Sungsook (Poems of the Korean War) is authored by Portia Choi, who as a young child observed first-hand the horrors of that conflict. Choi writes honest, heartfelt poems that portray the courage and resilience of refugees struggling to survive, without sacrificing the charm of the little girl. Rich in sounds and images, the poems recall the terrors of war as well as the pleasures shared with a sister and loving mother. As an adult in California, having immigrated to Los Angeles at age eight, Choi now befriends Korean War veterans and tells their stories too. In this remarkably beautiful...