Rebel Seoul
Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh is a Science Fiction/ Dystopian novel centered in a future Korea, China, Japan with a world at war to stop further war. Not a typical YA fiction book I would have on my to-read list, I came across the book at the library while looking for other items related to Korea for a middle school lesson I was putting together for my students. The premise of the book is definitely interesting and for readers captivated by Korean culture this would likely be a book that would intrigue. Unfortunately, as this is YA fiction, it is marketed to readers ages 12 to 18. The main character himself is 18, along with his friend Alex, and the two leading ladies in the story are about 16. Given the nature of the interactions and profanity, I would recommend this book ages 17+ for those interested in giving it a read.
As for the plot line of the book itself, Jaewon, the main character of the story technically resides in Old Seoul but attends school and works in Neo Seoul. He is an orphan who once used to be a part of a prominent gang in Old Seoul; however, he holds deep resentment in his departure towards his old friend Young who he believes deceived him. A little bit of additional context as Young’s father Parker betrayed Jaewon’s father in the past. Jaewon’s father is dead. He killed himself in a bombing of a factory. Jaewon’s mother lives in Neo Seoul and has a new family that Jaewon isn’t really a part of - his own choice.
The SciFi aspect of the story is centered around the technology of the time - meditape that can heal, robots that serve as medical professionals, advanced weapons, simulations to practice war tactics and use of weapons known as God Machines, in addition to hovering rail cars. Jaewon survives the tests at school that gives him a placement with the government working at The Tower with Alex. He and Alex are ordered to be guards for Tera and Ama who are enhanced individuals which gives them special abilities that assist in using them as weapons of war.
Over the course of the story, Alex seems to fall for Ama and Jaewon does fall in love with Tera. There is a battle between rebels who are seeking to destroy the powers controlling the Tower and Neo Seoul. The story concludes with this battle as Jaewon seeks reconciliation with Young, his father’s death, and determines what he is willing to fight for, die for, and live for.
There are additional characters and details that it would take too much time to elaborate and connect the intricacies of their involvement. Jaewon and the world he now lives in is complex, and while there is quite a bit of profanity a lot of it is mild compared to some YA fiction I have read. Below is a list of the type of profanity one can expect to find within the story:
“goddamn” page 5, 67, 168, 288,
“Bullshit” page 6
“Pissed” or variations of it page 18, 78, 327,
“Bastard” page 21, 25, 28, 52, 267, 274, 277, 291,
“Ass” page 27, 54, 96, 329, 343
“Damn” page 29, 33, 154, 162, 187, 213, 227, 312, 320, 321, 341
“Hell” or variations of “what the hell” page 37, 40, 61, 66, 68, 73, 86, 180, 213, 298, 356,
“Shit” or variation of it “76, 88, 96, 125, 133, 213, 215, 228, 255, 292, 325, 326, 344, 362, 363
“Godforsaken” page 244
“Badass” page 317
Additional items of note:
There is a reference to suicide on page 12.
God Machines are large robotic like machines that the people get into to operate. They are equipped with weapons and are extremely large. It reminded me personally of a transformer-like object that was operated by man on the inside.
Enhancers are kind of like drugs of the futuristic day in which the story is set. However, through experimentation scientists were trying to get the effects to last long term. They discovered that some children, if enhanced early enough, could keep the traits. This leads to the kidnapping of girls from Old Seoul. Jaewon and Young attempt to put an end to what is happening as they work to uncover who is taking them and why.
On page 101, Bora, a minor character, makes a comment about keeping a boy by getting herself pregnant by him.
There is violence in the story with violent fights between characters, Alex’s father beats him almost to death, references to killing, firing squads, etc.
On page 159 there is a reference to “hooking up.”
Jaewon makes a couple references throughout the story of wanting to get into bed with Tera (182), he thinks of her showering and then gives himself a cold shower (221).
On page 185 there are mentions of Alex’s father’s mistress.
There is alcohol use in the story. Alex and Jaewon along with Tera and Ama drink at a restaurant. Jaewon also gets drunk at one point in the story.
Jaewon struggles with how to forgive Young and his father. He ultimately comes to the ability to forgive them both.
Alex sleeps with Ama and there are references to her dress being inside out (334), Jaewon realizing Alex slept with her (337), Jaewon asking Alex if it was worth it (343).
Noteworthy quotes:
“Please tell me why people hurt one another” (2).
After an attempted assassination, the surviving director tells the perpetrator, “Who are you? You are nobody? You are nothing. Did you think that your death would be noted because of the life you have lived? What life have you lived? How old are you? What is your name? I know none of these things. And You will die with no one knowing any of these things” (51).
“Death isn’t freedom” (118).
“A person who doesn’t exist can’t die” (127).
“No one deserves to be hurt” (146). Due to enhancements, Tera can become blindly violent. She does not desire to be.
“We are at war, and war is a machine” (150).
“We won’t really be partners. I’ll be the gun, and you’ll be the hand holding the gun” (153).
“It should never be harder to save a life than it is to take one” (158).
“My father had much pride for his country. But if pride and love are finite, he gave all to his country and left none for his family” (200).
“My father was once called a good man, a kind man. Men who are good and kind don’t live very long. But maybe that’s why I need someone like Tera to protect me” (246).
“The Proselytizer once said that he hated the past because it showed him the future, that humans are fated to repeat the mistakes of their forebears. It’s instinctual, humanity’s need to fight, to win, to kill, to live” (252).
“You can always have what you want, Jaewon, because you know the value of commitment. When you’ve committed yourself to something, you can never fail, because you know there’s only one path you can take: to see it through to the end” (258).
“It’s not the world’s fault. It’s the fault of the people if they can destroy it, then they can fix it” (352).
Aside from the profanity and sexual references, the storyline itself was not exactly my cup of tea; however, one thing that I do think Oh did very well was the development of Jaewon as a character. He was complex and dynamic as he was really trying to understand his world, himself, and his relationship to the world he lived in and the moment in which he lived it. These are questions that I think young adults do wrestle with and should wrestle with. However, if we want our young people to come to the right conclusions that will provide purpose, clarity, and value, then it is likewise important that we demonstrate the power of worldview and how beginning with a Biblical Worldview is one of hope when all seems dark and lost. Any other worldview cannot deliver that.
