Mèo and Bé

by DoanPhuong Nguyen, Jesse White (Illustrator)

Just before the United States enters the Vietnam War, eleven-year-old Bé and her three-footed kitten Mèo must rise above the injustices of war to find the comfort, safety, and love of a found family. Eleven-year-old Bé hasn't spoken a word since her mother left. She hangs on to the hope that one day they will be reunited, but after two years of waiting, it's becoming more difficult. Her father--who is now frail and helpless after a stroke--can do little to protect her from her stepmother, Big Mother, who treats Bé like an animal and a servant. Thankfully, Bè has a secret friend, her little kitten Mèo, to comfort her in the worst of times. Maybe if she just steers clear of Big Mother and is obedient, everything will be okay. Unfortunately, Big Mother has other plans. She accuses her of stealing, and Bé is drugged and sold. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a locked underground bunker being held captive with a group of young women. Bé is too young to understand why they're prisoners, but at least she still has Mèo! He was hiding in her shirt when she was taken. As weeks pass, Bé makes a friend her own age, Ngân, even without speaking, and Mèo becomes a solace for the women--being available for cuddles and catching the mice that annoy them. Suddenly, a violent uprising enables the imprisoned women and girls to escape, only to realize the wider world of war is just as dangerous. Can Bé and Mèo, and their newfound friend, Ngân, find their way to a safe place they can call home--even though the world is literally exploding all around them? A beautiful literary work, full of kindness and compassion amidst the devastation of war.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Grief, War, Death

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

DoanPhuong Nguyen was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States when she was in elementary school. After growing up in the South, she settled in the Midwest. DoanPhuong loves anything pink and cute but enjoys writing incredibly sad, emotionally evocative novels. She received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. This is her first middle grade novel. Find her at doanphuong.com.

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: Mèo and Bé
AUTHOR: Doan Phuong Nguyen
PUB DATE: 05.23.2023 Now Available

Mèo and Bé is a beautiful and poignant story about eleven-year-old Bé and her secret friend, a three footed little kitten named Mèo, as they cope through the effects of war, loss, a cruel step mother, and being drugged, sold, and imprisoned, all the while learning to adapt to new friends and found family.

My heart went out for the characters in this middle grade book, with heavy themes in this historical fiction that teaches about resilience and overcoming adversities.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Bé's mother left, her stepmom's escalating abuse, and her father's illness, Bé finds herself increasingly isolated except for her three-legged kitten Mèo. But just before the US enters the Vietnam War, Bé is drugged, sold, and wakes up with a group of young women, all abducted & kept in an underground bunker. Can Bé and Mèo return to safety and find a new home?

MÈO AND BÉ is a middle-grade story that captures the essence of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of finding one's voice. The heart of the story lies in its focus on Vietnam during the war and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Nguyen provides a poignant portrayal of the emotional, social, and economic challenges faced by Vietnamese people during the period, and is reminiscent of DUST CHILD (Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai), albeit for a younger audience.

Nguyen effortlessly captures the complexities of the human experience, making it accessible and relatable to young readers while still offering profound insights for adult readers. Nguyen's ability to convey not only the hardships faced by the characters but also the themes of resilience and strength left me in awe.

I particularly adore the author's note, where Nguyen describes her experience learning about the Vietnam War through an American perspective and later via a Vietnamese lens. The raw emotions and heartfelt expressions poured onto the pages brought tears to my eyes.

MÈO AND BÉ is an excellent read for those seeking a touching and powerful story of resilience and the indomitable spirit of the human heart. I wholeheartedly recommend this middle-grade novel to both young readers and adults alike.

Thank you to hearourvoicestours for the #gifted copy

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply moving, based on real events children's story of the war of Vietnam. You'll need a box of tissues. The story of Be and her cat Meo and how they survive is bleak yet full of hope and strength and kindness from others. Highly worth a look, especially as this is told from a unique perspective during the Vietnamese war. 5 ⭐

TW: child abuse, implied off screen rape of adult women, adult sex trafficking, light language, death of cats, war themes, violence, parent loss/grief, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and starvation

[Y.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Doan Phuong Nguyen, Mèo and Bé is a heartbreaking middle-grade novel about an eleven-year-old girl searching for freedom and family after suffering abuse at the hands of her stepmother and being sold to a sex trafficking gang during the Vietnam War.

Please read the full review on Glitter Reviews. Link: https://glitter-reviews.com/2023/01/2...

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

a novel exploring việt history is always going to find a spot on my tbr but i haven’t read a lot of middle grade lit, so i was super curious to see how such a tragic story would be framed for a younger audience 👶🏻

because of the reading level, the writing was fast-paced & accessible (but didn’t feel overly simple for an adult reader). i think it will be so cool for young readers to see the inclusion of vietnamese with diacritical marks too — especially the việt glossary & pronunciation guide!

the novel covered many diff events showing the extent of destruction caused by the vietnam war. it was striking to read these events through the eyes of bé, a child who has yet to celebrate her 12th bday. many events were not explicitly described, but it was still clear to me as an adult reader what atrocity was taking place. i really saw how children may not fully understand the violence around them, but still feel the impacts deeply

ofc i need to highlight mèo, bé’s pet cat 🐱 throughout all of the tragedy, mèo is a symbol of hope & resilience. the way bé is instantly comforted by snuggling her furry friend was so reminiscent of how my sweet dory cat soothes me. the way bé cares for her cat is also a stark contrast with the way the adults in her life are unable or unwilling to care for & protect her 🫂 i loved the layers their relationship added & i’m so glad a cat was one hero of this story!!

i think the ending was a bit too tidy for me & the simpler writing made the story not as emotionally evocative as it could have been, but those 2 qualms are def a result of the middle grade audience so it makes sense that they didn’t work for me

overall, readers of all ages should explore việt perspectives on the american war in vietnam & i’m glad this book makes that accessible to young readers. for adult readers, this is an educational reminder of our responsibility to protect younger generations by making the world a better place for them 💛

huge thanks to @hearourvoicestours for the advanced copy & invite to the tour!! Mèo and Bé will be out MAY 23 💥

[Meg Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! What an INCREDIBLE book! I couldn't stop reading, and I know as a kid I would've absolutely devoured this too. This book deals with some really difficult topics like war, human trafficking, and abusive family, but it handles them with such care and thoughtfulness. I would particularly recommend this book for older MG readers, but like all books, it depends on the kid. Regardless, Mèo and Bé is an absolutely power, effective middle grade read.

Bé's experiences are so relentlessly difficult, but her cat Mèo is always by her side to provide comfort. Cat lovers will delight at Mèo's cameos and all the clever ways she finds to stay with Bé and help her. Despite the awful things Bé experiences, she seeks life and hope in a realistic and not naively optimistic way. I appreciated the model of seeking hope without it being in any way sugarcoated. Bé is resilient despite seemingly hopeless circumstances, and reminds readers that no matter how painful life is, there is a way to persist and find hope and beauty--and that there can even be a good life after the awful. This is a book everyone should read.

The author's note in the back is particularly insightful. I'm really excited to read more from DoanPhuong Nguyen!!!!!

[Joy]

I picked this up because I've been trying to read more about Vietnam after visiting a few years ago. I appreciate that this isn't necessarily *about* the War, even though it does play a large role in the progression of events.

However, I felt that the story took too long to get to the parts described in the back cover blurb, and it was way darker than I expected even based on that blurb. I thought Bé would be sold as a domestic worker (ie, modern slavery), but it's heavily implied to be sexual slavery. (It doesn't come right out and state it, because the older women are trying to protect Bé. And I know it does happen that girls this young are sold into slavery, but I wasn't expecting it in a Middle Grade story.) Bé and her friend do escape before they're ever assaulted, but ooooof.

Maybe this is a case of me being outside of the target audience. I hope this book does find the right readers for it.

Content warnings: physical and emotional abuse from a step-parent, parental abandonment, war / combat, human trafficking, death of loved ones, religious prejudice.

[ketfolio · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked the book overall and thought the simplicity of the storytelling was easy to comprehend the traumas our main character went through.

it was hard to understand why the viet cong was bad without a clearer explanation besides hearing bad stories. i read the author’s note so i understand her familial and personal history against the viet cong, but i wish i understood why we should blame them for the atrocities that happened.

bé went through too much as an 11 year old and i couldn’t stop tearing up in certain parts, especially the one during the underground bunker.

even without being explicit, the author shared the scary and patriarchal conditions women and very young girls had to go through. she’s really good at showing, not telling.

the repetitive “i miss xuan, i miss ba” kind of hit the “too much telling” part, and i was wanting her to just explain what made her miss it. it’s obvious she misses her old life.

but overall, a quick and entertaining read!

[Amelia E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to connect more with my culture (I’m half Vietnamese), I’ve been desperately searching for any books by Vietnamese authors, books set in Vietnam, or books with Vietnamese characters. Quite by accident I discovered this book, which fits all three of those, and I was SO EXCITED and now I FINALLY READ IT and just AHHHH

Ok, so. From the cover this looks like a cute, chill, fun little kids book. DON’T BE FOOLED. THIS BOOK WILL PULL EVERY HEART STRING YOU HAVE AND THEN SOME. It is. So. Sad. My heart hurt so much for Bé and all she went through. Of course, that made every happy moment that much more touching and beautiful. But I just — no kid should have to go through any of that. And the sad part is, as mentioned in the author’s note, there are some kids who do go through things as awful as what Bé went through in this book.

Content/trigger warnings: There is a lot of heavy content but it’s not stated outright. It’s addressed the right way — not flippantly — but idk if you get triggered easily, just be aware it’s there. This includes mentions of war and violence, @buse, and implied d3ath trafficking.

If you are able to read really sad books, I highly recommend this one. It’s heartfelt and beautifully written, and just - yeah. Read it if you can 🥺

[Tiffany K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will remain with me for a very long time. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it. Be courage and will to live was incredible. After such abuse suffered at the hands of her stepmother she was determined to find a better life for herself. Thankfully she met some loving and kind people along the way that showed her it was all possible. She was so strong against adversity, I could never walk in her shoes. I’m grateful that she got her happy ending.

[Jaer Armstead-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much tragedy amidst survival. The reality of what happened in this setting still troubles our world today. A quick and easy, yet hard read because of the horrific subject.

[Nuzka Dya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wondered what it would be like to live during the war? especially for a young girl like Bé, our main character in this heartbreaking yet captivating story. This book contains scenes that, for me, may trigger certain people. It was painful to see all the cruelty that this young girl suffered. An eleven-year-old girl went through all that happened in this book? 😭 I need some therapy. This thing caused me to read the book at separate times, I paused a lot, only because I couldn't stand all the heartbreaking moments. However, I'm glad that this story is being written. The world must see how unsatisfactorily a war could affect soft people. If you want a book with a good cry, this one is for you😍 A perfect Middle grade Historical fiction book that'll grab you deeply into the story.

P. S. We have also our main cat character here 🙊, meet Méo, a very cute kitten that has brought lights into this tale. Thank you Méo for being my mood booster 🤫

“Everything that remained of her old life was gone.”

Thanks to the author @doanphuongwrites and @hearourvoicestours for the approval!!

[Ashley Gulyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mèo and Bé by Doan Phuong Nguyen is an incredibly well-written work of middle grade historical fiction set in Vietnam in the mid-1960s (from the perspective of a South Vietnamese girl). This book is gut-wrenching. Bé’s story is both tragic and hopeful. It is a story that will stick with the reader long after the book is finished.

Bé’s parents uproot her life to move to live with her father’s other family. Her mother ends up leaving her there with her father and stepmother. To call her stepmother evil would be an understatement. She is cruel and abusive to Bé and ends up selling her to human traffickers behind her father’s back. This is all occurring against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. It’s also all happening with Bé’s feline companion, Mèo, by her side.

So…yes, this story is HEAVY (especially for middle grade). But it’s also hopeful. Bé’s connection with Mèo is human-animal companionship at its best. And once Bé is away from her family, she finds so much kindness from strangers. I don’t want to give too much away, but I love seeing Bé get to choose who she calls her family after all she’s been through.

I highly recommend this book - it’s one that will stay with me for a while.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mèo and Bé is a real treasure that I'm so pleased to have on my bookshelf. Doan Phuong Nguyen writes with such clarity and tenderness that paints such a vivid picture of what life is like for Bé during the Vietnam War, from the perspective of a young girl who yearns for her family, while sticking through thick and thin with her three-legged kitten, Mèo.

I loved how absorbing the language was when it came to Vietnamese traditions and the entire landscape of the novel, as Bé journeys from a loving home to a neglectful one, and from danger and adversity, finally to safety. Her relationships with the characters around her are so important, the good and bad ones, and the closeness she feels with her brother is a real strength to this novel - and especially the bond between her and her adorable kitten, Mèo.

Strikingly original and a story every child should read for empathy, this is a beautiful, heartfelt book that I couldn't put down.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The setting is unusual for a middle-grade novel as it takes place in 1962 Vietnam. It’s seven years into the Vietnam War and the threat of a Viet Cong attack is always in the background. It’s normal to see armed soldiers patrolling the streets. The author includes many cultural details of that time including the possibility of a father having two wives. A glossary is provided at the front of the book to help readers understand any unfamiliar vocabulary they can’t figure out when using the context. The author says she wants to present South Vietnam before American soldiers arrived and the plot doesn’t directly describe the war with North Vietnam. Most books about this region of the world include America’s role in the conflict so it’s appropriate for this book to focus on the people who lived there.
Thuong is the epitome of an underdog character. She learns that her father has a second family and she’s forced to move with her mother into his other home. Thuong’s stepmother has a reputation in the village for being an angry, loud woman and Thuong immediately learns that first-hand. The woman demands Thuong change her name and forbids her youngest son from playing with Be. Be finds comfort from her grandmother but soon loses that support when her grandmother dies. Things go downhill from there and readers will hope that Be can find even the smallest positive moments in her life. It’s disturbing to note that many of the traumatic events described are based on stories the author heard from her family members.
The author tenderly develops a wide range of emotions although many of them are not happy. Her stepmother causes most of Be’s sadness due to her repulsion and anger toward her husband’s second family. Be tries to avoid the woman as best she can and she stays close to possible protectors when near her stepmother. Be’s sadness turns to misery following her mother’s absence and her father’s illness and then the author chooses to make things even worse. Be no longer speaks and she’s sold into slavery by her stepmother. Glimmers of hope and glee are provided throughout the book with Be’s youngest stepbrother being the first. However, the relationship has ups and downs. Be’s most loyal friend is a kitten named Meo and he never leaves Be’s side. Finally, Be meets another prisoner about her age and it seems as though their friendship is the only thing allowing them to survive.
What didn’t work as well:
The upbeat moments in the book are few and far between so it creates a depressing tone for readers. However, it’s based on reality and this was not a feel-good time in South Vietnam’s history. It’s an appropriate tone for the subject matter.
The final verdict:
Readers will root for Be during her journey to find happiness and they’ll become emotionally invested in her struggles. I recommend you give this book a shot.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in South Vietnam mostly during the spring and summer of 1964 before the United States became deeply involved in the country's conflict, this historical fiction provides a unique perspective on the war. Eleven-year-old Be, originally called Thuong, has an idyllic life until her father decides to relocate the family for safety reasons. After she and her mother move to his childhood home near the Cambodian border, she discovers that he has another wife with whom he had other children, all boys, and she is not happy at all about their arrival. Although Be's paternal grandmother and her cousin try to protect her from the volatile, cruel woman, that protection ceases once the elderly woman dies. Ma leaves in search of a job that will enable her to support her child, and the abuse quickly escalates, culminating in Be being sold to a sex trafficker. Be finds a caring community and a family among the other girls and women who are in the same situation that she is in, and eventually she and another girl, Ngan, are able to take advantage of a violent attack to escape. There are several heart-wrenching passages as Be keeps hoping for some comfort and security and the return of her mother or some form of rescue, only to have her hopes dashed. Parts of her heart crack time and time again as does her belief in adults and the promises they make. Be's simply desire for a home is clear in almost every line, and readers will be grateful for the tender moments between Be and Meo, the three-pawed kitten she has tended since birth and rescued. Had it not been for that cat the story would have been unrelentingly sad, but Meo provides comic relief and hope for readers and the characters. That was one resilient, smart cat who really lived up to the old wives' tale that cats have nine lives. It's a good thing too since Be no longer speaks due to various traumas. Although the story's conclusion was a bit rushed and unlikely, the author helps readers recognize the consequences of war on civilians as well as the possibility of finding family, kindness, and compassion even during the most terrible situations. There are so many "what-if" moments in the narrative, and it's hard not to question the decisions made by Be's father and her mother. Readers won't soon forget the gray-striped cat named Meo or Be.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book packed a whole lot of emotion and heart into the story. Taking place during the Vietnam War, we meet a resilient young girl Thuong/Be, who experiences the worst that any war can offer to anyone. Yet as she suffers, she is comforted by her kitten, Meo, who joins her and takes care of her just as she takes care of Meo.

I sobbed multiple times while reading this because so much of it was incredibly heartbreaking. But just as Meo comforts Be, Meo also comforts us. There are some very touching moments between Meo and Be, as well as Meo and various other characters. The kitten inspires and uplifts which in turn, helps the story not feel like trauma after trauma.

Mild warning: the content can be graphic. However, it's not graphic to be shocking, it's graphic because it tells the truth and exposes the violence that so many people were forced to endure during the Vietnam War. I appreciated that the author did not describe these experiences lightly. I learned a lot, and I felt a lot.

Overall, this was a very heartbreaking, but also uplifting story. I look forward to future books by Doan Phuong Nyugen!

**Thank you to HearOurVoices tour for gifting me an eARC and inviting me to participate in the book tour**

[Lorraine Fernandez Quinones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mèo and Bé is a middle grade historical fiction novel by @doanphuongwrites.

For #homeschoolingmom who loves to add #historicalfictionbooks to their history lessons, #mèoandbé may be a very good #homeschoolmiddleschool lineup for an older middle schooler.

But, please be aware that this heartbreaking book deals with heavy heavy situations and creates lots of emotions for the reader.

*Vietnam War
*Family Death
*Child Abuse
*Human Trafficking/Sex Industry

Just to give you a small insight to Bé’s traumatic experience, the entire village, even the priest knew she was being mistreated and they all turned a blind eye. She was then kidnapped, drugged, and sold by her miserable step-mother!

Throughout the entire book, I was angry for Bé and the situation she was in; the unfairness and the cruelty by her family. Thankfully, there was a happy ending for her and eventually truly loved and live a better life.

On a side note, in the book they mentioned Vietnamese coffee and Pho; both I love and enjoy here in NYC. And it created a tiny personal connection with me through foods. Culture is so important and its carried by the person no matter where they go and gratefully, through their perseverance, my family is able to taste a bit of their culture.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many sides to a story, in this case the Vietnam War. No Americans were involved in this title. It is about how the people of South Vietnam fared while the Viet Cong were baring down on them. Be is a pre-teen girl who lives with her parents. Her father decides to move them to a different area where he owns property. It turns out this is the home where his first wife and family live, along with his mother. There is farm land and animals which are a welcome respite from being in the house where the former wife wields cruel control. Eventually Be's own mother leaves. Then her father has a stroke. Meo does become close to her grandmother as well as the youngest son of the first wife and her father. She befriends a young kitten with only 3 legs; this is Meo. Meo becomes her constant companion, even following when she moves to another place where she is kept underground. The cat finds a way to visit and comforts all the women. This is not a story for young children as there is cruelty, abuse and allusions to girls and women being sold into slavery. It is not a light read. Middle school is early enough for this title.

[Hannah Schwager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an official review from CLEAR, a group of librarians with SWON.

Set towards the end of the Vietnam war, the book tells the incredibly moving story of a young girl named Be and her kitten, Meo. Be, in her 11 years of life, experiences more pain, trauma, and heartbreak than any individual should ever experience. In spite of all her suffering, Be does find joy and love through individuals around her, including her mother, her stepbrother, the women she is held captive with, and her beloved kitten who remains with her though it all. This is an incredible story of loss, betrayal, and the atrocities of war. It is also a story of persevering love, found family, and hope. While this is a difficult read, it is an important one. Be ultimately does have a happy ending, but the story itself is deeply moving and significant in understanding the impact that war can have.

I would recommend this to ages 10 and up. This novel does deal with themes of violence, death, and while it does not directly state it, it can be read between the lines that the women where Be was being held captive were being sexually assaulted (Be herself is not).

[Lauren Perez Esper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this book! This book was so heartbreaking but so beautiful. Mèo and Bé is a middle grade novel about a young Vietnamese girl's life during the Vietnam War.
The horrific life Bé endured at such a young age was both eye opening and admirable when she didn't let the horrors win. From parental abandonment, abuse, human trafficking, the devastation of war and more, young readers will get a perspective of the war that Americans don't typically learn about. It is Nguyen's hope that readers take in this perspective and learn from it.

"This is a story about how you can find the light amid the dark. It's a story of courage and never losing hope, even when things seem hopeless. It's a story about finding your voice after you've lost everything."

I recommend you pick up this story if you are a fan of historical fiction, and faithful sidekicks! Bé finds comfort and friendship in a young cat when she is at her lowest. Their relationship and need to rely on each other for survival had a stronghold on my heart the whole time! I recommend you read the Author's Note at the end. It gives some background and family history that enhances the story and experience.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely first novel by Doan Phuong Nguyen, who weaves her own family history of the Vietnam War into this dark but hopeful story of Be’ and her three legged cat, Meo’. The little girl lives a bit of a Cinderella story after her mother leaves her with her frail father and wicked stepmother, Big Mother, who abused Be’. Despite themes of violence, starvation, abandonment, and even human trafficking. Nguyen uses the playful and loyal cat as a little ray of light throughout the novel. There are acts of kindness, compassion and sacrifice along the way, which is a tribute to author’s family and motherland. It’s a story of survival and hope and another great example of the need for more underrepresented authors today. Bravo! Note: I have been to post war Vietnam as a tourist in 2008, and really appreciated the author’s description and love for her country. Her inclusion of Vietnamese pronunciations, names and glossary are a nice touch.

[Shannon Balloon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this lovely book in preparation for an interview with the author, Doan Phuong Nguyen, on a podcast I host (Middle Grade Matters). The main character, Be, endures incredible hardship stemming from both a difficult family situation as well as the Vietnam War, yet she holds onto hope and finds joy in little things, like her cat Meo. I found myself rooting for Be, and as her situation changed and grew I rooted for her even harder. I especially liked that the ending, while not the ending I had hoped for at the outset of the story, was one that felt realistic as well as triumphant for this young character who was a true survivor. I also appreciated learning more about this period of history that I only knew from history books. Seeing it through the eyes of a young survivor made it feel real and present and something I now want to know more about.

[Abby (the_rainydayreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel showed a very dark time in history from the perspective of an eleven-year-old girl. Bé is living in 1960's rural Viet Nam when war starts. The author's note at the end of the book notes that this book is not about the war, but about a young girl's experience during war. The author's note is very illuminating, explaining how the author drew from her own family members' experiences during the war. The book is very dark, including depictions of domestic abuse, child abuse, descriptions of death, and implied sexual trafficking. I appreciated that Bé always had her cat with her to comfort her from the atrocities she was experiencing. I think that this book would be good for mature tweens and even teens to learn about how war affects children around the world.

[Anabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book filled with so many big emotions. The ability to be able to write something so profound and emotional while still letting the reader connect with Bé and her long and difficult journey is amazing. Seeing Bé struggle throughout her journey breaks my heart every time, but it seems so fulfilling to see her triumph, grow, and find someone she can rely on. This book brought tears to my eyes every time I turned the page, I could truly feel Bé's pain, but also her joy and light. This is one of the few books that can alter how you perceive others, the world around you, and yourself. I appreciate the work and talent that was put into this book, I don't think it could ever go unnoticed.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poor baby went through so much!! I enjoyed this emotional historical novel for middle grade readers. The prose is simple, clear and heartfelt. I was worried that some of the content would be too disturbing for young readers, but the author tempers what could be much more graphic.

If only Ma had held firm at the beginning! However, she was coerced by Ba into the worst plan ever. It ruined their whole family.

Basically this book is a testament that men are horrible- the war, the conflict, the abuse, the imprisonment…. Basically all because of men.

Yes- Big Mother was horribly abusive, but Ba was the one who enabled her horrible behavior.

I am so glad Bé had Méo with her and that there was a hopeful ending.

[Jessica Vitalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful and heartbreaking novel set during the Vietnam war; Bé and her mother are relatively happy, but as the war moves closer, they move in with Bé's father and his first wife (Big Mother), a nasty woman who makes their lives miserable. When Bé's mother finally flees in the hopes of building a better life for them so that she can someday return for her daughter, Bé becomes mute. Big Mother makes her life nearly unbearable and finally does the unthinkable––she sells Bé. What follows is a story of courage and resilience as Bé seeks safety and belonging in a world that is anything but kind.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful story (which might be too intense for younger readers) of a young girl abandoned and abused then sold into sexual slavery during the early days of the Vietnam civil war. She is the youngest girl among a group of girls and women who are imprisoned in and underground bunker waiting "selection". She is unaware of what happens to the girls "up there" and she is never selected as the war forces them to flee. Very well done and a good selection for school libraries. The author tries and succeeds in writing a story based on the experiences of her relatives who spent their childhoods in a war zone.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was dark but it was good. I had to read it in chunks though because it was heart wrenching to read what was happening to Bé. Bé is resilient though and she was able to find her voice at the end.

There was strong character development and the novel was layered with Vietnamese history and culture. I thought the author did a great job balancing the light and the darkness. I think Middle Graders will appreciate this book and learn that they can finds glimmers of hope in a period of darkness.

[Sydney Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

MÈO AND BÉ is a heartbreaking, beautifully-written middle-grade novel that will stay with me for a long time. It is an absolutely wonderful book that tackles some very difficult material, including abuse in the family, war, and human trafficking. These topics were all handled in such a careful and compassionate way, and I found it impossible to put this book down. I adored the main character and her sweet kitten. This story includes wonderful thematic elements of resilience, found family, friendship, and finding one's voice.