Ann Suk Wang and Hanna Cha: The House Before Falling into the Sea

A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War in this poignant picture book about courage and what it really means to care for your neighbors.
Every day, more and more people fleeing war in the north show up at Kyung Tak and her family’s house on the southeastern shore of Korea. With nowhere else to go, the Taks' home is these migrants' last chance of refuge “before falling into the sea,” and the household quickly becomes crowded, hot, and noisy. Then war sirens cry out over Kyung's city too, and her family and their guests take shelter underground. When the sirens stop, Kyung is upset—she wishes everything could go back to the way it was before: before the sirens, before strangers started coming into their home. But after an important talk with her parents, her new friend Sunhee, and Sunhee’s father, Kyung realizes something important: We’re stronger when we have each other, and the kindness we show one another in the darkest of times is a gift we’ll never regret.

Ann Suk Wang, born in Korea, is a graduate of UCLA and Boston University in mass communications and a former journalist. Currently she’s an advocate for adopting children, the parent of an adoptee, and the president of an organization that worked with teen foster girls and now families on the brink of being unhoused. When Ann’s not writing, reading or listening to podcasts, she’s most likely jazz dancing, roller skating, praying with moms, tending her butterfly garden, or eating doughnuts in California with a husband, two sons and a canine son.

Hanna Cha is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the author-illustrator of Tiny Feet Between the Mountains, and has illustrated Circle Round by Anne Sibley O’Brien and The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung. Hanna spent her childhood in Korea and America—both countries a dear home to her. She currently lives in Boston, where she loves crinkling her nose in the early morning breeze as she paints in soft washes while daydreaming more stories. Sometimes you can see her doing this with her big tiger-like cat right on her lap. Visit her online at hannacha.com.

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EVENT ACCESSIBILITY

This event will take place at street level. ASL interpretation may be provided (based on the availability of interpreters) but must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Seats are limited. Please email us at [email protected] as soon as possible if you require ASL interpretation, guaranteed seating, or other accommodations. We will do our best to serve your needs!

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