'White Mulberry' tells fictionalized story of author's grandmother
Rosa Kwon Easton debuts at 60 with coming-of-age historical novel
The historical novel 'White Mulberry' by Rosa Kwon Easton is a fictionalized story of the author's grandmother, following a young Korean woman growing up in 1930s Japan, torn between two worlds and identities.
Set in Japan-occupied Korea, the novel introduces 11-year-old Miyoung, a girl whose dream of becoming a teacher clashes with the harsh realities of her life. She yearns to leave her tiny farming village near Pyongyang, seeking a future free from an arranged marriage.
Miyoung takes the opportunity to live with her older sister in Japan. But in Kyoto, anti-Korean sentiment is rising every day, and she quickly realizes she must pass as a Japanese to survive. Her Japanese name Miyoko helps her find a new calling as a nurse, yet she struggles with the loss of her true self.
Seeking solace in a Korean church group, Miyoung discovers not only a sense of community but also a romance with an independence activist that reignites her sense of purpose and gives her a cherished son.
As war looms on a new front, Miyoung has to decide whether to comply or to reclaim life on her own terms.
Easton was born in Seoul and grew up with her extended family in Los Angeles. A former lawyer, she became a debut author with "White Mulberry" at the age of 60.
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