When My Name Was Keoko

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade historical fiction
• Originally Published: 2002
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 670L; grades 4-7
• Structure/Length: 32 chapters; approx. 208 pages; approx. 6 hours, 12 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Korean 10-year-old Sun-hee and her 13-year-old brother Tae-yul narrate this story set during the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. After the Japanese declare Korean language and culture illegal, Sun-hee, Tae-yul, and their family rebel in subtle ways to keep their identities alive, putting them all in danger.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Depictions of wartime violence and violence against civilians

Linda Sue Park, Author

• Bio: Born in 1960 in Urbana, IL; daughter of immigrants from Korea; writer of novels, nonfiction, poetry, and picture books for young readers; served as a panelist for the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award, and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
• Other Works: Archer’s Quest (2006); A Long Walk to Water (2010); Prairie Lotus (2020)
• Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2003); ALA Notable Book for Children (2003)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Resistance and Liberation Occur Differently for Every Individual
• Sacrifice and Struggle Deepen the Appreciation for Community
• The Ability to Shift Morals and Expectations During War

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will: