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literarylaila's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you Algonquin Books for a giveaway arc of Dust Child, out 3/14/23!
Dust Child shines a light on the aftermath of The Resistance War Against America, or The Vietnam War. No one knows how many Amerasians or “children of the dust” were born in Vietnam but the number is estimated in the tens of thousands. Dust Child is told in three alternating POVs: Phong, who is half Vietnamese and half Black, Dan, a American veteran who served in Vietnam, and Trang, a young Vietnamese woman who goes to great lengths to care for her family.
I loved and appreciated Nguyễn including all three points of view to her novel, as well as telling the story through past and present timelines. Phong’s ostracism by society broke my heart but his tenacity, drive, and eventual acceptance of himself had me cheering him on. Dan’s POV was very interesting and I thought Nguyễn wrote him so well. She didn’t hide the terrible actions he committed during the war but you’re also made to understand he acted the way he did BECAUSE of the horrors of war. Trang’s innocence and dreams are broken due to the war but she finds a new dream towards the end. The supporting characters also play roles in this novel and add their own personalities and perspectives.
Nguyễn’s writing always transports me with her fleshed out characters and descriptive settings. She writes each character with purpose. Her love for her country is evident as well and is highlighted in how she describes the food, the clothes, the culture, and the people. Her voice is an important and necessary one to highlight the history and present of Vietnam. 5 shining stars for Dust Child, obviously!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Racism, and War
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