1.
three days
2.
Charlie the Monkey
3.
People's house
4.
zoo
5.
Breaking up again
6.
Charlie's House
7.
Baboon Smith
8.
new friends
9.
An unforgettable night
10.
Last greetings
11.
Turtle Island
12.
Beagle
13.
painter
14.
People's World
15.
My name is Harriet
16.
The road to the sea
Recommendation | Jin-kyung Kim

The excitement and shock that followed the Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award winner, "Bonjour, Tour"!
A large-scale fairy tale presented by playwright and theater director Han Yun-seop.

The second full-length children's story by Han Yun-seop, the author of 『Bonjour, Tour』, the winner of the 11th Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award, has been published.
『Bonjour, Tour』 is a masterpiece that delicately depicts how a boy who lived without any regard for the words division or unification comes to confront the sharpest contradictions of our society, and in a short period of time, it became a steady seller rather than a bestseller.
This time, 『Harriet』 is also a large-scale work that expands the time and space of fairy tales, and will secure a diverse readership.
The moment we hear the story of Charlie, a young monkey, and Harriet, an old turtle who silently watches over him, we are introduced to a whole new world.
It feels like watching a well-made play.
This is because the author's background as a playwright and theater director was fully utilized in this work.

It is a story that goes far beyond fables or allegories that tell human stories through animals, and it is moving and shocking.
This may be because there are no true adults like Harriet, who silently embrace the next generation with the weight and wisdom of history, in today's human reality.
That's why this work also makes me feel pain and longing. _Kim Jin-kyung (children's story writer, poet)

Harriet is a Galapagos tortoise who actually lived to be 175 years old.
Harriet, known as the tortoise of Charles Darwin, the founder of the theory of evolution, met Darwin in the paradise-like Galapagos Islands and later came to the human world.
He lived in an Australian zoo until his long life ended in 2006.

Charlie the monkey, who accompanied Harriet to her final moments, and other animal friends are charming characters created by the author.
The story of countless animals who cannot escape the human world, whether in the forest or the zoo.
Let us delve into their heartbreaking story to understand what we are trying to gain by taking away their freedom, and what mistakes they have made to live in pain.

The story of Charlie, a baby monkey robbed of his forest and mother's embrace.
“The forest you lived in was not a world of monkeys, but a world of people.
You can't beat people.
“The important thing is to survive.”

One day, suddenly, baby monkey Charlie loses his mother and the forest.
People capture monkeys and shoot them with anesthetic.
Charlie's mother also falls into a deep sleep, and Charlie is locked in a box and taken to the park ranger station.
I hug my mother's neck tightly to avoid being separated from her, but it's no use.
The ruthless actions of people continue, regardless of the tears and cries of animals.
A white-lined monkey he meets at the park ranger tells Charlie about the human world.
And the forest where Charlie lived also reminds us that it is ultimately a human world.
So it tells us that surviving is more important than defeating people.
After that, Charlie is led by the hand of a seven-year-old boy to a person's house.


The child's mother pointed with her finger at the poop and urine that Charlie had left behind.
“Charlie, what if you lie down here? It’s not okay here.
“Never.”
As Charlie turned away from them, the child's mother turned her head away with a more aggressive expression on her face.
(Omitted) Charlie had no idea what expression to make or what action to take.
I was just hungry and missed my mom._From the text

In an unfamiliar world, Charlie learns how to survive and how to live.
You realize that if you wait silently, remember with your body what not to do, and only do what the person tells you and what you like, the person will not make an aggressive face.
But soon after, the situation changes again.
When the child leaves for another city, the owners send Charlie to the zoo.
Charlie's lonely, sad, and painful days begin again.

The story of Harriet, the Galapagos tortoise who embraced the sea for 175 years.
“Harriet, we’ll take you to the sea.
“I will take you to the sea you desire.”

Harriet the turtle approaches Charlie, who is trembling with fear and loneliness.
Harriet is the oldest animal at the zoo.
He becomes Charlie's friend and stays by his side.
Harriet is a true adult who has endured life with all her might for 175 years.
Thanks to Harriet, countless animals survived in the zoo and learned wisdom and love.
Charlie also grows up with a strong heart.
Finally, Harriet is on the verge of death, and Charlie and his friends are deeply saddened.
Harriet's final story includes the horrors of the Galapagos and the Beagle, as well as her meeting with Darwin.
Charlie makes a big decision after hearing Harriet's story about missing the Galapagos for 170 years.
And then he immediately takes out the zookeeper's key that he had buried on one side of us.
He decided to take Harriet to the sea.
Other friends are also convinced that if Harriet goes out to sea, she will be able to return to the Galapagos.
We also realize how wonderful it is to be by each other's side and have hope in life.


“Harriet, come with us to the sea.”
Harriet shook her head at Charlie's words.
“Charlie, I’m losing my strength.”
(syncopation)
“I’ll lead the way, and the baboons will pull and push you to make you go faster.
And Old will save your life.”
At Charlie's words, Harriet was lost in thought for a while.
I wanted to see the sea that I longed for, but I hesitated because it was dangerous for everyone.
“Harriet, I have one last question for you.
“Do you want to go back to the Galapagos?”
Charlie asked.
“Yes, I want to go back to the land where I lived.
Maybe life will end before then.
Still, I want to go to the sea.
No, I can go to the sea.”_From the text

Drawing on the countless animals that have fallen victim to human cruelty…
Asking the question, "Have humans truly evolved?"

What kind of life do we want?
And what would a desirable world be like?
Through the stories of Harriet, Charlie, and other animals, we are asked to ask ourselves several questions.
Eat your fill of meat, carry expensive leather bags, wear leather shoes, and treat animals like toys… … .
Up until now, humans have taken the lives of countless animals.
How much more cruel must we humans become in the future?

“We saw people eating the food.
There were a lot of people gathered.
The way they ate food was definitely different.
And I saw someone cutting up the body of the turtle that went out with us yesterday.
“The turtles here are food for people.” The cargo hold rumbled at that sound.
But none of the turtles dared to open their mouths.
As is the turtle's natural habit, he was quietly thinking about the situation. _From the text

Charles Darwin, the founder of the theory of evolution, also appears in the work.
Thanks to his research, the theory of evolution has expanded and developed over time.
But this work suddenly makes me think about these things.
Aren't we enjoying meat consumption while savagely mass-producing animals while ignoring animal rights?
So are we humans truly evolving?
It is not easy to raise such big questions and concerns through a single fairy tale.
I feel a deep thrill in my heart at the scale that comes from the long experience of author Han Yun-seop.