Contemporary Fiction: Star of the North by D.B. John

In general, I try to avoid books about war, and stories labeled as "thrillers" that involve spies, political intrigue, government conspiracies, etc. So when I picked up Star of the North by D.B. John, I was certainly going against my better judgment. With the three different story lines moving and converging against a North Korean backdrop, I knew I was potentially in for a hard time as this book seemingly contained exactly the type of story elements I avoid. But instead of a lot of anxiety and heartache, I was surprised with genuine curiosity and delight.

The Situation: Jenna Williams has spent her academic career studying North Korea. She knows the language, is half-Korean herself, and has a more personal reason for getting to know a country that many consider to be the most dangerous place on Earth. In June of 1998, Jenna's twin sister disappeared from a beach in South Korea. While she has since been declared dead with drowning listed as the official cause, a body was never found, and Jenna has managed to hold onto the belief that her sister was abducted, and may still be alive. Meanwhile, back in the North Korean capitol of Pyongyang, Colonel Cho has just received an impressive promotion and will be traveling to New York City to oversea negotiations with the U.S. And Mrs. Moon, a poor peasant in a province of North Korea, has found a balloon carrying banned products from the west. After some smart dealing and quick thinking, she is able to become a major player on the Korean black market.

The Problem: Jenna has a usual day of teaching college students interrupted by the appearance of a high-ranking official. Apparently the CIA thinks she would be better suited for their organization than to the life of a tenured professor. At first she declines the offer, believing she isn't CIA material. But when the albeit small chance to use CIA resources to find her sister takes place in her mind, she finds herself accepting the position and entering the training program. This decision will propel her into events she never imagined she could be a part of, while also bringing her into close proximity with Colonel Cho, whose life is also about to change. Despite being incredibly successful in his trip to New York City, the worst thing imaginable has happened: a terrible family secret has been found in Cho's past. This revelation could not only result in the loss of his job, but also his family, his status, and ultimately, his life. And while Mrs. Moon may have found nominal success on the black market, for every two steps she makes forward, the North Korean government forces her and her community three steps back, causing her to make decisions that endanger what little freedom she does enjoy.

Genre, Themes, History: The is a fiction novel that has also been placed under the heading of thriller. I could even argue for the heading of historical fiction despite the main action occurring in 2010-2011. What John does is take real events the took place at the time in North Korea and add his own characters and situations. Also, he takes some of the elements of real life in North Korea and uses them in the book. Telling the difference between what is fiction and what was drawn from real life is not easy, mostly because what often happens in North Korea is much stranger than fiction. But the The Abductions Program was real: a program where people were abducted off of beaches in Japan and South Korea and were taken to North Korea for a life of various forms of slavery and eventual death. The Seed-Bearing Program is also real, where North Korean women were sent out to become pregnant by men of various races. These children would grow up to be trained as spies with the hope that the way they look could help them better infiltrate other countries. Also real in John's book is the way North Korea treats Christians and Christianity. The only religion allowed is the worship of the Dear Leader; essentially nothing else is tolerated, much less a religion that is often associated with the U.S. John uses these real situations and institutions as backdrops for his fictional characters. Jenna Williams gives us a look at an intelligent half Korean, half African-American woman who would do anything to locate the sister she is convinced is still alive. Colonel Cho is a loyal North Korean, right up until his country is no longer loyal to him. And Mrs. Moon is a feisty sexagenarian who is not afraid to fight for her own survival, as well as that of the people she loves, come what may.

My Verdict: Clearly, something drew me to this book despite my default setting of avoiding this kind stuff. Perhaps it was the interweaving story lines, which I am always a sucker for when it is done well, and John certainly does it well. It is not forced, but instead the plot flows smoothly as details are given freely without becoming tangled or burdensome. Naturally, North Korea makes for a harsh and intense setting, but John does the seemingly impossible and places the reader within the country without scaring you away from the story. Even when it is clear danger is on the way, or at least watching and waiting, the compelling characters and situations kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of political details that were over my head, but I never felt lost or even bored. From the beginning, even knowing where the book was headed and what kind of situations I could end up reading about, I knew I was going to enjoy this book, and I was never disappointed at any point along the way.

Favorite Moment: When Jenna passed one of her CIA tests by fighting her way out of an interrogation. 

Favorite Character: Mrs. Moon is a tough woman who has not had an easy life, but she continues to work hard, and even manages to outsmart many in her attempt to provide for herself and those she cares about. She is even willing to take considerable risks to her own life if it means saving someone she loves.

Recommended Reading: Like I said, I do not read many political thrillers, so I recommend the nonfiction title Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos, which explores life in modern China.