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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 (119 ratings)

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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
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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
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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)

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
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    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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Amazing

This woman's story is absolutely gripping. The strength, wit and willpower that she didn't even know she had is something to be admired. This is slightly different than most North Korean defectors story. Hyeonseo spent most of her life outside North Korea but still has to struggle with her life and hide her identity. It's an interesting side to see that just escaping North Korea is not enough to be free or accepted.

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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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    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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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An impressive young women who uses her extensive natural intelligence to navigate a complex journey with cool skill and inventiv

She describes a v high level of skill and committment to adapting to seven different environments and be an outstanding success. Also showin grit and determination she created and accomplished a risky and difficult enterprise.
She never lost sight of who she was what she wanted to become for herself and her mother and brother.
A truly exceptional young lady . It would be my privilege to meet her and tell her in person.
Can you make this happen.? She is so resourceful she could make it happen.

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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
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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masterpiece

if I had to sum up the story telling, adventure and narration of this book in one word, i would wholeheartedly choose incredible.

there were moments where I laughed, cried, and had to pause I was so stressed.

the author is well spoken, resilient, kind and honest. her descriptions of the places and people of north and south korea, as well as China, laos and beyond had me completely entranced in another world.

overall, this novel is a 10/10 and shines a light on the current state of North korea. I encourage anyone to read who wants to know more about the politics, the incredible people, and the courage it takes to be a person in north korea. thank you to the author for writing this book. these stories are so important and the grace and openess she handled this with was inspiring.

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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

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
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Must Listen

I’ve heard and listened to many accounts of North Korean defectors. I’m always amazed and inspired by their accounts as I try to get a picture painted in my mind more and more of what North Korea is like and what people there are going through. Hyeonseo’s account is very detailed and unhurried, and helps paint that picture very well. Her bravery and determination against awful odds over and over is inspiring.

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