Tag Archives: Refugees

Review for The Stone Goddess by Minfong Ho

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the-stone-goddess

Note: I read this book as part of the #DiversityDecBingo reading challenge. You can find out more about it here.

My Summary: Nakri is trained in classical Cambodian dance and idolizes her older sister who dances like a goddess. However, her family’s life in Phnom Penh is disrupted when the Khmer Rouge takes over. They evacuate their home in the capital, but they are soon separated, with Nakri, her sister, and her brother going to a labor camp. The family reunites to flee to a refugee camp on the border withThailand before finally emigrating to the U.S., where Nakri must learn to cope with the new environment and the trauma of her past.

Review:

I found this book at a used book store, which is a prime location for scouring the shelves in search of old/obscure books by Asian authors. The cover illustration captivated me and I was excited to find a book featuring a Cambodian character because they’re rare in fiction.

Based on the synopsis, I knew this story was going to be an emotional one. It is dark, as a book about genocide and refugees inevitably is. Nakri suffers many losses: the comfort of her home and all that’s familiar, her material possessions, her family, her sense of faith. She becomes physically malnourished and fatigued and emotionally numb during her time in the labor camp.

However, the darkness is balanced by bursts of light and hope. Her older sister continues to dance in secret, even though it is forbidden by the overseers. Her sister also tells stories and legends and shares memories with her so they won’t forget their past life. Her brother sneaks food to her, looking after her even though they are not supposed to have family, only comrades, under the Khmer Rouge’s law. The volunteers at the refugee camp show her kindness, as do her family’s American sponsors.

Nakri’s spirituality takes a blow as a result of the Khmer Rouge’s takeover. In an effort to stamp out the old culture, the Khmer Rouge destroys a statue of the Buddha and bans the classical dance that was intimately tied to their religion and the gods. After the Khmer Rouge is defeated and she leaves behind that oppressive environment, Nakri is free to dance again. However, the dance and music carries with it a lot of emotional baggage, so she must find healing before she can find the inspiration to dance again.

The author has a knack for describing dance, both the physical and emotional aspects of it. When I read it, I felt connected to something greater than myself. In general, I was immersed in Nakri’s experiences, both the beautiful and the ugly, and I was surprised that the author wasn’t a Cambodian refugee herself. However, she does have a personal tie and experience with the real life events that inspired the book. She grew up next door to everything, in Thailand, and volunteered at a refugee camp in 1980, after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Her own family also experienced displacement due to political turmoil, so she writes from a place of deep empathy.

In January, I’m planning to read an #ownvoices book about the Cambodian genocide, In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner. I also have two middle grade #ownvoices books by a Cambodian American author, Many Ly, on my TBR List, so stay tuned for reviews of those.

Recommendation: It might be a bit hard to find this book since it’s a bit old (from 2003), but if you can, go read it. It’s a great book for middle grade readers; Nakri is 12 at the beginning of the book and is 16 or 17 by the end, but the content of the book is fine for younger readers.

Review for Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

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shooting-kabul

My Summary: In 2001, Fadi’s family flees the Taliban and emigrates to San Francisco from Afghanistan. However, his little sister Mariam is accidentally left behind. As Fadi attempts to adjust to his new life in the U.S., he struggles with not only prejudice from peers fueled by the 9/11 attacks but also his guilt for his role in Mariam getting lost. Hope for rescuing Mariam arrives in the form of a photography contest where the grand prize is a trip to India. Despite the obstacles he faces, Fadi develops a new hobby, makes friends, and strives to win the photography contest.

Review:

Shooting Kabul is a good book in many ways. From the characters, to the handling of complex political situations, to the themes–all of these things make this book memorable.

For most Americans, especially white Americans, the Taliban and Islam are far removed from their personal experiences. What little they know is filtered through biased media and outright misinformation peddled by hatemongers and those who stand to benefit from the conflicts and wars the U.S. wages abroad. The choice of an young Afghan American refugee as a main character serves to remove that emotional distance, rendering the political personal.

For Fadi, the Taliban is not just a news item, they are something that has direct ties to and influence on his family. The Taliban are the reason they have fled Afghanistan. His family’s history with the Taliban illustrates the way the group evolved from being the heroes of Afghanistan against foreign invasion to the oppressive rulers, defying the oversimplified narrative of Taliban=evil.

By setting the story in late 2001, the author is able to explore the repercussions of 9/11 on Muslim Americans. The victims of 9/11 aren’t just those who died in the attacks, but also the people who have faced backlash due to racism and Islamophobia. As we see from Fadi’s bullies, children are impressionable and will internalize the prejudices of their environment and perpetuate it. That’s why this book is so important: because it teaches empathy.

Although Fadi faces bullies, he also makes friends and allies at school. Most notable among these are Anh, a Vietnamese American classmate who convinces him to join the photography club, and Ms. Bethune, his Black art class teacher and the sponsor for the photography club. They help him out and encourage his creativity. (POC friendships are the best.)

In various ways, the book highlights the diversity of San Francisco. From Fadi’s classmates and teacher to the urban landscape of the city, readers get the impression of the mosaic of peoples and cultures that populate Fadi’s world.

One of the things I really loved about the book was the detailed descriptions of photography. The author deftly portrays the labor and the artistry in the process of producing a photograph, from the planning of the shot to the making of a photo print. It really gives you a deeper appreciation for the art. I learned a lot about photography from reading this book.

Although Fadi faces unexpected setbacks, he ultimately gets a happy ending. The ending left me with a sense of hope, and the reassurance that sometimes when one door closes, another opens.

Recommendation: This is great book about family, friendship and perseverance. Though it’s a middle grade novel, I think anyone can read it and enjoy it.