Sook Nyul Choi
Encyclopedia
Sook Nyul Choi is a Korean American
children's storybook
author.
. Choi writes about her own experiences as a young refugee from North Korea during the Korean War
through her heroines in her books. She said, "I now have two countries, my native country of Korea, and my adopted country, the United States, through my writing, I want to bring to life the history and culture of Korea to share with all my American friends."
In her first young adult book, The Year of Impossible Goodbyes (1991), Choi writes about the topic of an immigrant's adjustment to life in the United States through the story of the 10-year-old Sookan and her life in Korea during the aftermath of World War II
. The book won numerous awards including Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Notable Book and Judy Lopez Book Award by the National Women's Book Association. It has been translated into several languages including Korean, French, Italian, and Japanese.
Her books can be used not only to promote reading and writing, but also to tie literature into the social studies curriculum in middle schools, high schools, and also political science at the college level. Choi's books explore themes of communism, freedom, international politics, and interaction among nations. They can be used to teach about socio-geopolitical events and historical realities of Asian nations, including how big powers affect the fate of small nations.
, now part of North Korea
. During the Korean War
, she fled to South Korea
. She emigrated to the United States
to pursue higher education, earning her B.A.
from Manhattanville College
in 1962 and becoming a school teacher in New York. She later moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts
, where she began working as a writer, lecturer, and creative writing teacher. She is the widow of Nung Ho Choi, with whom she had two daughters. The older daughter, Kathleen Choi, was a child actress
on Sesame Street
, and in 1993 went on to marry John J. H. Kim of Fort Lee, New Jersey
, the great-grandson of Korean prime minister Kim Hong-jip. The younger daughter Audrey Choi was formerly chief-of-staff of the Council of Economic Advisers
, and married Robert C. Orr
, an aide to Richard Holbrooke
, in 2000.
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
children's storybook
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
author.
Writing
Choi's native language is KoreanKorean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
. Choi writes about her own experiences as a young refugee from North Korea during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
through her heroines in her books. She said, "I now have two countries, my native country of Korea, and my adopted country, the United States, through my writing, I want to bring to life the history and culture of Korea to share with all my American friends."
In her first young adult book, The Year of Impossible Goodbyes (1991), Choi writes about the topic of an immigrant's adjustment to life in the United States through the story of the 10-year-old Sookan and her life in Korea during the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The book won numerous awards including Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Notable Book and Judy Lopez Book Award by the National Women's Book Association. It has been translated into several languages including Korean, French, Italian, and Japanese.
Her books can be used not only to promote reading and writing, but also to tie literature into the social studies curriculum in middle schools, high schools, and also political science at the college level. Choi's books explore themes of communism, freedom, international politics, and interaction among nations. They can be used to teach about socio-geopolitical events and historical realities of Asian nations, including how big powers affect the fate of small nations.
Personal life
Choi was born in PyongyangPyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, now part of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, she fled to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. She emigrated to the United States
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
to pursue higher education, earning her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
in 1962 and becoming a school teacher in New York. She later moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, where she began working as a writer, lecturer, and creative writing teacher. She is the widow of Nung Ho Choi, with whom she had two daughters. The older daughter, Kathleen Choi, was a child actress
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
on Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, and in 1993 went on to marry John J. H. Kim of Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
, the great-grandson of Korean prime minister Kim Hong-jip. The younger daughter Audrey Choi was formerly chief-of-staff of the Council of Economic Advisers
Council of Economic Advisers
The Council of Economic Advisers is an agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy...
, and married Robert C. Orr
Robert C. Orr
Robert Cameron Orr, Ph.D currently serves as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General...
, an aide to Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
, in 2000.
Books
- Year of the Impossible Goodbyes. New York: Dell, 1991, ISBN 0440407591
- Echoes of the White Giraffe, Houghton Mifflin, 1993
- Halmoni and the Picnic, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1993
- Gathering of Pearls, Houghton Mifflin, 1994
- The Best Older Sister, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 1997
- Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip, Houghton Mifflin, 1997, ISBN 0395811805
Awards
| Book | Awards |
|---|---|
| Year of the Impossible Goodbyes | Judy Lopez Book Award by the National Women's Book Association, 1992. Selected for "Best Books for Young Adults" list by the Young Adult Library Services Association Young Adult Library Services Association The Young Adult Library Services Association , established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. The mission of YALSA is to advocate, promote and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library service, and to support those who provide service to... (YALSA) Selected for "Best Books for the Teen Age 1992" list by the New York Public Library New York Public Library The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries... for young people, ages 12–18. American Library Association Notable Book Selected for "Bulletin Blue Ribbon for 1991" by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A "Hungry Mind Review" Book of Distinction State Book Awards Master Reading Lists: States of Alabama, Kansas, Maine, Utah, Vermont, Illinois, Georgia, and Indiana. School Library Journal School Library Journal The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,... List of "One Hundred Books Too Good to Miss", 1998. |
| Echoes of the White Giraffe | State Book Award Master Reading List: Tennessee |
| Halmoni and the Picnic | Silver Burdett Gin Textbook Series Featured on the Reading Rainbow Reading Rainbow Reading Rainbow is an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until November 10, 2006 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's... television series Important Books for the 1990s, Whole Language Teaching Association Skippig Stones Honor Award, 1994 |
| Gathering of Pearls | 1995 Books for the Teen Age Award |
| Other Awards | Fulbright Scholar Award, 2004 Literary Lights for Children Award by Associates of the Boston Public Library Boston Public Library The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to... , 2009 |
External links
- Papertigers.org - Interview with author Sook Nyul Choi
- Harvard Family Research Project - Interview with Sook Nyul Choi