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  • The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story

  • Written by: Hyeonseo Lee, David John
  • Narrated by: Josie Dunn
  • Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (111 ratings)

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The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story cover art

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story

Written by: Hyeonseo Lee, David John
Narrated by: Josie Dunn
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Publisher's Summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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

©2015 Hyeonseo Lee (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

What the critics say

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

"When I first met Hyeonseo Lee, the unflinching manner in which she told her story was inspirational. She experienced hunger, coldness, fear, terror, threats and pursuit. All this she had to endure, simply for being a North Korean refugee. But the one thing that she held on to was her humanity, ever stronger as she continuously sublimated her hardships into hope. This is a sad and beautiful story of a girl who could not even keep her name, yet overcome all with the identity of what it is to be human." (Jang Jin-sung, author of Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee - A Look Inside North Korea)

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What listeners say about The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story of a brave but naïve survivor.

Very engaging recount of one young woman’s journey from North Korea to ultimately freedom. She explains many questions I’ve wondered, like why do NKs put up with such human rights abuses? Because they have no concept of what human rights are! And why would anyone want to go back to NK?

Worth the read and I know I will reread again, probably soon!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Compellingly told

It was hard to put down this incredible story. The grit and resilience required for this journey is I fathomable. I loved the narration, very easy to listen to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

absolutely enthralling
incredible life story
beautifully written and read
tragic, inspiring, captivating and ultimately positive.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Strange narrator choice

The story being told is amazing. I would have much preferred a different narrator, as Josie Dunn is quite clearly British and none of the people in the story are.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

incredible story beautifully told.

Hard to imagine this girl actually made it and that the world tolerates the existence of such a cruel country.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth reading

Gives a good idea what North Korean life is like. Also a great look inside the secret life of defectors.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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grateful

This story helped me become truly grateful for what the the first world has accomplished.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Gripping

It's hard to believe that this story is true. Not because it sounds unrealistic, or too dramatic, but simply because the life I and everyone I know around me has grown up with is so starkly different. Life in North Korea is unimaginable for me, and I appreciate the inside look as to what it is actually like, as Hyunseo Lee takes us through her journey. This was written beautifully and held my interest the whole way through. To anyone who is unsure if this book is for you, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tremendously inspiring story

As Hyeonseo Lee relates her story of life under authoritarian rule, one can’t help but wonder how citizens living in democratic nations can even think of tolerating any slackening of the laws that protect their rights and freedoms. Hyeonseo’s handling of the many hardships that befell her while moving her mother, brother and self away from cruelty and dangers while heading towards freedom demonstrates her high level of brilliance and intelligence. A truly remarkable woman. She brought me to tears of sadness and happiness several times throughout the telling of her story.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Ton
  • 2023-05-03

Hard to put down

An incredible story, so tragic, how people who need so much help are shunned by most of the rest of the world. Well written, and totally gripping.

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