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melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful, well-written, engrossing book. I loved every word of it. I had not known much about the Hmong; it was a gentle way into their hardship fleeing the wars, in the refugee camps, and in their life in America. In every way, it is a celebration of family, and the survival of a family which stays together, in spirit and in living close together. Memorable and haunting.
kimberxensen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
ashleyreadsanything's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
nvillanuevadrv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A critical Hmong American memoir that is both haunting and inspiring in its depiction of a family's ultimate resilience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Confinement
savbag's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly remarkable. I knew very very little about the Hmong people’s story and was just shocked and amazed at their resilience. I felt very humbled and appreciative of the everyday things most of us take for granted.
badpriestess's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't finish this. Similarly to The Road of Lost Innocence, I recognize that this is a good story. However, it was monotone and even and bereft of personality. If I cannot connect to the speaker as a person and not as words on a page, it is difficult for me to connect with the story. If nothing else, the book introduced me to the Hmong people and their strife during the late 1970s and 1980s in Laos.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
I really liked this memoir by a Hmong woman who came to the US as a 6 year old refugee in 1987. Most of Yang's large extended family ended up in the US when Thailand closed its refugee camps. Her story begins in Laos and Thailand when her family was fleeing the war, living in hiding and eventually in the camp. Her descriptions of the Hmong culture and trying to integrate into American culture are fascinating and inspirational. Yang was particularly close to her grandmother who lived into her nineties. At her funeral there were 300 descendants/relatives in attendance. If you've been a refugee or worked with refugees or just like to increase your understanding of your neighbors, you will appreciate this book.
bsmorris's review against another edition
5.0
Yang's work is so important in teaching about the Hmong people, their role as American allies in the Vietnam War, and what they've endured to come to the US and build new lives. Her skillful storytelling brings what is often just a footnote in history vividly to life and demonstrates the importance of love in helping people overcome terrible hardship and attempted genocide. It also offers a window into the lives of refugees in the US - how they got here and the obstacles they face as they work for better lives for themselves and their children. Yang has also published a number of children's books and memoirs of her father and mother, so I'll definitely be looking up more of her work.
tittypete's review against another edition
1.0
I got this book because I googled “good books about Minnesota.” I was familiar with Hmong folks from growing up so this seemed interesting. This book touches on the history of these people but is mostly a glossing-over of the interesting stuff and then ends on a protracted description of the family matriarch’s death and funeral. Didn’t love it.