This is the horrific story of a North Korean boy and his family. He tells about how his family came to be, how they wound up in North Korea, and how they wound up in on of the "secret" concentration camps. At the time this story came out, it was shocking. The more stories like this that get out, the worse life appears to be. I cannot imagine having to live in a leaky hut with no way to warm myself, no clothes, no shower. I cannot imagine having to eat rats and suck down salamanders. It's awful to think they can treat children this way, especially, but whole families?? This was a heartbreaking story to read, and even more so knowing that there are thousands more just like it or worse that have not been told to the world. Absolutely horrendous behavior.