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"This Is Paradise!" is the riveting account of Hyok Kang's childhood in North Korea and his escape to China and , eventually, South Korea. What makes this book unique is that it provides a glimpse into the North Korea of the 1990s from a child's perspective. Moreover, Kang is quite an artist, and his sketches of select scenes from his North Korean childhood and his escape add considerably to this book. Hyok Kang's "This Is Paradise!" comes following the success of Kang Chul Hwan's best-seller, "The Aquariums of Pyongyang", the first book written by a North Korean refugee about life in North Korea and escape from the communist country. Hyok Kang's account is shorter than Kang Chul Hwan's, and it does not provide the same detailed historical background of North Korea or the opinionated analysis found in "The Aquariums of Pyongyang." This is understandable considering that Kang Chul Hwan is significantly older than Hyok Kang (who was only born in 1986). Kang Chul Hwan had also spent significantly more time in South Korea before writing his book, giving him more of a chance to learn about communism worldwide and the recent history on the Korean peninsula. While there are many parallels between this book and "Aquariums of Pyongyang," Hyok Kang's situation was notably different from that of Kang Chul Hwan. Whereas Kang Chul Hwan living in North Korea during the 1970s and 80s, when Kim Il Sung was president, Hyok Kang experienced North Korea under the rule of Kim Jong Il in the 1990s, when there was a severe shortage of food and a reported 3 million people died of starvation. While Kang Chul Hwan came from a privileged family living in Pyongyang, Hyok Kang hails from the Northeastern city of Onsong, far removed from the capital. Unlike Kang Chul Hwan, Hyok Kang never spent time in a North Korean gulag, although the harshness of the circumstances he lived through was reminiscent of Kang Chul Hwan's experience. Their escapes from North Korea also differed considerably. Whereas Kang Chul Hwan escaped along with a friend, Hyok Kang escaped together with his family. While Kang Chul Hwan was able to go directly from China to South Korea, Hyok Kang and his family reached South Korea via a circuitous route through Southeast Asia. Hyok Kang has an amazing story to tell, and his impressive illustrations allow the reader to visualize life in North Korea. While Hyok Kang's tale corroborates with Kang Chul Hwan's account, his experience differs significantly enough to make this book another essential reading for anyone interested in the human rights situation in North Korea. In fact, "This Is Paradise!" is such a remarkable story that it can be read and appreciated by anyone.Read full review
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