When Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge army stormed into Phnom Penh in April 1975, Loung’s family fled their home and were eventually forced to disperse to survive. Loung was trained as a child soldier while her brothers and sisters were sent to labour camps. The surviving siblings were only finally reunited after the Vietnamese penetrated Cambodia and started to destroy the Khmer Rouge.
To read this book was like having your heart torn out. You read it and wonder how this was allowed to happen and where the rest of the world was when all of this was going on. If you ever thought that the problems of the world weren’t yours then this book will change your mind. This book will make you want to get up and do something, as you cannot read it and not be affected by Laung’s story.
I have never cried reading a book before, but boy did I cry with this one. I had to apologise to all the commuters who had to witness tears flooding down my face or listen to my sniffing on the train, but this book really touched me. Try and read it if you can!
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This book has been on my list for quite some time. I heard about it while we were in Cambodia, but I couldn’t find it at the time. Thanks for the reminder!
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Shame you couldn’t find it while you were there. You can also buy it on Amazon actually. That’s where I bought it.
I also read this book to gain a deeper understanding of Cambodia’s troubled past. The book was very vivid, disturbing at times, and yet amazing to see how she came through everything that she endured. There is also a sequel – Lucky Child – about how she was able to finally come to the US, & later reunite with a sister who stayed in Cambodia.
I have yet to read the sequel actually. But it sounds like an interesting read as well, Jen!
I hear they are making a movie of it, but I don’t think I could watch it. I read the book and it broke my heart. I didn’t know there is a sequel, so I’ll check it out!
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