The Cricket War

by Tho Pham, Sandra McTavish

A gripping story of a boy’s escape from Communist Vietnam by boat, based on the author’s own experience.

It’s 1980, and 11-year-old Tho Pham lives with his family in South Vietnam. He spends his afternoons playing soccer and cricket fighting with his friends, but life is slowly changing under the Communists. His parents are worried, and Tho knows the Communist army will soon knock on their door to make his brother, and then him, join them. Still, it shocks him when his father says that arrangements have been made for him to leave Vietnam by boat, immediately. Thọ tries to be brave as he sets out on a harrowing journey toward the unknown.

Co-authors Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish, childhood friends, have loosely based this historical fiction novel on Thọ’s real-life experience as one of the Vietnamese Boat People, and includes many factual details from his journey on the South China Sea and in a Philippine refugee camp. Depictions of pirate attacks, hunger, and loneliness make for a riveting survival story, sure to elicit empathy for refugees. Eventually adopted by a Canadian elementary school teacher, Tho’s story is ultimately one of hope, courage, and resilience. It’s a valuable resource for social studies lessons on Asian culture and history and on immigration.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Asia, Canada, Historical, Family

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cricket Wars is an absolutely astounding book. While much of the story is based on the author's own experiences, it skillfully weaves together the lives and struggles of many other Vietnamese individuals he knew. This lends the novel a powerful depth and a collective voice that feels both intimate and universal.

I believe this book is essential for educational curricula and can be appreciated by readers of all ages. Personally, growing up in Canada during the time these events took place, I was never taught about this history, nor was there much focus on Asian history or the experiences of people living through such turmoil. Reading The Cricket Wars opened my eyes to an entire world I had not been exposed to before.

The story also feels especially relevant today, as so many around the world are still fleeing their home countries, seeking safety and a new life. This novel offers readers a deeply human perspective on the refugee experience — from Tho’s harrowing time at sea, to life in a refugee camp, and finally, to arrival in Canada.

The Cricket Wars has forever changed my understanding of global history and migration. As the author is now a Canadian citizen, I believe that stories like his are crucial parts of our multicultural tapestry and should be widely taught and discussed.

This is a must-read — highly recommended! I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this powerful and unforgettable book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cricket War
By Tho Pham
October 3, 2023


This is a story loosely based on the author’s true events.
Eleven year old Tho spends his time playing soccer and cricket fighting with his friends in Vietnam. Before the Communist army comes knocking at their door, Tho and his brother are forced to leave on a boat and must endure some very traumatic events in order to make it to Canada.
Their journey is distressing, just imagining an eleven year old boy having to deal with it is so heart wrenching. It’s a book everyone should read.


Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the advanced readers edition in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cricket War is a novel based on Tho Pham’s and other Vietnamese refugees’ experiences fleeing their country in the 70s and 80s. Tho is our main character, who is 12 years old when he leaves on this journey alone. The authors did a great job giving a child’s perspective and feelings while also giving a lot of historical information. This is a part of history I didn’t previously know much about. When considering this book for your child, note that there is discussion of death and violence. Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Vivian Ayabaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was maybe the only or one of the few books that has literally crushed my soul inside and made me want to sob for hours. the story of Tho was so powerful and he was so so brave in his whole journey to canada. i love love love this book

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cricket War, based on the author's own experiences blended with other Vietnamese refugee stories, is an incredible book. To escape the Communist government ruling Vietnam in the 1980s, Tho's parents arrange to have him escape by boat, becoming one of the many "boat people" of the time. Tho's journey at sea was riddled with difficulties, including pirates, lack of resources, sickness, and tough emotions.

I think authors Pham and McTavish do a tremendous job weaving the refugee stories, with historical facts, and honouring the difficult journey many people made. I am only a few years younger than Tho and grew up in Canada in that timeframe, largely unaware of children like Tho in such vastly different circumstances to me. I also travelled to Vietnam in the early 2000s and only had a basic understanding of the plight of the boat people. I believe that The Cricket War is an important historical fiction novel/memoir and a great introduction for middle grade readers.

The Cricket War is a 2025 Sundog MYRCA nominee.

UPDATE: Reread October 2024 as a read aloud to a Grade 4/5 class. The students enjoyed it, even when I started crying while reading! They are going to learn more about Vietnam and Tho's story and write a companion book.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Thọ and his friends often train crickets to fight. Thọ does very well, and even has a special cardboard case for carrying his insects. When he wins another battle against Lâm, he feels bad when he runs into Lâm's sister, who tells him that her brother was sent "to the country to take care of an ailing uncle". Given the atmosphere of South Vietnam in 1980, Thọ knows that his friend has been sent away to avoid conscription into the Communist army. Thọ's father even arranges for Thọ and his brother Vũ to be sent away, but at the last minute the man ferrying them demands more money than the family has. Thọ returns home, but is eventually sent to an aunt's in the country, and starts the journey to the Philippines. This goes very poorly, and Thọ manages to lose the address of an uncle as well as everything he had with him after the boat he is on is attacked by pirates. He does run into Mia and her family again, and makes friends with another boy. The group is saved by Cap Anamur, a group of Germans working together to help Vietnamese who are trying to flee their country by sea. Thọ ends up in a refugee camp where he learns English and is able to find out that his brother made it to Malaysia, and then was sponsored by a teacher in Canada. Eventually, he is sponsored as well, and glad to reconnect with his brother, although he doesn't see his mother for many years.
Strengths: This short book is loosely based on Phạm's life, and offers valuable insight into the types of journeys that are still being undertaken by people fleeing places like Syria, Sudan, and Libya. This had special relevance to me personally, as I had relatives who adopted a young girl from Vietnam in 1975, and I'm sure that her experiences were not too dissimilar, although it was not something discussed in the family. Thọ's escape was even more harrowing than Nadia's experiences in Senzai's Escape From Aleppo, since he lost nearly everything he had. It was surprising that his family was able to get news to him.
Weaknesses: This is not for the faint of heart, and I would not purchase this for an elementary school library. There are people who die on the boat, and the book starts out with a discussion of the cricket wars, which involve training crickets by taunting them with a dead cricket's head on a stick.
What I really think: I will purchase this one, as it is a good slice of life book for US students who don't understand the travails that people have to endure to flee terrible conditions in their home countries.
This reminded by of Leaving Vietnam: the True Story of Tuan Ngo by Sarah S. Kilborne (1999), but I'm glad to have an updated book for my readers.

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

It goes without saying that the best books from kids' publishers can be read by all ages; this is one such book. Telling in really gripping and stirring fashion one man's semi-factual life, it evokes the times when Vietnamese people felt forced from their country because of the Communist leaders, and on to boats that sort of went away from the country, and sort of didn't. The one here is a case in point, when the engine dies, the spare is robbed from under them by pirates, and it ends up adrift – to the extent people think they've gone back to Vietnam. Daily pirate visits to check for valuables and food end up with the pirates feeding the Boat People, until our hero wrangles his way from one boat to another and eventually to a charity ship, which gets him to land at last. But that's not the land he wants, and probably not the land that really wants him…

The end matter shows what is slightly tweaked here, but the book really doesn't suffer from being a porridge of truth for the co-author, truth for someone else, and fiction. It's immediate, engaging, and so wrapped up with the world of this youthful character. It evokes his childhood games, the foods, the angst at missing both the older brother who went before, the best friend from next door, and the parents left behind. And in being so intimate in event and emotion, it will talk to modern audiences about all refugees, but will definitely be capital-A About the Vietnamese Boat People, and not the Islamist chancers and Albanian criminal grifters the UK of 2023 faces as boat people in their daily thousands.

This appears to be something very much akin to the Holocaust, in which it's a case of people just clamming up on surviving it, and not talking about it. I'm reasonably well-read, and have never found a book talking to me of these people and their plight. They weren't chancing it abroad per se, they were fleeing a thieving political regime, that also took away religious rights, and for them the open seas on open boats seemed the best thing, whatever amount of gold it took to get their kid or themselves on board. So I doubt the phrase 'all ages can read this' is anything like the truth. I should try 'all ages must read this' instead. For me it was a most educational privilege. And no, it does not feature any boring, colonial cricket match with two dozen men in whites and Pimms for tea.

[Joey Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Kids Can Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Tho’s family want him safe from the communists that have taken over Vietnam. Having to find the money and put him on board a boat alone, he goes on multiple boats on a long journey, all before going to Palawan refugee camp.

This was such a different piece of history that I really enjoyed reading, the story was so heartbreaking throughout. Reading at the end that this was based on real life makes the story that much heavier. It was written really beautifully and you could feel everything that Tho was going through on this journey.

I loved learning so much about this era in history, learning of how everyone was struggling, that the communists took over and constrained the teens into being part of them, of how families had to get separated so they were safe if they could even afford to send anyone over. The scary journeys on the boats with the rocky waters, lack of food and water, the pirate raids everyday, risk of being captured by the communists. Then to be stuck in a refugee camp for a while still not getting to the locations they dreamed of. It’s was hard hitting and impactful.

There was so much in this story, the way it was written was vivid that it felt like you were with Tho. His story is really scary, really heart wrecking, he was such a brave boy who had to go through so much all to find safety. He had to leave his family, his life all so he wasn’t given a bad life in Vietnam. He had to go on so many risky boat journeys with fear raiding his mind never knowing what the outcome would be at all. It was so scary but I was really intrigued how it was all going to come about and what was awaiting him at each chapter.

If you enjoy learning about history then you’ll really love this, you’ll learn so much and it will tug at your heart the whole time. You will be really invested in learning what is going to happen to young Tho, you’ll be scared with him and proud of him too. You’ll also learn some of his language as you read too. I highly recommend this to any history fans, it’s an enjoyable yet sad read.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is aimed towards middle grade age, there are some things in here that may be a little intense for some kids, but at the same time, educational in terms of understanding historical situations and what people went through without it being too gruesome.

This is a short book about a young pre-teen boy who spent his childhood surviving the Vietnam War, but it is now 1980/1981 and his family is doing its best to survive life under communist rule.

Tho loves to fight his crickets against his friends' crickets, especially battling against his best friend. When his friend doesn't come out to go to school one morning, he realizes he has gone off to escape Vietnam. He can't discuss it with anyone in order to protect him. His own parents arrange for him to go on a boat along with his brother, but his parents can only afford his older brother to go. Eventually he finds himself being sent off away from his family all alone. This book is about what his life in Vietnam was like and what it was like to go on a boat, deal with pirates, and make the journey of survival so that he can live in freedom.

I was thinking about how difficult it must have been for Tho's mom to say goodbye to her children but how much she hoped they would make it in life and be okay. I can't imagine going through that at all, so reading about this young boy having to do so was really powerful for me. This is based off of Tho's actual accounts, though he states in his notes how he had to add and subtract or slightly change some of the characters in order to explain what many families went through or things he had heard from other people's stories when he interacted with them. It was still really wonderful and I read it in twenty-four hours. It was great.

Content wise, there is talk about people dying, there are fights with violence, there is talk about stealing, and also talk about starvation.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cricket War is the story of an 11-year-old Vietnamese boy and is loosely based on the author's personal experiences. Young readers are pulled into Tho's daily life as the threats of communism and war surround his community, home and family.

Tho's family arranges for him to leave Vietnam on a boat, but he soon finds himself on his own. He becomes a refugee (one of the thousands of 'boat people') and readers witness his harrowing day-to-day existence - home sickness, sea sickness, hunger, loneliness and even pirates. After weeks at sea, he finally lands at a refugee camp and makes the slow process to find a new home in Canada.

This book will show young readers the perspective of refugees, the important work of humanitarian aid and insight into the obstacles many children and their families have had to face to live with the freedom we often take for granted.

These important historical and personal aspects will instigate good discussion, but due to some of the themes I'd recommend this book for late Elementary to Middle Grade readers.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED The Cricket War by Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish. The book introduced readers to life in Vietnam in the 1980s with the threat of conscription of young men into the Communist army looming. Our main character, Tho, knows that others sometimes "disappear", fleeing Vietnam for the chance at a better life - and he also knows that they don't all make it. Tho's brother leaves on a boat but the family can't afford to send Tho at the same time. Then, at 12 years old, his mother takes him to his aunt's where transport out of Vietnam has been arranged. His is on his own.

The book follows Tho's harrowing journey out of Vietnam and his eventual arrival in Canda. It is based on the real-life journey made by Tho Pham in the 1980s, combine with the stories of other Vietnamese Boat People who also fled Vietnam. The story is both eye-opening and heartbreaking. The story moves quickly and is well-written . It shares about a period of history that not everyone knows about (this reader included) and will appeal to a wide range of readers. I highly recommend this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book loosely follows the true story of the author Tho Pham and his journey from his home in Vietnam to his new life in Canada.

The young boy spends his days playing sport with his friends, and collecting crickets to teach them how to fight each other. This is interrupted due to the conscription happening in their country, so many families are trying to send away their young boys to avoid them fighting in the war. The book follows as he becomes a refugee at sea until he finds a home in Canada.

As this book is set around war and refugee boats/camps some of the events can be quite distressing for younger readers so I would suggest it for late middle school-high school readers. However it is well written and contains valuable insight into the people living through these pivotal moments in history.

AGE: 13+
GENRE: Historical Fiction, History, Geography, War, Vietnam, Canada
DETAILS: 160 pages, Historical Fiction

I received this as an eBook through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the author’s life, this is the story of the Vietnamese “Boat People” escaping Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. It’s a short and compelling story. After Pho’s best friend and older brother were smuggled out by their families, it was Pho’s turn. His mother took him to his aunt’s house – an all-day bus trip – where he was taken by small boat to a larger boat. As if enduring seasickness, crowded conditions, and little food and water wasn’t enough, Pho’s boat was attacked by pirates on a daily – and sometimes more than daily – basis. He decided to hide on a pirate ship after one raid and helped the pirate fish until they passed him off to a fishing boat. Finally, after weeks at sea, he was rescued by a German rescue ship, the Cap Anamur, and eventually taken to a refugee camp in the Philippines. After writing to his family, he heard from his brother who had made it to Canada; eventually Pho was invited to move to Canada as well.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boys experience leaving Vietnam in 1980/1981.

Our church sponsored a family from Vietnam in the 1980’s, but I’ve never read or know details about their or "boat peoples" journey from oppression.

I thought this story was written very well; it held my attention as an adult.

The story is a combination of Tho Pham's story with the assistance/writing by Sandra McTavish. Some characters in the story are composites, but the author provides significant detail in explaining the different characters. I'm so very glad that these authors took the time to share this story. I had no idea. Please find the time to read this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the authors. Thank you to Kids Can Press (the publisher) for approving my advance read copy request.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think I would be giving this book 5 stars until the very last page. The author finally gave me a reason to accept the choice of cricket fighting as a hobby. Tho’s story is a compilation of Vietnamese escape stories from the 1980s. The author explains in an afterward how the things that happened to Tho happened to someone the author interviewed. The authenticity of the book is wonderful. Tho’s family scrape together enough money to get Tho on a boat out of Vietnam. And that was the easy part. Tho encounters hunger and fear and pirates on his journey to a better place. I love the description of what Tho and Mai thin happened to loved ones that passed. “I think they’re riding dolphins across the sea, and playing soccer in the clouds…” that is now how I picture my own loved ones that are gone.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 5 out of 5]

1980, 1981 - Thǫ’s father want to send him and his brother away, so they do not have to fight for the Communist regime in Hô Chí Minh (formerly Sài Gòn), Vietnam. I was nervous for him the whole trip. His boat ran into pirate ships galore before he slipped onto one on purpose and then was so very fortunate. Still, I worried for him during his two months on the sea. I’m thankful to know about the Cap Anamur and the UNHCR - United Nations High Commission for Refugees. In the author’s notes, it’s also remarkable that the U.S. took the majority of Vietnamese refugees - over 1 million people. Short, quick read.

[Noreen Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best for grades 4-7, especially as a read aloud or book club. This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of a 12-year old boy fleeing Vietnam in 1981. From the secrecy of the arrangements to boarding the rickety boat to enduring daily raids by pirates, Tho’s journey is often solitary. He comes to a realization that he must act boldly if he is to survive. The importance of humanitarian efforts in saving lives as well as the difficulty of life in refugee camps are dominant meanings in this book. I did find the syntax choppy at times, but children would likely not notice that.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful and harrowing story about a young boy escaping communist Vietnam. It's perfectly pitched for middle grade readers and based on true events. I appreciate that that storytelling is very straightforward. I am also totally fascinated by the way the boats traveled through the South China Sea so haphazardly -- I know this is happening now in other parts of the world, and I hope there are rescue boats trying to save lives now as well. It's horrific that people should need to risk so much to find safety. And worse that so many do not.

[Alana Bursey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, Engaging and based from a real life story! I read this book straight through in a few hours, once I started I just couldn't stop reading. This book needs to be in all Canadian schools, as it is part of our history. The authors do an excellent job creating characters that you fall in love with, there is heartbreak, hardships and some content that may be difficult for young children but perfect for middle school and up. Tho's journey is one that people need to hear. Thankyou Theo and Sandra for sharing this story with the world.

[Marlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book engaging and exciting. It was a quick and easy read. I couldn't put the book down as the action was non-stop. The whole time I kept thinking: "I can't believe this really happened? How come we don't teach this in our Canadian schools? How did I not know about this?" I was challenged to dive into our Canadian history, especially the local history. I am grateful that Tho shared his story. It is inspiring and challenging. It is a moving story and well worth the read.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very moving, mostly true story of a young Vietnamese Boat Person. This isn't an area of history that I see covered very much and I think there should be more about it. What Tho (the character and the man) went through is so horrible and he is so brave to have gone through it and to share his story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closely based on the experiences of some Vietnamese refugee children (specifically but not exclusively Tho Pham) in the early 1908s. Well-written and short enough not to be threatening at 148 pages, this will hopefully lead to some good conversations about what people become refugees, even more today.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story that is used as the base from which this story is told. A good reminder of the plight of so many refugees. Families want their children to live free and will sacrifice so much to make that happen. This is one of those stories. How many more do we need to hear before we do something about these terrible situations that still exist?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping account of a young boy's escape from Vietnam in the early 1980s- all alone - adrift in the South China Sea and in a refugee camp in the Philippines. His courage and resilience along the way is the heart of the story. This is a quick read - engaging and also short. I wish we saw more under-200 page titles for middle graders!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Learning more about Vietnam after the US left was eye opening for me. The adventures, both the exciting ones and the heart breaking ones, were genuine and evoked lots of emotion. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advance copy.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The emotion and thought put into it made you feel really what Tho truly felt in the book. The long journey that he goes through is heartfelt. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes learning about others experiences.

[Elley Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read, shocking at times, but an important one

[Karen Filewych · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be an amazing classroom read-aloud! It had me captivated from page 1. What an incredible journey based on true events. Such an important story for children to read about.

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting historical fiction, very touching. And a quick read.

[Hadassah DaNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was amazing and inspiring of this author to go and find this story and right it down!