Orphan Master's Son, The

This suspenseful novel set in totalitarian North Korea traces Pak Jun Do’s rise from son of a man who runs a labour camp, to soldier, kidnapper, communications interceptor, and hero sent on a diplomatic mission to the US. After a fall from grace, he impersonates a high ranking official, begins a new life with a legendary actress, and when she defects, he risks his life to help her escape. Suitable as a classroom novel for strong senior readers, it offers opportunities for creative/critical thinking about North Korean culture and political system, and emphasizes the differences between Western democratic culture and life in North Korea. Winner 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.