The Girl with Seven Names

A North Korean Defector’s Story

By: Hyeonseo Lee, David John

Narrated by: Josie Dunn

New York Times best seller

An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships - and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.

As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and, as the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told, 'the best on the planet'?

Aged 17, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be 12 years before she was reunited with her family.

©2019 Hyeonseo Lee (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"The most riveting TED talk ever." (Oprah)

"Hyeonseo Lee brought the human consequences of global inaction on North Korea to the world's doorstep...Against all odds she escaped, survived, and had the courage to speak out." (Samantha Power, US representative to the UN)

"This is a powerful story of an escapee from North Korea. In the hallowed meeting rooms of the United Nations in New York, ambassadors from North Korea recently sought to shout down stories like this. But these voices will not be silenced. Eventually freedom will be restored. History will vindicate Hyeonseo Lee and those like her for the risks they ran so that their bodies and their minds could be free. And so that we could know the truth." (Michael Kirby, chair of the UN commission on human rights abuses in North Korea)

Enthralling true story

This book held my attention throughout. There was an element of “what’s going to happen next” throughout! Danger, intrigue, was almost ever-present. I found myself thinking, “what would I do if in this circumstance?” I have so much admiration for the author, her keen mind, and heart. And there were miracles in this story, which I consider divine intervention and tender mercies of the Lord!

Amaxing, true epic

What is it like to escape North Korea as a teenager and then need to support oneself ? Hide your identity? Not see your mother or brother for more than 10 years? An amazing true story!

favorite book I've read in a long time

Sorry but I'm going to have to take North Korea off my bucket list

wonderful!

I loved the story! I wish the narrator had a Korean accent instead of British.
I think it would have brought more life and realism into Lee's experiences. Even so, I highly recommend!

Amazing.

I’m so amazed by the strength of the author and the North Korean people! Thank you for sharing your story!