1. The ending of the story was a nice ending but it felt too sudden. They didn't really explain about the dad, which I wanted to know more of, but the sisters got to reunite with their brother. I guess that they were lucky that their brother found the sign that Yoko wrote, but I think that the author could have been descriptive or somewhat of what Hideyo was doing when he found the sign. I guess Yoko ended the book there because her, Ko, and her brother became together as a family again after being separated for a long time. She probably also ended it there without talking about her dad to leave the reader wondering about what happened to him.

2. I think that they did the Japanese customs to follow their culture, being proud that they reached their homeland after so long. The family followed the tradition to keep it up in the family, and I think that they shouldn't forget the customs and you would want to keep the lifestyle when you're older and teach it to others. I would want to keep the same customs if I was in the family's position, and practice them as I grow.

3. I admire and respect Ko the most in this book. Ko had worked very hard to keep the family in shape, and gotten Yoko to complain less and the sisters made a good team to survive in life. Without Ko, I think that Yoko would've probably been more whiny and complained a lot because she was different, with her two-inch hair and "rag doll" clothes, but Ko got Yoko to just be glad that she's living. Ko was pretty strong and brave especially through the journey, doing whatever it takes just to live peacefully. For example, Ko was brave enough to cross the railroad track in the dark and Yoko and their mother was worried to go through it.

4. I learned many things in history especially about World War II. I learned how tough life was during the time. For example, the Kawashima family had to walk through many many miles to get to their destination, but now in this time era you could just take an airplane and such. I learned that it was a hard time for the Japanese that lived in Korea. In addition, I learned how harsh the soldiers treated people and I never though it would be rough like that. I thought it was interesting of the Japanese traditions such as when its the new years, it's like a new age for them. I would want to know more about Yoko's father and how he ended up in a prison camp.

5. From this novel, I've seen that Yoko had to learn to live with things she likes or dislikes. Yoko didn't get everything she wanted, like an average life, but she started to not complain or anything about it. I also think that you should appreciate life no matter how bad it may get. No matter what, you should just be glad that you're still living life.

1a. In my opinion, Ko, Yoko, and their mother feels that they must leave Korea to be more safer at their homeland country, Japan. They would of probably been more protected with their relatives, such as their father and grandmother. Ko, Yoko, and their Mother wouldn't of been able to survive in Korea because of all of the soldiers capturing the Japanese, and a shortage of food. There were many escapees to Japan, trying to save their life and not get captured by the Korean Communist Army.

1b. I kind of agree with the girls' decisions to leave Hideyo behind. Otherwise, Ko, Yoko, and their Mother would've been captured or even killed. I think that the girls' could of left a note to meet Hideyo in their homeland, instead of Seoul.

2. If you were in Hideyo's position, would you have climbed the tree? Or would you have done something else? Of course, you would want to hide to not get killed. So would you plant a tricky scheme or whatsoever? If so, why?

I would've most likely climb the tree. It's a smart thing to do, and if I was in Hideyo's position I would probably not even think of doing that. I wouldn't of want to increase the risk of getting killed by pulling a prank or looking like an animal or something.