Set in Korea during the 1940s, When My Name Was Keoko tells the story of a Korean family living under Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Centered around sister Sun-hee and brother Tae-Yul, the two children must confront the erasure of their Korean identity by the Japanese along with the dangers and tragedies of war, including Tae-Yul's eventual enlistment to become a kamikaze pilot for the Imperial Japanese Army.

Linda Sue Park has written numeours children's and picture books during her career as a writer. In 2002, her book A Single Shard won the Newberry Medal. When My Name Was Keoko was listed as a Publisher's Weekly best book of the year and a School Library Journal best book of the year. Before becoming a writer, Linda Sue Park attended Stanford University where she also competed on the gymnastics team.