I wasn't sure what to expect from The Island of Sea Women. The book is about Korean women, which is a departure from See's usual stories about Chinese women. After I got adjusted to the different names, places, and histories, I realized The Island of Sea Women still fits into the main body of Lisa See's work.

The book begins during the latter stages of the Japanese occupation of Korea (in fact, this would be an excellent book to read before Samuel Park's This Burns My Heart). We hear the story through the voice of Young-sook, a Haenyeo (sea woman/海女）from Jeju Island. Like many of See's other books, she is inseparable with her best friend, and the state of their relationship directly affects her ability to feel happiness. In The Island of Sea Women (as well as in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), we learn the importance of thinking outside ourselves and viewing situations from multiple perspectives.

Although the structure of the story was nothing new, I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa See's use of language, as well as her in-depth research. I came away from the book knowing much more about Korean culture and history. Moreover, The Island of Sea Women focused on the strength, courage, and leadership of Korean women, which you don't often see in East Asian historical fiction. I'd absolutely recommend this everyone. (TW for war and its related violence, as well as for domestic abuse)