What do you think?
Rate this book
Growing Up A Farm Girl Saved My Life - A Cambodian Genocide Survivor Remembers by Donna May Sanders
On April 17, 1975, as the Vietnam War ended, the Communist Khmer Rouge entered Battambang, Cambodia, claiming, “We come in peace.” They arrived on tanks and on foot, waving white flags. Among the residents of Battambang was 21-year-old Veera Som, a student from a rural village whose parents had sent her to the city for an education, hoping to spare her from the farm life that aggravated her severe asthma.
But peace was a lie.
The Khmer Rouge quickly took control, forcing everyone from their homes at gunpoint, saying it would only be for three days. It wasn’t. People were marched into the countryside; some killed along the way. Work camps were established, and the Cambodian Genocide began, claiming the lives of 1.5 to 2 million people.
Veera’s father warned “Don’t tell them you’re a student.” The educated, the wealthy – anyone who could read or write – were executed. Veera stayed silent.
In March 1979, Vietnamese forces liberated the camps. “Di Vay Nha! Go home!” the soldiers shouted. After years of hardship and on hold in resettlement and refugee camps, Veera and her sister Channy finally boarded a plane from Bangkok, Thailand to the United States.
This is Veera’s story – from a quiet life in Thmey Village to surviving one of history’s darkest chapters. A soft-spoken young woman of slight stature, Veera, faced with unthinkable adversity—prevailed with indomitable strength, grace, and fortitude.
But peace was a lie.
The Khmer Rouge quickly took control, forcing everyone from their homes at gunpoint, saying it would only be for three days. It wasn’t. People were marched into the countryside; some killed along the way. Work camps were established, and the Cambodian Genocide began, claiming the lives of 1.5 to 2 million people.
Veera’s father warned “Don’t tell them you’re a student.” The educated, the wealthy – anyone who could read or write – were executed. Veera stayed silent.
In March 1979, Vietnamese forces liberated the camps. “Di Vay Nha! Go home!” the soldiers shouted. After years of hardship and on hold in resettlement and refugee camps, Veera and her sister Channy finally boarded a plane from Bangkok, Thailand to the United States.
This is Veera’s story – from a quiet life in Thmey Village to surviving one of history’s darkest chapters. A soft-spoken young woman of slight stature, Veera, faced with unthinkable adversity—prevailed with indomitable strength, grace, and fortitude.
188 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 14, 2025
Well written and conveyed the story clearly. I am so impressed by Veera and how she has not only survived the terrors of war but also been such a force for good in the community.
October 17, 2025
This was such a powerful book. I hardly know where to start. Living through the 1970s I was very aware of the killing fields and the Khmer Rouge, but nothing prepared me for the story of Veera and the sheer bravery and raw grit it took to survive those trying times. What an amazing woman and what an empowering tale of the strength she was able to find deep within. This story will stay with me for years to come. Mary W.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews