Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home

“A page-turning account of not only international geopolitics, sisterhood, and familial triumph, but also a portrait of humanity at its best.” —Deepak Chopra

On March 17, 2009, while filming a documentary on the Chinese-North Korean border, Laura Ling and her colleague Euna Lee were violently apprehended by North Korean soldiers, charged with trespassing and “hostile acts,” and imprisoned by Kim Jong Il’s notoriously secretive Communist state. Kept totally apart, they endured months of interrogations and a trial before North Korea’s highest court that led to a sentence of twelve years of hard labor in a North Korean prison camp.

When news of the arrest reached Laura’s sister, journalist Lisa Ling, she immediately began a campaign to get Laura released. Her efforts led her from the State Department to the higher echelons of the media world and eventually to the White House. Lisa takes us deep into the drama between people in the highest levels of government, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, and eventually former President Bill Clinton, who arrived in North Korea in mid-August for a suspenseful rescue.

Somewhere Inside is a timely, inspiring, and page-turning tale of survival set against the canvas of international politics. Writing with their strong, poignant voices, both sisters go beyond the headlines to reveal the unique bond that has sustained them throughout the most horrifying ordeal of their lives.

“A riveting story of captivity and the enduring faith, determination, and love of two sisters.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A gripping tale of family bonds and love, national pride, and precarious politics.” —Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas)

© 2024 HarperCollins e-books (Ebook): 9780062010711

Release date

Ebook: March 19, 2024