Fifth Post - When My Name Was Keoko

The theme of the story is patriotism, or nationalism(?). It's like even though Japanese took away their name, language, and national tree, they are still Korean and they are not giving up. When the Japanese took away their names, they didn't accept it, and kept their names in their heart. Although they were not allowed to speak Korean, they spoke it inside their house. Also uncle fought for independence and didn't just give up, this shows that although the Japanese might have took away Koreans physical body and the land, they cannot take away their personality and cannot change the fact that they are Korean. This book shows that a person could be changed outside, but cannot be changed spiritually by just forcing them.

Fourth Post - When My Name was Keoko

There are two main character in this book. These two main characters are Sun-Hee and Tae-Yul. There are more characters, who are related to Tae-Yul and Sun-Hee, which are Uncle, Mother, Father, Mrs. Ahn, and Tae-Yul and Sun-Hee's friends. Sun-Hee and Tae-Yul talks about their point of view in different events that occured to them. Uncle disappears when the story is about to start. He runs away from the Japanese because Sun-Hee tells him that they're looking for him, which was a mistake. Tae-Yul, later on the story, goes to an army to help his family and to rescue his uncle. Sun-Hee, not like Tae-Yul, stays home and doesn't do anything. In the story, I think Tae-Yul and Uncle is really brave, but Sun-Hee and her father isn't. They just stay at home doing nothing, but obeying the Japanese. Their mother, I think, is brave is well because in the story she hides the Sharon Tree, although she knew that she was going to get punished if the Japanese found out. Mrs. Ahn is one of their neighbour, who cannot speak Japanese. When they did the account, Mrs. Ahn spoke Korean and the soldiers half killed her. Although she got whipped by the Japanese, Mrs. Ahn didn't allow Sun-Hee to teach her more than five numbers. She said it was because she wouldn't allow them to have another hand, but only her five fingers. That was really touching. By reading this, I think Mrs. Ahn is another brave character. Later on, Sun-Hee finds out that Mrs. Ahn hid resistence workers when the Japanese were looking for them, I was really surprised. The most courgeous character in this book, I think, is either Uncle or Tae-Yul. Uncle worked for resistence and Tae-Yul went to the army to help his family. I think the characters make the book more interesting.

Third Post - When my name was Keoko

This story's about a girl called Sun-hee and a boy called Tae-yul. In the story, Korea is invaded by Japan. This is about how cruel the Japanese were when they were in control. Sun-hee and Tae-yul writes about their point of view in what it's happening. Japanese are trying to take away everything from Koreans, but they think that they are helping Korea! The Great Emperor! Yeah, as if! They could at least be honest! They could of said, "We are taking your names to make you suffer!" I hope the story ends with, "The Japanese failed the war and all died." What a happy ending. Anyways the setting is when the Japanese were controlling Korea with weird and perthatic rules, but Koreans does not allow them to take their identity! The book, although it's a fiction, tells us how painful it was to be under Japanese rule. I can feel the pain that people had. When I reading this book, I really really really wanted to see Japan sink (Is this mean?).
I think this is the best historical fiction I'd ever read.

Second Post - Secret

Secret is a useless thing. It's a thing that a person wants to keep it byitself.
This was when I was in elementry. I was the only Korean in the school, so I had friends but they weren't really true friends. Then one day a Korean boy came to our school. He was in our class ( I forgot his name). The teacher asked me to help him. He was mean, he liked to tease me, but sometimes he was nice. When I was third grade, he was still in the same class. Then a Koran girl came. She was called Hanna. She was pretty nice... She liked to show off and read books. She carried books everywhere! Even to the bathroom! Well since she was the only Korean girl, I sort of played with her a lot, although we always fought... One day that boy said that they were moving close to our house. I think I was happy, but I didn't really know what liking somebody was and I was busy fighting with the show off girl. I liked to play with him after shool, but sometimes he was annoying. I invited him to my birthday party and he also said "yes". It seemed like there was no problem, but always when I thought that the show off girl came. She was... I don't know (like Seo Young and Kelly mixed together). When we were together, we both acted nice and was kind to each other, but in out hearts we were like, 'how can I make her suffer'. With all that fighting, the year past. I went into the new classroom shinning brightly as a star. The classroom was so beautiful and was so hmm... shinning? I looked around the room, then I felt something unpleasant(black ora) coming towards me! It was Hanna! The room suddenly went black. I could imagine, the year listening to that show off girl. The days went slowly, it wasn't bad after all. Then one day, as usuall she was reading a book. She slowly puts her knowledgable head towards me and whispers,
"Do you like that boy?"
My heart started to beat crazilly, I answered,
"No"
She ruined everything! But after that day I asked myself,
"Why did I like him?"
Maybe I was too young. He wasn't even handsome.

First Post - Courage

Courage is the mental strength to overcome your fears and take the initiative.
When I was in first grade, I was able to ride a four wheeled bike, but was afraid to ride the two wheeled bike. There was already a two wheeled bike at our house, but I was afraid that I might fall off while riding it. Looking at the bike, I decided to try it. It wasn't too bad when my dad was holding the bike, but when I fell off, I wanted to stop. The bike was looking at me as if it was saying "Please don't give off, try one more time," listening to the advice, I got on the bike. This time I rode without the help of my dad. It didn't go well on the first day, but the second day was different. As the days went I got better and better and soon I wasn't afraid of falling off the bike.
I'm not sure, but I think this is an example of courage.