The Mermaid from Jeju is a story of Goh Junja, one of the haenyeo (female divers or "mermaids") on the island of Jeju. The majority of this novel is set in Korea post-WWII, but some chapters take place in the early 2000s as well. This contrast in settings shows how the war (and those who occupied Korea - particularly Japan and the United States) shaped the fate of the country. This historical fiction novel is both fascinating and educational about Korean culture and history. Hahn does a fantastic job with character development and I had a really fun time reading this story. I recommend this title to both historical fiction lovers and readers who tend to keep their distance from this genre, as I think the subject matter in this story is unique and Hahn's writing is beautiful.
(PUB DATE: 12/08/2020)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)