On the island of Jeju in S. Korea there are female divers called the haenyeo. They support their families by free diving, holding their breath between 1-2 minutes and diving 20 to 40 feet below the water, to harvest seaweed, fish, abalone, sea cucumbers, starfish and other delicacies from beneath the sea. They do this for 6- 7 hours a day when the ocean and weather is favorable, approximately 18 days a month.

Young-sook is a Jeju Island haenyeo, and in her eighties she is one of the oldest and  most experienced divers on the island. When she was young Jeju Island was isolated and remote from the mainland. Now however, in 2008, it has become a tourist destination and haenyeo and their way of life are considered a cultural heritage to be protected. So Young-sook is not surprised when a tourist family approaches her. What is surprising, however, is that they ask her about a woman named Mi-ja. When she rebuffs them, they show her pictures of a haenyeo, displaying her catch to the camera. Young-sook is shocked to see this women in the photograph, but she shakes her head and acts like she doesn’t know anything. The tourist woman claims that the woman in the photograph is her grandmother but Young-sook refuses to talk with them any further and walks away. But she does know the woman in the photograph. It is her best friend Mi-ja and the memories that she had tried so hard to forget now come flooding back.

Mi-ja and Young-sook had been best friends, had joined a diving collective together and learned their skills together. Although Mi-ja was the daughter of Japanese collaborator, and was ostracized by many in the village to Young-sook it did not matter and they formed a close bond as they traveled to Russia and China to work as divers in the off season to provide for their families. But then everything changed in an instant and a betrayal so great with horrific consequences shattered their friendship.  Now Young-sook must confront this painful past and to open her heart to a part of the story that she had not known or understood.

This is a story of friendship and betrayal and of redemption and reconciliation. It is also cautionary tale about the dangers of being too certain about how right we are without trying to understand the other side of the story.

See is a great story teller and she weaves the history of Jeju Island and Korea into this fascinating story of the culture and lives of the haenyeo. Young-sook is an especially vivid character, spirited and yet grounded, growing from a young girl in to a stalwart matriarch of her clan. See is able to deftly weave the history into the lives of Young -sook and her family as they deal with Japanese colonization, WWII, the US occupation, and the growing fears of communist influence which led to the Korean War and the horrific war crimes perpetuated on Jeju Island and its inhabitants all in the name of preventing communism from gaining a foot hold in Korea. Along with this historical narrative, See also gives us insight into the daily lives of the haenyeo and their semi-matriarchal culture and the unique shamanistic beliefs and rituals that guided their lives. I was mesmerized by this rich and beautiful story!

Brenda’s Rating: *****(5 Out Of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Marian, Ken and Keith

Book Study Worthy? Yes!

Read in ebook format.