A Grain of Rice

by Nhung N. Tran-Davies

Thirteen-year-old Yen and her family have survived a war, famine and persecution. When a powerful flood ruins their village in rural Vietnam, matters only get worse. With the help of neighbors and family, they decide to take the ultimate risk on a chance for a better life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada, Young Adult, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Family

154 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Nhung N. Tran-Davies is a physician and advocate for social justice through education. Her family came to Canada as refugees from Vietnam in 1979, and in 2013 Nhung founded the Children of Vietnam Benevolent Foundation. She spoke at the UN's International Organization on Migration in Geneva as part of their "I am a Migrant" campaign to help reduce hate speech and promote tolerance. Nhung and her family live outside Edmonton, Alberta.

Reviews

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Yen and her family (mother, 3 sisters and adopted brother) are living a harrowing life in post-war Vietnam, where they are treated poorly by the Viet Cong because they are of Chinese ancestry. This is their dangerous exodus story as one of the boat people rescued by the Malaysian Coast Guard.

Taking tidbits from her own escape from Vietnam and that of others, Tran-Davies has woven a tale of the extreme poverty experienced and how a few acts of random kindness payed it forward for Yen. At times, this book is painful to read. There is not a lot of graphic detail in the story, however through the lens of a teenager, the events she experienced were traumatic. Told in chronological order, their home is flooded by the river, they experience a shakedown by a police officer, she learns that her father abandoned their family, they experience racism and theft, hear the machine guns and cries of a dear friend whose warning just saved their lives, evade armed VC soldiers, see drowned bodies of others who tried to escape, and see girls her age after they were raped by pirates who boarded their ship and robbed everyone of what little they had, and heard the machine guns from the Malaysian Coast Guard.

This story has more trauma than anyone should be allowed to experience, yet rings so true. Yen’s voice is that of a hormonal teen girl – very lifelike, naïve yet “old soul” – with just choppiness to the text that it reads like it was written by someone whose first language is not English – which is the case. A map of the country or region would have been helpful, as Yen and her mother go up and down the river and the family leaves through Ho Chi Min City, the former “Saigon”. Most of the Vietnamese words used in the text are defined within the story; there is a glossary of additional terms in the back.

This would be a great title to use with a unit about the Vietnam War, post-war studies, and discussions of motivation for migrants who must leave their homeland in order to survive.
Recommended for grades 6-9.

[Stephanie Fazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an eye-opening book.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-strings pulling story about a young girl and her family's escape from Vietnam during the years of the "boat people". Nominated for the Red Maple Award. Would definitely recommend this book.

[Penny Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this novel for 4-6th graders, a 13 year old girl describes her family's escape from Vietnam at the end of the war. The novel is based on the author's life and family, and the emotions are authentic. It takes a while for the plot to get off the ground, but the final third of the story involving the escape is quite compelling. Since there are so few books on the Vietnamese refugee experience, we need books like this for our tween readers.

[Bidasari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berdasarkan kisah rakyat Vietnam yang berhempas pulas untuk bertahan hidup selepas Viet Cong yang membantu North Vietnamese Army menentang tentera Amerika Syarikat dalam Perang Amerika - Vietnam berlaku kejam terhadap rakyat sendiri.

Ada rakyat Vietnam yang dibunuh, ditangkap dan dihantar ke kem pemulihan, diseksa sehingga mati, etc pasca perang Amerika - Vietnam pada 1978 - 1979.

Yen bersama ibu serta 4 orang adik beradiknya cuba bertahan hidup dan berusaha melarikan diri dari Vietnam dengan menaiki bot nelayan untuk menyelamatkan diri.

Mereka dikenali sebagai boat people.

Tidak ramai yang selamat semasa melarikan diri dengan bot nelayan.
Ada bot yang karam.
Ada yang dibunuh dan dicederakan oleh lanun.
Ada yang meninggal sebab kelaparan dan sakit semasa di dalam pelayaran, etc.

Tajuk buku A Grain of Rice merujuk kepada asbab berkongsi rezeki beras dengan orang yang memerlukan walaupun diri sendiri serba kekurangan dan kelaparan memungkinkan Yen dan keluarganya merentasi lautan ganas dan akhirnya tiba di Malaysia.

Beras yang diberikan kepada seorang lelaki tua menyebabkan lelaki tua tersebut memberitahu keluarga Yen supaya lari segera kerana ada askar Viet Cong mencari mereka.

Lelaki tua ini akhirnya meninggal dunia di dalam cubaan menghalang askar Viet Cong mengejar mereka.

Asbab memberi beras kepada sebuah keluarga yang kelaparan membawa kepada keluarga itu menyorokkan keluarga Yen semasa diburu oleh askar Viet Cong.

Emak Yen berkongsi nasi dengan isteri jiran mereka yang meminta sedekah. Yen sekeluarga dibenarkan menaiki bas yang telah penuh ke Saigon tanpa tiket oleh pemandu bas yang merupakan suami kepada jiran tersebut.

Buku ini mengangkat tema perjuangan bertahan hidup di dalam apa juga situasi serta sentiasa berbuat baik sesama manusia walaupun kita serba kekurangan.

 

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yen, her mom, and her two younger siblings have managed to survive the horrors of the VietNam war in their small village in the Mekong Delta. But now a flood is threatening their home and their lives. Their two older siblings are studying in Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City. Their dad (or ba) has been in trouble with the government and the rest of the family seems to be glad that he is gone, but Yen misses him. Between the devastation of the war and the flood, Yen's mom wants the family to flee the country because otherwise they have no food, no money, and no real prospects to get any.

Based partially on the author's life experiences as well as other true historical facts, this book feels very authentic. It was also interesting for me to read it as I have been to the Mekong Delta and I liked trying to figure out if I had been to any of the places that I was reading about.

It is a fairly easy reading level and age of characters make it feel more Juv than YA - however because there is a lot of death and difficult subject matter, plus the historical context could all push it up a little bit.

[Mrs. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hard to read in many ways due to the content not the writing style. The life of these immigrants was unimaginably difficult and scary. It's a story that needs to be told and the author did credit to describe the risks her family took to get to safety. As a parents there is one scene I found very disturbing about the rape of some young girls and would not want to read this book to younger children. A more mature 12 or 13 year old with the guidance of a teacher or parent to discuss their feelings could benefit from learning about the horrors refugees have suffered for freedom. It is an inspiring tale that speaks to the determination of a family that chose to be the helpers not the victims. They overcame and did not drown.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I can't give a full review of this book without giving spoilers, but I will do my best. This book is hard. This book is about thirteen year old Yen and her family. They survived the Vietnam war, and their village floods. They decide to escape to freedom.

This book is heavy. I feel heavy after reading it. Yen's family experience discrimination because of their Chinese heritage, they risk their lives, they come across dead bodies, they are treated badly by police, and more. I think it's a but heavy for many grade 6 students, but it would be a good addition to an intermediate classroom library. 

[Al Mondor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written in a simple, easy to read style, it still evoked for me strong emotions for what the Vietnamese “boat people” what went through as they made their way to a new beginning. I sensed their courage and determination to find a better life for themselves and their families. While I was only on a brief river cruise on the Mekong River 40 years after, I was able to partially visualize the environment of the story. I recommend those who know “boat people” survivors read to get an appreciation of their experiences.

[Mike Broderick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this a 3.5 if I could. The story, the concept, the history was excellent. This book got very tedious with the many vietnamese names used. This took away from the flow. The story tore at the heartstrings a bit with the reality of the situation as this was the likely story of so many from Vietnam after the war. The ending was too abrupt. One second all hope was lost and then all of a sudden it wasn't and the book ended. Overall a decent read.

[Muadh Abdulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

ending was kinda rushed. kinda gay

[Anna Chang 8E · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really good book and I would recommend it to others.

[Chelsea Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for youth, but any age will enjoy this wonderful story. I enjoy reading books about history, and this book doesn’t disappoint.

[Izzah Berhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story. A struggles of mom to get some hope in life for her children. Make me empathy more on struggles of people. Make me grateful more eventhough i am far from perfect life.

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty depressing story of girl and her mother and sibs escape from S Vietnam by boat out of the Mekong Delta

[Colleen Mondor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful story of grief and loss.

[Joan Galat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important story that grew increasingly compelling with every page turn.