Wandering Swallow: A Young Girl’s Quest for Freedom Student Curriculum
Illustration by Lily Hildebrand
All scriptures quoted within the text come from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3.
Psalm 84 discusses a painful pilgrimage through the Valley of Baka. Some scholars believe this singular reference is figurative language for a place of tears and pain.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7.
Notice how people travelled from “strength to strength.” Our strength comes from the Lord.
ACTIVITY I
Identify China, Japan, and Korea on the map or on a globe. The website blankworldmap.org provides free blank maps for you to print and label. Research: Choose one topic, research from at least two sources, take notes, write two or three paragraphs (six sentences each), provide source information for your statements.
- The Tiananmen Square massacre
- The Japanese occupation of Korea
- The Japanese occupation of China
- The Korean War
ACTIVITY II Use this activity as you read the book. Check back in to see if you want to change your answers before the end.
Literature:
Character Authors introduce various characters throughout their works. Some characters change, and some do not. Ones who change are dynamic. As you read, watch for changes in the people in Wandering Swallow.
What causes some characters to change? How are they different? What lessons can you learn from the ways a character changes through the story?
Static characters are the same at the end of the story. Sometimes a static character is ideal. He or she can’t change because they can’t get any better than they are.
Which character is a good example of someone who doesn’t change no matter what happens? Why?
What about Shen?
What about Si?
Which character(s) do you expect to change during the story? Why?
Hero—the good guy; brave, selfless, honest, upright.
Who is the hero of Wandering Swallow? Is there more than one?
Protagonist—the main character; not always heroic. Who is the protagonist in Wandering Swallow? Is the protagonist a hero? Why or why not?
Villain—the bad guy, often someone using evil deeds to accomplish a task he considers a moral good. Who are the villains in Wandering Swallow? Are they static or dynamic? How might villains in this story justify their actions? Is there a villain who seems to be only evil?
Antagonist—a character who may be a villain or a person or situation that presents obstacles for the protagonist. What challenges do Lừ ké, Hana, and Grandfather face that fill the role of antagonist without being villains?
ACTIVITY III Find Sinuiju on the map of North Korea. The Yalu River (Chinese name) (the Amnok River in Korea) forms much of the border between North Korea and China. Trace the line of the river on the map. Note where it begins and ends.
On the map you printed, trace Hana’s journey from Sinuiju to the places she visits throughout the story.
Research Marco Polo, an Italian explorer who came to China in AD 1271 and opened the country up for trade. Track his journey across China on a map.
Further Reading for Students:
Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans, Tina Cho, 2018.
The Other Side of Tomorrow, Tina Cho, 2024.