Norng Chan Phal: The Mystery Of The Boy At S-21

by Eng Kok Thay

Norng Chan Phal's life journey is a story of family, love and the struggle to survive and rebuild life after the Khmer Rouge genocide. It is also a story of separation between a young boy, his siblings and their parents. Norng Chan Phal witnessed the day his mother was taken away from him at S-21. He saw her being tortured and beaten and yet as a boy he could not help or had the mental capacity to comprehend what was happening to her. He remembered it vividly and tells the story as laid out in this book.

This book is also a story of resilience and Cambodia's early effort in piecing together a broken society in all sectors. One of the least known aspects of such efforts was establishing a network of orphanages to shelter, feed and educate lost children and those whose parents had been killed. Norng Chan Phal was save from S-21. As an orphan his survival and upbringing was the responsibility of the state. However, even with the most elaborate caring system, a child can never feel the love of his lost parents.

Genres: Asia, Biography, Nonfiction

103 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Eira Pohjanvaara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book itself is not a literary masterpiece, but the story is essential and interesting from the human perspective. I bought the book when visiting Tuol Seng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. This is a true story of a young boy and his family in the turmoil caused by the Khmer Rouge. The boy in the book, Norng Chan Pal was only nine years old when he was taken to the "Security Prison 21", a torture center. Against all odds, he survived and helped three other younger children survive the brutalities of the Khmer Rouge in the S-21.

What is humanity in the midst of torture, death, misery, cruelty and totalitarism? When everything humanly fundamental is taken away from a human being, what is left?

[Kayley Cossey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was translated into English & unfortunately has many, many errors which meant it was hard to follow at times. However this story is one that needs to be read. I purchased the book from the author at S-21 which is now the genocide museum. Heartbreaking story.

[Emma Kim-Van Mullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this from the author who was selling his books at the Toul Sleng genocide museum - he is one of only 4 child survivors of the torture prison. He shares his memories of loosing his father and mother to the Khmer Rouge and his life afterwards. It’s utterly devastating.

[Syed Shahrom Wafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book that I read about the Khmer Rouge's S-21 Prison survivors, and surprisingly this time its about the 9-years old boy, and 3 other toddler & babies with him. From the well-known record only 7 adults survived that place. But now with that 4 childrens, in total there was 11 people survived the nightmare. Sadly the other 14000 can't make it alive from there.

This book tells a story about Norng Chan Phal, one of the only four living S-21 Prison's victims who has been able to give his testimony to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal regarding to his horrifying times in that school turned into prison. To lost both his parent there, grew up in the orphanage with his younger brother, then help the new Cambodian government to bring the culprits theie overdue punishment, is a testament of his tough calibres.

This book has been narrated from a third eye's view, by the Khmer Rouge historian Dr Eng Kok Thay, with Norng Chan Phal being the main focal point for his story. The story covers the era before, during, and after the genocide times. So as we go through Mr Chan Phal hard life throughout that 3 periods, we also can get to know the real situation happening during that short but very impactful times in Cambodian history.

As a readers, we can see the real struggles faced by the Cambodian who survived that horrid times, as they continue to live their life and at the same time try to recover mentally & physically from it. We can also feel the hard time for the country to rebuild their nation as the communist government had brought their progression backwards for quite some era before. All through the eyes of Chan Phal, a child that grew up in an orphanage.

A must read for all who want to know better about the Khmer Rouge Genocide. As you finish the book you can ask yourself later, whether the communist ideology is a good ideology for us the human being or not.

[Eddie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book from Phal outside S-21 in July ‘23. A devastating and remarkable story that brings an extra layer of necessary context to the period and building
Would benefit from a further edit - especially the content covering ‘The Early Years’ - but don’t let that take away from the story itself

[Adam Dervisevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I started reading the book, I had already learned about what happened in Cambodia under Pol Pot’s regime and had some idea of how monstrous it all was.
But reading a book is a different experience, it ties you emotionally to the person whose story is being told. In this case, it was young Phal, a child who lived through that hell.

What struck me the most wasn’t just the horrors he endured, but the way he managed to process everything he had lived through.
I was especially surprised by the way he approached forgiveness, not naively or dismissively, but as a personal path toward healing.
It left me thinking about the complexity of human resilience and what it means to move forward after such darkness.
The ending of the book shocked me just as much as the events throughout it.

I honestly believe the writing style doesn't even matter here.
This book shouldn’t be judged by its literary value, but by the importance of spreading the story itself.
Too many people around the world still haven’t heard about this genocide.

[Rex Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

The English in this book can be edited and improved, but it doesn't affect the quality and power. Having studied the Cambodian genocide for a school project, this book I bought from Mr. Norng Chan Phal himself who signed this copy of mine at the Phnom Penh Genocide Museum further enhanced my understanding.

The beginning can be a little dry; that's because the author wants to set readers up for some background information. But for impatient readers, I strongly recommend you to skip ahead to the chapter where Phal's family was taken into cooperative units. The story is shocking and definitely worth a read to understand the appalling aftermaths the genocide had on the country even until today.

[David Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story that could use a native English speaking editor. The text was hard to follow at times.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult to find the right words for a book that carries such immense historical and emotional weight.

Having visited the S-21 Prison and having heard the audio tour and testimonies, it doesn't make it any easier to stomach and digest this particular narrative. Its even harder knowing that the survivor's were just little children hiding under filthy rags from fear and in Hunger knowing they just lost their mother and be themselves killed at any moment.

The image of children—innocent, starving, and abandoned—hiding under piles of discarded prisoners' clothes is a powerful metaphor for the way an entire generation was nearly buried by the regime.

The sensory details the author provides are particularly heavy:
* The Hunger: The physical ache that becomes a constant companion.
* The Fear: A "strumming" presence, where even silence felt dangerous.
* The Separation: The agonizing moment Norng Chan Phal sees his mother through the window bars for the last time..

The "mystery" isn't just about how a boy survived S-21 (one of only a handful of children to do so), but how a human being finds the courage to rebuild.

Norng Chan Phal’s journey from an orphan in the aftermath of 1979, trying to survive a post-war challenges, to a man seeking justice at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal is a testament to the unyielding resilience of the Cambodian people. It is a sombre reminder that while the scars of the genocide remain, they are carried by a people who chose to rise, remember, and heal.

[Margaret Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book directly from its subject, Norng Chan Phal at the Genocide museum in Phnom Penh, formerly the S-21 prison. I read it in Kampot, the province where he was born and spent an idyllic childhood, until Pol Pot and his regime unleashed hell on Cambodia.

Despite the title, this book reads more like a case study than a mystery story. The author is more an academic than a story teller. English is not his first language and there are mistakes with grammar and word choice. Nonetheless this is a very worthwhile read. The final chapter on peace and reconciliation is particularly good.

[Frank Kool · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels wrong to give such an important book only three stars, but the text is very rough and desperately needs an editor to fix the many spelling errors and needless repetition.

I’d still encourage people to read it because the story of how Cambodia got caught up in a genocidal ideology of radical equality is a warning that can never be told too many times. It’s an excruciating and harrowing read once you get to the chapters detailing the events at S-21, fortunately the book ends on a positive note and shows that there is light amidst the darkness.

[Bilge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to purchase the book from the author and survivor of Khmer Rouge Regime. I visited the killing fields as well as the genocide museum in Phnom Penh however reading a personal story, especially from a child survivor was emotionally draining. It’s embarrassing for the world to have such a dark history and extremely sad that majority of the people were/are not aware of the silent war in Cambodia back in the 70s.

[Rosie]

I am honored that I was able to meet the author of this book. I will never forget the experience at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or the subsequent visit to the killing fields in Cambodia. To believe this happened not so long ago and with the horrors happening today in Gaza, Phal's story of genocide and survival is still so relevant. His philosophy on forgiveness is admirable. This period in Cambodia's history needs to be told and told and retold to the future generations of humanity.

[Alice Gascoyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting to read about the child survivors story and learn more about the lead up to them entering S-21 prison. I feel a lot is missed out but obviously it is all from the memory of a child so understandable. Feel very grateful to read this knowing it is all in the past.

[Sofie Guns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book from the author when I visited the Toul Sleng prison and genocide museum in Cambodia. The author is one of the four surviving children there and was so incredibly nice to talk to!

His story is absolutely heartbreaking. Visiting the torture prison and killing fields broke every fiber in my body!

Despite this book having several spelling mistakes, I absolutely recommend you to read this book and visit the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields in Cambodia.

[Lisa Spn · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’est lors de ma visite à Tuol Sleng que j’ai acheté le livre auprès de Norng Chan Phal. Une visite et une lecture qui ne peuvent laisser de marbre et mettent en lumière les atrocités que les Khmers ont vécu il y a peu.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The English could use another few editorial passes, but content of the book is worth it. Important information that shouldn't be forgotten.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this book. I think there is a lot of value in sharing the stories of people who suffered during this period.

[RD Chiriboga Moncayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eyewitness account of Pol Pot's cruel tyranny.

[Shein Htet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language needs to be improved by I’m was still moved by the story

[Alek Zayas-Dorchak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm trying to look past the pervasive spelling errors to focus on the story itself, but it's hard. It's just not rhat well-written, and on top of that, it's highly grammatically flawed.

[Mikaela Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly heart breaking, devastating, and eye opening.

[Henry Westhoff-Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving book, bought from the original author at Tuol Sleng (S21) genocide museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

[Leah Callan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mum bought this on the Killing Fields; a very necessary and enlightening book on a topic I have learnt little about.

[Fiona Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read... Was lovely to meet him in person on my trip to Phenom Penn.

[Aitana López · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia que necesita ser contada.

[Jamie Newell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story, terribly written.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased from Phal himself outside the National Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. Firsthand account of being a child during the Khmer Rouge and its aftermath. A bit challenging to read in places (could have benefited by some copy editing by a native English speaker) but that also might have affected the frankness of the story.