White Mulberry

A Novel

By: Rosa Kwon Easton

Narrated by: Michelle H. Lee

“A beautiful and deeply researched novel…If you loved Pachinko, you’ll love White Mulberry.” —Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of The Island of Sea Women

Inspired by the life of Easton’s grandmother, White Mulberry is a rich, deeply moving portrait of a young Korean woman in 1930s Japan who is torn between two worlds and must reclaim her true identity to provide a future for her family.

1928, Japan-occupied Korea. Eleven-year-old Miyoung has dreams too big for her tiny farming village near Pyongyang: to become a teacher, to avoid an arranged marriage, to write her own future. When she is offered the chance to live with her older sister in Japan and continue her education, she is elated, even though it means leaving her sick mother—and her very name—behind.

In Kyoto, anti-Korean sentiment is rising every day, and Miyoung quickly realizes she must pass as Japanese if she expects to survive. Her Japanese name, Miyoko, helps her find a new calling as a nurse, but as the years go by, she fears that her true self is slipping away. She seeks solace in a Korean church group and, within it, finds something she never expected: a romance with an activist that reignites her sense of purpose and gives her a cherished son.

As war looms on a new front and Miyoung feels the constraints of her adopted home tighten, she is faced with a choice that will change her life—and the lives of those she loves—forever.

©2024 Rosa Kwon Easton (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Michelle Lee transports listeners with this historical debut based on the life of the author's grandmother.… Lee's measured yet fluent delivery effectively depicts the well-researched political and social climate of that era. [T]his is an engaging listening experience.”—AudioFile Magazine

“A beautiful and deeply researched novel…How does a woman protect her family, honor her heritage, and save herself? If you loved Pachinko, you’ll love White Mulberry.”—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of The Island of Sea Women and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women

“Easton eloquently reimagines her grandmother’s past—a brave young woman caught between two worlds. A story inspired and inspirational, White Mulberry exposes the forgotten history of Koreans in Japan.”—Alka Joshi, internationally bestselling author of The Henna Artist and the Jaipur Trilogy

Sweeping Tale of Bravery and Family Devotion

This book was one of my favorite historical fiction novels that I''ve ever read. I oscillated between a paperback and the audio. Because I wanted to make sure that I got the name pronunciations right. I'm glad I did. But either way, the author does a wonderful job of giving the reader an inside experience of what it's like to be an immigrant and and have your heart pulled to different countries. The author's descriptions are wonderfully written. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Fascinating story

And even more intriguing and interesting to learn it is based on a true life story and experience.

What a lovely story. I was captivated immediately & loved the education about Korea & Japan.

A well written book that was a page-turner. I liked that the story was based on the author’s grandma’s life & that the author researched the time period to make the historical context of the store as accurate as possible.

Struggles and her unwavering determination

It dragged a little but was worth reading. I would have liked to know what happened beyond the point where the book ended.

Great Book

Unexpected storyline and i loved it. Resilient, strong and fearless. Mioko is fascinating, her love for her son is beautiful.