is super abrupt.

[spoilers ahead]
One thing that drove me crazy was that the main character is known to be smart, but she's just... not. When she wants to escape to Korea, she doesn't even think about the fact that someone will have to watch her son when she's at work. Also, the book ends in such a weird place historically. I understand that it's a pretty solid place to end the story, but it ends with an "and then they lived happier ever after" vibe when they are headed to Peongyang right before the Korean war starts? We know both Miyoung and her son are fine, because the author's note lets us know that her son is the author's father. But that sounds like the more interesting story, in my opinion! I just could not get over this random ending tied up in a bow in a period of time that was NOT stable.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/4

White Mulberry is a partly fictional account of the author's grandmother's life.

Miyoung lives with her mother and sister in northern Korea before World War II but as her mother's health deteriorates, first her sister then Miyoung are sent to Japan for a better life. Miyoung hopes to continue her education but after middle school she cannot afford the fees and gets a job as a maid then a nurse.

There is some romance in the form of another Korean ex-pat and Miyoung converts to Christianity also at this time.

Life is not easy for Miyoung as she has to pretend to be Japanese to get jobs and her belief that she needs to choose career or love almost leads to heartbreak.

I listened to the audio version of this book which was read clearly by Michelle H Lee. Ms Lee read without over dramatising despite there being several distressing episodes.

The epilogue is very interesting as the author explains her interest in her own background and the jeopardy her grandmother was in during her time in Japan and Korea. She says she toyed with the idea of writing this as non-fiction. I would have listened to either,

Generally an interesting book and well read. I would recommend it as a human interest/historical fiction novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the audio advance review copy.