Every Falling Star

This book is about the author's experiences growing up in North Korea.  When he was young he lived a life of luxury. His father was a high ranking officer.  But then when Kim Il-sung died everything fell apart.  His father fell out of favor and they were all sent to live outside the city.  There they fell victims to the famine - his father went to find work and food and didn't return and then his mother also disappeared.  The author then became a street boy - begging, stealing, and fighting to survive.

For over 4 years the author survived in this way until he was found by his grandfather and later by his father who was in fact still alive.  

This was a great insight into what life was like in North Korea in the 1990s and early 2000s.  Due to the violent content I think it is a bit much for my particular audience.