Book Review: The Girl with Seven Names
What is it about?
The Girl with Seven Names, Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee is the memoir of a North Korean woman Hyeonseo who shares experience of her life in North Korea and how her curiosity to see the outside world led her to cross a river into China to visit her uncle and aunt. But as it turns out, her circumstances make it impossible to go back and she was forced to live under false identities, constantly on the run, navigating a world where a single mistake could mean imprisonment or death. Her journey spans over a decade from growing up in one of the world’s most secretive regimes to building a new life in South Korea. It is a story of courage, fear, and the resilience required to rebuild a life when your very identity becomes a matter of survival.
Why it appealed to me?
Lately, I’ve been more curious about the world around me. North Korea was one country I barely knew anything about, so when a colleague recommended this book, I was instantly intrigued. I wanted to understand what everyday life looks like under a dictatorship, and through Hyeonseo’s story, I learned things that were both shocking and heartbreaking. Fear was part of daily life - every home had to display photographs of the leaders, and people could be fined if the frames were dusty or not taken care of properly. Public executions were carried out for small mistakes like trying to cross the border or watching foreign movies, sending a clear message of control. The education system itself was deceptive, teaching children that the outside world was poor, dangerous and even bad, while only North Korea and its leaders were portrayed as the best. Some of the experiences described, I’m not even sure if they are still true today - but if they are, it is sad to imagine people still living that way.
I was inspired by the resilience she showed in life to make her way into an unknown world when she escaped and got completely cut off from her family. Honestly few of her survival stories were very chilling but also very inspiring at the same time because human mind is capable to fight against every odd if the person wants to and shows enough courage. There were easy way outs for her, but she chose the path to freedom, not just for herself but also for her family. This also made me realised how some things are universal no matter where you live: the love within families, the bond between parents and children, the longing to protect the people you care about.
And then there is identity, something most of us never think twice about. For Hyeonseo, her name kept changing as she moved through different places, until she sometimes felt unsure of who she really was. Reading that made me pause and appreciate the freedom we have to simply to be ourselves without fear.
Should you read it?
Yes, especially if like me, you want to understand more about the world we live in. This book doesn’t just give you facts about North Korea, it makes you feel what it might be like to grow up there, to live in constant fear, and then to suddenly face the uncertainty of freedom. It’s not always easy to read, some parts are heartbreaking and heavy but it is eye‑opening and worth it. Beyond North Korea itself, it’s also a story about courage, family, and the search for identity, which are themes that connect to all of us. The whole book feels like watching a movie about a world most of us don’t know - the story of a survivor. Once you start reading, it’s hard to put down. It’s very well written and really pulls you in.