The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

     Young-sook is an old woman living on the Korean island of Jeju.  For most of her life she has been a "haenyo" - remarkable women free divers who tend the "wet fields" around Jeju for various shell fish and kinds of aquatic food. Her memory is awakened by a black and white photograph handed to her by a young American tourist.  It shows a much younger Young-sook and Mi-ja, a young woman who was once her best friend.  Young-sook tells the young American she does not recognize the woman in the photo. 
    And so we go back to 1938, to the wonderful matriarchal community that existed on the island.  Men were often the caretakers of home and children while the amazing free divers dove as deep as 60 feet harvesting what they could to eat and sell.  The stories of the two women encompass both WWII and the Korean War.  The history of what happened in Korea was intensely research and I was particularly surprised to learn what happened on this unique island.  War is not the only tragedy that affects the lives of the two women as they grow up.  As strong as they are, cultural expectations are even stronger.  Unforgivable choices are made.  Unbreakable ties are broken.  In the end Young-sook must both confront and forgive a history she cannot change.