Wake up hungry. Work all day. Get tortured. Try to sleep. Repeat.

Since birth.

“Escape from Camp 14” is a twisted, cruel, yet accurate tale of the only man to escape on of North Korea’s prison camps: Shin Dong-hyuk.

With a title that hold such great accomplishments, Blaine Harden does not focus the book solely on escaping the prison. Instead he zones into the next few years after running away. This was surprising and a little disappointing because of the lack of knowledge of the North Korean Prison camps that people have. However, this book is considered one of the only pieces in the world exploring the topic of prison camps. In fact, Shin Dong-hyuk felt uncomfortable participating in the project due to the fear that still hangs over his head that North Koreans will get him once again.

Through vivid descriptions, untold and unimaginable truths, and even pictures, Blaine Harden tells the story of the only man to walk away from one of the worst places on the planet.

This book is written for a specific audience of a mature age that can handle the disturbing reality that it holds.

Overall, “Escape from Camp 14” is an amazing read. It tells a story unlike any other: A passage from North Korea, a journey to the unknown, an odyssey to the ultimate prize: freedom. This riveting experience will take readers on a stroll through the precarious nation of North Korea and the bad things it has to offer. It will truly move anyone that comes across it. Harden does his job, and does his job well. The world will never forget that one time a man did the unimaginable: escaping North Korea.