Race to Freedom In the novel The Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi, the protagonist Sookan recounts her experience during the period in which Korea divided in North Korea and South Korea. Sookan also recounts her experience when she fled to South Korea during the expansion of communism. Sookan and her family struggle to survive and stay motivated through degrading and dangerous events ("Sook Nyul Choi." Leading Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults). The setting of the novel is set between 1945 and 1946, during the period of Japanese occupation and the introduction of communism. In August 1945, Japan lost to the Allies (Clark 18). When they lost to the Allies, they also lost their empire on the Asian continent (Clark 18). The United States and the Soviet Red Army have control over splitting Korea and forming a new government for them. The border separating North and South Korea is the 38th parallel (Clark 19). Many people living in North Korea attempted to flee to South Korea, which the United States had control over and did not participate in communism. The novel begins in P'yŏngyang, Korea, during the Japanese occupation, which is near the end of the world. Second War. The main character, Sookan, is ten years old and lives under cruel treatment during the Japanese occupation ("Sook Nyul Choi." Leading Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults). After the Japanese occupation he also dealt with the Russian conquest of North Korea. Sookan expresses the trials and tribulations she faces in her life, with herself and her family ("Sook Nyul Choi." Leading Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults). Captain Narita is the antagonist of the novel. It is cruel and callous... middle of paper... communism resulting from Russia's seizure of power; and his escape to South Korea. During this time, it was a matter of deciding where you wanted to be, North Korea or South Korea (Clark 19). Like Sookan and her family, many wanted to escape to South Korea. It became a race for freedom. Works Cited Choi, Sook Nyul. Year of impossible goodbyes. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991. Print.Clark, Donald N. "1. The Story of the Korean People." Culture and customs of Korea. SantaBarbara, CA: Greenwood, 2000. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Network. April 19, 2014."Sook Nyul Choi." Young adult authors and artists. vol. 38. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Biography in context. Network. April 23, 2014. "Sook Nyul Choi." Main Authors and Illustrators for Children and Teens. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in context. Network. 23 April 2014. “Religion”. Religion. Np, nd Web. April 21. 2014.