Blaine Harden
Escape from Camp
14 is a raw, remarkable, eye-opening biography
about one boy’s escape from a secret North Korean prison camp.
Biographer Blaine Harden spent many years having
to pry Shin Dong-hyuk’s story from him because of Shin’s lack of trust. However,
the final story is a masterpiece. Shin was born and lived in a prison camp in
North Korea until his early twenties, when he finally escaped by sheer luck. Shin
was told he was to remain in prison throughout his life to pay for the sins of
his uncles, and Shin believed his guards. Shin never once questioned why he was
in the camps until certain events and individuals caused him to plan his
escape. He was taught to steal, lie, hit, and hurt anyone for
self-preservation. He did not understand love, forgiveness, or trust. Shin is
the only person to be born in a North Korean prison camp and to then escape.
His story is a courageous tale that helps us to understand the inequality and
hatred that still exist in the twenty-first century.
Shin’s story of imprisonment is one many thousands of
people share. Escape from Camp 14 is
an educational, enticing book.
- Katie Lowe
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