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, part cookbook 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.
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This book lets the reader know what it is like to fall under a communist system. When Vietnam is taken over by the communists, their father’s job as a business man is no longer a good thing. They have to move to the country and work the land. Eventually things become so difficult that they try to escape. First time becomes a failure. Second time quite harrowing but they eventually make it to the U.S. This book also shows the difficulties of getting accepted in a community as an immigrant.
Having been steeped in the war images of Vietnam, this delightful and surprising view of the life of a family who survived the war and escaped to the United States gave me a deeply real vision of the country. The bare necessity life of survival after the war, the secretive escape and the transition into life in the USA is all told in great detail. If you are a person who want to understand other cultures, this is a must read.
Very interesting and enlightening about the lives of a family like those we have known of but rarely knew much about, covering an historic period and places in the past 50 years.
A fascinating picture of a family learning to navigate life in post war Vietnam and as refugees in the US. Unflinchingly narrated.
Amazing insight and detail regarding life in Vietnam and refugee camps, then adapting to American culture. The reward of perseverance, hard work and sacrifice for family.
Great story about grit and determination to keep a family intact. And to be able to elevate each persons standing with some very difficult decisions.
A wonderful book about a family’s escape from Vietnam years after the fall of Saigon. A good read for everyone especially any Vietnam Veteran that ever had doubts the purpose of their tour there.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. From a scary communist beginning to a wonderful working class end, it was fabulous to learn about another culture.
I was fascinated to learn what life was like in Viet Nam during that time period, especially from the view of a native.
I thought the author’s story was fascinating and well written. She ended up settling in my home town in Texas and I was curious about her take on Texas after moving to the US. The Vietnamese community revitalized parts of the city and I think they have been good for Port Arthur.
As an ex-military person who served in Vietnam in the early 70’s, I’ve always wondered how the many refugees fared when they decided to leave their own country. This story depicts what their life was like living in the Mekong Delta; as fleeing boat people; and as new dwellers in America. The author’s experiences learning a new country’s ways and its language was often quite delightful in the telling. I feel very enriched for learning about the trials and tribulations of the Vietnamese who were brave enough to join our country.
A compelling story that challenges the reader to examine their assumptions about and behaviors toward those who are different from themselves. Timely and well written.
This is a book that everyone should read. It promotes understanding of the challenges and blessings of immigrant families.
I learned so much about the Vietnamese experience in their own country during the war and afterwards during the Communist occupation. These people suffered so much, worked so hard, valued their family, and created their own successes. What an inspirational story.
Very enjoyable true story of a prominent South Vietnamese family and how their lives change when their country fell to the communists, their daring escape on a rickety boat, and their resettlement in the United States. Fascinating and inspiring.