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“I am most grateful for two things: that I was born in North Korea, and that I escaped from North Korea.” - Yeonmi ParkOne of the most harrowing stories I have ever heard - and one of the most inspiring. - The Bookseller“Park's remarkable and inspiring story shines a light on a country whose inhabitants live in misery beyond comprehension. Park's important memoir showcases the strength of the human spirit and one young woman's incredible determination to never be hungry again.” —Publishers WeeklyIn In Order to Live, Yeonmi Park shines a light not just into the darkest corners of life in North Korea, describing the deprivation and deception she endured and which millions of North Korean people continue to endure to this day, but also onto her own most painful and difficult memories. She tells with bravery and dignity for the first time the story of how she and her mother were betrayed and sold into sexual slavery in China and forced to suffer terrible psychological and physical hardship before they finally made their way to Seoul, South Korea—and to freedom. Park confronts her past with a startling resilience. In spite of everything, she has never stopped being proud of where she is from, and never stopped striving for a better life. Indeed, today she is a human rights activist working determinedly to bring attention to the oppression taking place in her home country. Park’s testimony is heartbreaking and unimaginable, but never without hope. This is the human spirit at its most indomitable.

In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom" by Yeonmi Park is a harrowing and inspiring account of one young woman's escape from one of the world's most oppressive regimes.

Born in North Korea in 1993, Yeonmi Park grew up witnessing the poverty, famine, and oppression of the Kim Jong-il regime. Her family was poor, and her father was a political prisoner. Yeonmi and her mother were forced to live in hiding, always fearing that they would be discovered and sent to a labor camp.

In 2007, when Yeonmi was 13 years old, her father escaped from North Korea. Her mother and Yeonmi followed him a year later, crossing the treacherous Tumen River into China. The journey was long and difficult, and Yeonmi and her mother were often sick and hungry. They were also in danger from the Chinese authorities, who would often arrest North Korean defectors and send them back to North Korea.

After a year in China, Yeonmi and her mother were able to make it to South Korea. They were granted asylum, and Yeonmi began to build a new life for herself. She learned Korean, went to school, and eventually became a human rights activist. She has spoken at the United Nations and has written a book about her experiences.

"In Order to Live" is a powerful and moving story that sheds light on the dark reality of life in North Korea. It is a testament to the strength and courage of one young woman who refused to give up on her dream of freedom.