Review by Twylla -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

[Twylla]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Vanished by Pejay Bradley tells the story of the life of Kim Embon, the son of a privileged Korean family. Embon lived the life of a prince with his mother, Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon. Born in the summer of 1912, Embon entered the world under some ominous conditions. He was born in the Year of the Rat, in the summer and during the day. In Korean culture, this meant that he would be unsuccessful in his life, and he would never be wealthy.

Embon, a child prodigy in school, was accepted into the prestigious Hokkaido Imperial University during his junior year of high school. While at the university, he met a group of young revolutionaries who inspired him to join the fight for freedom from the Japanese. At this point in Korea’s history, they were trying to break free from Japanese rule. These young men were arrested for plotting against Japan. When they were released, they all went their separate ways. Embon was sent back home to heal from the torture and sickness he endured while he was in the custody of the police. Once his health was restored, his mother arranged a marriage for him. Embon was not interested, but the dutiful son went along with it. The girl’s father, Mr. Seoh, was also in the fight to liberate his country, but his role was more behind the scenes than Embon's role. The story of Embon continued as he participated in various assignments for the independence of Korea.

The character development was my favorite thing about the book. There were only a few characters in the story, but they were developed very well. My favorite characters in this book were Embon and his three friends at the university. They were true patriots who loved their country and would do anything to preserve their culture and their freedom. This book is very educational about a subject I was not even aware of. I learned that Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910 to 1945, and the Empire of Japan waged an all-out war on Korean culture for thirty-five years.

One of my favorite parts of the story was King Gojong’s 64th birthday party. They served a new American specialty food at the party called “sandwiches.” That was very humorous.

I think the “palza” that prevailed at Embon’s birth had no more credibility than our astrology zodiac signs. He was very successful, but not with money and fame. He was a child prodigy in school. As an adult, he transformed himself into a revolutionary freedom fighter who was willing to give his life for the independence of Korea, if necessary. That is a life well-lived!

The book is charming and extremely well-written, with interesting descriptions of day-to-day life in Korea. The book was professionally edited, but I did find a couple of typos. The Korean history and culture woven into the story were very interesting. This book would appeal to fans of historical fiction, as well as readers who enjoy stories about deep friendships. If you are sensitive to violence, you may want to pass on this book. I can’t name anything I didn’t like about The Vanished. I am giving this book an enthusiastic rating of 4 out of 4 stars.

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The Vanished
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[Ndiviwe]

I'm not a fan of historical novel because they get very intense for my sensitive self but I can appreciate young revolutionaries fighting for freedom of their people. The review was written exceptionally well.