5 STARS!!!!!
*Starred review from Kirkus: Told from their alternating perspectives in welcoming, conversational verse, Yunho’s and Myunghee’s suspenseful, harrowing journeys provide readers with a realistic and devastating portrayal of life under one of the most oppressive regimes in the world.
Triumphant, moving, and unforgettable. (historical note) (Verse graphic adventure. 9-12)
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*Starred review from Publisher's Weekly: This gripping graphic novel by Cho (God’s Little Astronomer) and Lee (In Limbo) about childhood under dictator Kim Jong Un balances horror and wonder in both its poetic language and vibrant imagery. Lee’s dynamic Procreate illustrations emphasize light and shadow to brilliantly illuminate the tweens’ harrowing situations in this intimate, cohesive collaboration.

​*Starred review from ALA Booklist: Yes, Cho’s graphic novel in verse is an extraordinary dual-voiced narrative, but what makes this title unforgettable is phenomenal, Ignatz-winning artist Lee’s (In Limbo, 2023) breathtaking artwork.

*Starred review from School Library Journal: Cho’s vibrant, elegant writing style beautifully captures the pain, fear, courage, and resilience of the characters featured in this text. Lee’s illustrations greatly enhance the text’s mood and capture both the courageous adventure of a lifetime and the spirit of a community willing to risk their lives to give those seeking freedom a fighting chance.
VERDICT: This gut-wrenching story of hope and resilience needs to find its way to all readers’ hands.

*Starred review from The Horn Book: ...Cho’s characters grow emotionally though exposure to the outside world, kindness from strangers, and awakening religious faith. Lee’s detailed, cinematic digital illustrations vividly convey the refugees’ journey.

Awards
*Read my guest post at Harper Stacks to find out the WHY behind this story.
​*Read my blog post about my writing journey for this book at the Grog Blog.
*Read a blog post from one of my critique partners who has been with this story since the beginning: Mirka Breen
*Read an interview of me and illustrator Deb at Geeks Out
​*Read about the book at Kathy Temean's blog
New forthcoming middle grade lyrical graphic novel by me and Deb JJ Lee published by Harper Alley 11/12/24
In a nutshell: Two North Korean kids escape through the Asian Underground Railroad. Yes, it really exists! 
I interviewed many people for this story and did a lot of research. 

I started writing this story in 2012 in Deokso, South Korea. The 1st draft even won a Scholastic Asia award! Since then it's morphed into different formats, structures, and even different titles.

You can read about part of the writing process here:  https://www.tinamcho.com/blog/how-i-accidentally-wrote-a-graphic-novel
I'm thankful for my agent and editor who had a vision for this story and that Deb JJ Lee took it to the next level with rich, flowing, and accurate illustrations.

Then in 2019 I met Mr. John Schu at the Iowa Library Associations conference. Never did I think he'd be doing the cover reveal for my novel! You can read his interview here:  https://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-other-side-of-tomorrow-by-tina-cho.html