Crystal Hana Kim widmet sich in ihrem Schaffen den komplexen menschlichen Beziehungen und Familiendynamiken, wobei sie sich oft mit kultureller Identität und generationenübergreifenden Traumata auseinandersetzt. Ihr Stil zeichnet sich durch scharfe psychologische Einblicke und eine lyrische Sprache aus, die tiefe emotionale Wahrheiten offenbart. Kim erforscht Fragen der Zugehörigkeit, des Verlusts und der Suche nach dem eigenen Weg in einer turbulenten Welt. Ihr Schreiben bietet den Lesern einen tiefen Einblick in die menschliche Seele und die Komplexität des Lebens.
"A hauntingly poetic family drama and coming-of-age story that reveals a dark corner of South Korean history through the eyes of a small community living in a reformatory center-a stunning work of great emotional power from the critically acclaimed author of If You Leave Me"--
An emotionally riveting debut novel about war, family, and forbidden love, the unforgettable saga of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the heartbreaking choices they're forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war that still haunts us today. When the communist-backed army from the north invades her home, sixteen-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her family's makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan. Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesn't realize his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemi, and is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife, then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come. Richly told and deeply moving, If You Leave Me is a stunning portrait of war and refugee life, a passionate and timeless romance, and a heartrending exploration of one woman's longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world.