Structure

“Escape from Camp 14” by Blaine Harden is broken down into twenty-three chapters. The story is told in a mainly chronological order with a minimum of flashbacks or references to past events. The author tells the true story of Shin In Geun’s life in a political prison in North Korea. He interjects foreshadowing and the use of cliffhangers to add intrigue and interest to the story.

The author includes an epigraph credited to the North Korean Central News Agency that reads, “There is no human rights issue in this country, as everyone leads the most dignified and happy life.” Anyone who reads this book or anyone who has heard about the quality of life in North Korea (not to mention its prison camps) will know the absurdity of that statement.

The book includes several maps that illustrate Shin’s escape route and the layout of Camp 14. In...