Wandering Swallow by Milco Mathers tells the suspenseful and faith-filled  tale of a North Korean girl in the late 1990s escaping famine in her homeland.  She’s bewildered at first when her grandfather leads her to the wild border river. Then she realizes that they must try to cross it, because they can’t go back to where police are looking for them. It looks like it’s a choice of death and death. But no, they get across!

Gradually, as members of a Christian underground railroad in China risk their lives to help, she experiences some miracles. Eventually she learns of Jesus and turns to faith. And of course, there is a happy ending.

The story is told through her eyes in a very gripping way. We know only what she knows, which isn’t much at first. It’s a great addition to any study of the 20^th century for kids 10 and up. It certainly broadens understanding of living in totalitarian states.