Aimee Phan

This novel is a multi-generational and multi-point of view story of a family of Vietnamese immigrants, half of whom go to Paris and half of whom go to Orange County, California, after the fall of Saigon to the communist regime.
When I was in high school I went through a Vietnam war phase and so I have read a ton of stories about the war and the country from an American point of view, but less so from the view of the Vietnamese people. I really enjoyed this opportunity to see the other side. show more
I liked that although at first the different points of view seemed fractured, that as the book went along it became clear that each of the characters had information that led to a whole at the end. I also thought it was interesting to see the contrast of how France and the U.S. exerted different influences on the different branches of the family.
The only draw back, I think, was that the loose ends seemed to wrap up too neatly at the end. I think the story would have been more powerful if there was a bit more mystery. However, I found this to be an engrossing read that brought me to new and interesting places. show less

Two Vietnamese families, escaping Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, some go to France and some go to the United States after there stay in a relocation zone. What do they bring with them and how it affects their future is the basis for this wonderful novel by Phan. Immensely readable and addictive we follow the family as they attempt to acclimate to their new homes and way of life. Yet secrets and things they have done will follow them always and effect them and their children in negative show more ways throughout their lives. We can never escape ourselves. Grandma Vo is a piece of work, said to have run a black market racket in Vietnam she has all the money and interferes by using manipulation and guilt in her children's lives. My favorite character was the grandmother Hoa who has not had an easy time with her husband yet comes fully into her own when he is diagnosed with Alzheimers. I loved reading the progression and growth of the characters, all were interesting and well rounded. There is much strength in this novel and it shows the reality of the immigrant experience. Did appreciate the family chart at the front of the book because there were many unfamiliar names of which to keep track. show less

Well-crafted and imaginative fantasy based on the Vietnamese legend of the Trung sisters, queens who led the Vietnamese army against the Han warriors. It is surprisingly difficult to find English literature, retellings, or translations on Vietnamese folk tales, and I actually never learned about the Trung sisters until last year.

Jolie is a high school student who’s a descendant of thầy bói (fortune tellers). She starts getting unsettling visions in her classes that become stronger after show more rescuing her classmate Huong during swim class. Soon, she finds her grandfather’s ever-changing book on Vietnamese myths, is finally able to understand Vietnamese, and can read other people’s minds.

This tale blends modern day San Jose with ancient Vietnam, magic, and dragons. Once the story gets moving, it doesn’t stop, and there’s an element of mystery surrounding the past that ropes you in. Plus, the cover for this book is absolutely breathtaking.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own. show less

There is so much about this novel that I loved, I hardly know where to begin. I was lucky enough to hear Ms. Phan read during my final MFA residency at Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe this summer. I don't recall now if she read from this novel or another, but I knew from that reading that hers was writing I would greatly enjoy (and learn from) and this novel didn't disappoint.

I try not to include spoilers in my reviews because I hate that, so this review is shorter than I might show more otherwise write. This is a saga of a Vietnamese family and I was instantly drawn in by the strong characters. It was one of those rare novels wherein the characters are so well crafted that in my mind they are living, breathing people and I was really sad to have to let them go at the end of the novel. The language was lovely and the story seamless. It was truly a joy to read, I only wish it had been longer. The only difficulty I had with it was knowing that I was likely mispronouncing names and I wouldn't want that to happen if these were people I actually knew--they felt that real to me. But that says more about my ignorance than the writing.

Bottom line: Absolutely read this. show less