From Willowdale to the World: Celebrating June Hur’s Fifth KDrama YA Novel

It was a pleasure to celebrate the release of Behind Five Willows, the fifth novel by Toronto Korean author June Hur, alongside an enthusiastic auditorium of readers, fans, and supporters at North York Central Library.

June Hur (허주은) is a New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of acclaimed young adult Korean historical mysteries, including The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, A Crane Among Wolves, and now Behind Five Willows. Born in South Korea, June spent her formative years in the United States, Canada, and South Korea before studying History and Literature at the University of Toronto and working in Toronto's public library system. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, Vogue Korea, and KBS.

Since making her literary debut in 2020, June has earned international recognition for bringing Korean history and culture to life for readers worldwide. One reviewer from School Library Journal praised her work for broadening readers’ understanding of Korean culture, calling her Joseon-era mysteries “groundbreaking.”

As a former Willowdale resident, it’s wonderful to think that some of June’s writing may have been written right here in our community. Congratulations on the launch of Behind Five Willows. We wish you every success with this newest novel, which may be the perfect read for young people who enjoy K-dramas and historical mysteries alike.