The Young Will Remember

by Eve J. Chung

A sweeping novel about a correspondent trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War, and the women who help her find her way home, from the national bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong

“When I found the courage to lift my head, I expected to stare down the barrel of a gun, but instead there was a woman in front of me, the back of her white skirt embroidered with columns of yellow chrysanthemums.”

1950. It’s the coldest winter in decades, and twenty-eight-year-old Chinese American journalist Ellie Chang is on a military flight to cover a battle in the mountains of North Korea when her plane is shot down.

As she emerges from the fallen aircraft onto an icy field surrounded by the enemy, Ellie is sure it’s the end, certain she’ll never make it home to her parents…until a woman pushes her way through the crowd and claims Ellie as the lost daughter that she’s been searching for since the last war ended. Never mind that Ellie doesn’t speak a word of Korean.

Ellie is taken in by her rescuer—a woman who calls herself “Emma”—and the Paks, a pastor’s family. She knows she can’t stay and yet there’s no way she’ll survive on her own.

As the war intensifies, the sky alighting with bombs overhead, Ellie convinces Emma and the Paks to travel south towards an elusive promise of safety, and where Ellie insists they are more likely to find Emma’s real daughter, stuck on the other side of the frontlines.

Emma’s decision to claim Ellie, and Ellie’s choice to take her hand will connect their lives forever.

Moving and triumphant, The Young Will Remember sheds light on a “Forgotten War,” the resilience of love within our darkest histories, and the indefatigable determination of mothers to protect their children.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult Fiction, Asian Literature, Asia, War

448 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer and women's human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. She currently lives in New York with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Reviews

[melody]

anything this author writes, i will read. this book is probably gonna break my heart and i’m ready for it

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Unfortunately, this story relied so heavily on showing rather than telling that it became difficult to read. Despite being set in the 1950s during the turbulent Korean, Chinese, and Japanese war, I never felt fully immersed in the time period. I also agreed with another reviewer who mentioned the forced dialogue, as it often pulled me out of the story and made it harder to stay engaged. By the end, I found myself skimming just to finish.

That said, none of this takes away from the importance of the subject matter. The history of comfort women, essentially sex slaves used by armies worldwide, is an incredibly important and necessary story to tell.

[Paula Korelitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This in-depth chronicle of the Korean War follows Chinese American correspondent Ellie Chung, who becomes trapped behind enemy lines after her plane is shot down. She's rescued by Emma, a woman who initially mistakes Ellie for her own daughter. Beyond its vivid depiction of the war, the novel weaves in a powerful secondary narrative: Emma's heartbreaking search for her daughter, who was forced into service as a Japanese comfort woman.

My only criticism—one I've noted in reviews of other books as well—is the inclusion of foreign words without definitions or context. I find this distracting and wish authors would provide translations to help readers stay immersed in the story.

[Jessica Yoon]

One of my most anticipated reads!!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are tired of reading the same WWII historical fiction about Europe and the Holocaust but still want to get lost in a story from the past, READ THIS. Eve Chung excels at bringing characters to life. The Young Will Remember was hard to put down and I devoured it. Fans of historical fiction will love this book that focuses on regular, everyday people during war, specifically women. It asks the question, who pays the true price of war?

This book looks at the Korean War and the main character is an American journalist whose plane goes down in North Korea in enemy territory. She barely escapes with her life when a local woman takes her to her village. All she can think about is how to get back to her work and the American soldiers/lines.

The woman that saves her is searching for her daughter who was conscripted by the Japanese when she was 14 during WWII. Many girls were taken for comfort stations and factory work and she is holding out hope that she survived the war. Chung addresses head on the atrocities of war and the problematic narrative surrounding "comfort stations." Despite these heavy topics, I found that there was a good balance of information without being overly descriptive/traumatic surrounding these topics. Another fantastic book I haven't stopped thinking about since I finished it. This would make a great bookclub book!

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.

[aasiyah m. ✴︎˚｡⋆]

pre-release: i'm so excited for this book! daughters of shandong was one of the best debuts ever & i still think abt it almost every day. i've been waiting for this book since and it can't come fast enough.

[Mainlinebooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung, the latest novel from the author of Daughters of Shandong, is a haunting and ambitious work that blends historical fiction with moral inquiry. The story follows Ellie Chang, a Chinese American war correspondent covering the Korean War, whose professional determination leads her into peril when she secures passage on a flight into North Korea. The mission ends in catastrophe when the plane is shot down, killing the pilot and leaving Ellie certain she will not survive.

Her life is spared in an unexpected and deeply human moment: a grief-stricken woman mistakes Ellie for her long-lost daughter and claims her amid the chaos. Though the woman is tragically mistaken, she shelters Ellie and brings her to the home of a pastor and his rebellious wife, who nurse her through the injuries she sustained in the crash. This woman’s story soon emerges as one of the novel’s emotional anchors. She fears her real daughter was taken by the Japanese as a “comfort woman” and has devoted her life to searching for her while documenting the testimonies of Korean women who were raped and enslaved during the war.

The novel’s central arc traces Ellie’s arduous journey south, as she and her protector navigate bombed-out cities, hunger, and the constant threat of death. As Ellie struggles to find her way home, she also confronts a more complicated truth about war: decency, courage, and compassion exist on all sides of the conflict—a perspective that clashes with the simplified narratives promoted by the press.

Upon returning home, Ellie dedicates her life to the same mission as the woman who saved her, ensuring that the voices of comfort women are neither erased nor forgotten.

My response to the novel is ultimately mixed. While I was initially captivated by its premise and emotional gravity, the prolonged journey toward safety grew repetitive and, at times, lacked narrative tension, diminishing its impact and momentum. Nevertheless, Chung’s exploration of the suffering of comfort women, the resilience of women in wartime, and the enduring power of familial love addresses a vital and often overlooked history. Despite its flaws, The Young Will Remember remains an important and sobering read.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

[kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised! How often do the books you hype up in your head really live up to the same expectations afterwards? The Young Will Remember surpassed them.

By the end, it had me in tears, and not when I expected it to.

I felt trapped in the Korean War with the main character, Ellie, a Chinese American journalist. I fell in love with the amazing women she lived and fought with along the way.

I felt seen in the details. It unlocked the most random childhood memories for me. Being Asian American and finding pieces of myself in a historical fiction was such a unique experience.

Most of all, I felt the weight of what Eve was trying to portray here in this beautifully, intentionally crafted book. The Young Will Remember “is a story about women activists, and the impact of war on women”.

Ellie is a brave, passionate journalist who makes one decision that changes the trajectory of her life and intertwines her story with the lives of the enemies. It makes you question what is right and wrong. It brings hope and heartache.

If you are a fan of historical fiction who wants to learn more about the Korean War, to question the decisions of entire countries, or wants a sneak peak of what is ongoing today across other countries…this is for you.

Thank you to the author and @berkleypub for the ARC! Thank you to @netgalley for making this possible!

All opinions are honestly and my own. This book exceeded my expectations!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1950, a young, female, American correspondent is trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War. Her life is entwined with the women who help her find her way home.

READ THIS BOOK!

Eve J. Chung has created exceptionally real characters that made me feel like I was reading Ellie's memoir rather than a fictional novel. Through these characters, she showed how military decisions made over 6,000 miles from North Korea affected the everyday lives of its citizens. This book opened my eyes to the "comfort stations" and the abuse of young Korean women. I did not know much about the Korean War before I read this book, but now I will remember, too.

Do not forget to read the Author's Note at the end of the book.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this outstanding book. The comments expressed are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is not your average WWII historical fiction about Europe and the Holocaust. If you want to get lost in a story from the past, READ THIS. Eve Chung excels at bringing all of thecharacters to life. The Young Will Remember was hard to put down and I loved it. Fans of historical fiction will love this book that focuses on regular, everyday people during war, specifically women.