I escaped North Korea! / Ellie Crowe, Scott Peters.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From multi-award-winning Ellie Crowe and bestselling children's author Scott Peters comes a gripping story about one refugee's escape from the oppression of North Korea.14-year-old Dae has been taught that his country's fearless leaders are like gods. Yet the painfully skinny boy can't help wondering if something's off, because all his family has to eat is watery porridge made from grass.At school, Dae and his friends are so hungry that it's hard to play 'Bash the American' in the schoolyard. In class, the boys and girls bow before the leaders' giant portraits, their clothes flapping around their bony limbs. Dae begins to question why their rulers look so well fed.When Dae's beloved parents fall into trouble, the young teen must fend for himself. Dae begins to dream of rebellion-of fleeing across the forbidden border into China to look for work. For how else can he help free his family?But can the starving boy survive the deadly crossing? It would take all of his remaining strength to succeed.Still, Dae becomes certain of one thing . . .He must escape!