Books and beyond

Escape From North Korea:  The Untold Story of Asia's Underground Railroad by Melanie Kirkpatrick

This new non-fiction title tells the harrowing story of North Koreans who have made the difficult choice to flee their homeland.  Despite the criminality of leaving and the risk of recapture and repatriation back to the North if caught, in the past few decades thousands of citizens have done just that: left a repressive and totalitarian regime.  In the process, a sort of modern-day Underground Railroad has taken shape, filtering defectors to safety across Asia and around the world.    Meet the escapees and those who help them get out in this fascinating new book.