In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, a young girl and her family were exiled from city living in Saigon to the countryside of Vietnam and ultimately escaped to a small town in Texas. Part travelogue, part family drama, this quietly affecting immigrant memoir will make you laugh, cry, and hungry all at the same time. Through each traumatic transition, Oanh Ngo Usadi retains her optimism as she and her family adapt to new environments and cultures in their journey to become Americans.
Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: The determination and perseverance of the author and her family are truly admirable. This memoir is gripping and well crafted.
Prose: Beautifully written, this powerful memoir uses concise, deliberate language to convey the family's emotions and struggles as they experience triumphs and setbacks in their quest to stay together, sustain themselves, and acclimate.
Originality: This story of perseverance, resourcefulness, and determination is original and important.
Character Development: Readers get a strong sense of the author and her parents as their journeys unfold. The personas of her siblings, in particular, and the people they encounter along the way are not as well developed, and the reader doesn't really get to know them as people.
Date Submitted: May 08, 2018
"An engaging tale of coming to America and becoming an American."
The story is authentic, powerful, sad and beautiful. It’s a very easy read
One of 14 non-fiction books featured at a Northeast premier literary event.
