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Escaping the Tiger
Caught in the crossroads of history, can a boy keep his hope--and his sister--alive?
Vonlai knows that soldiers who guard the Mekong River shoot at anything that moves, but in oppressive Communist Laos, there's nothing left for him, his spirited sister, Dalah, and his desperate parents. Their only hope is a refugee camp in Thailand—on the other side of the river.
When they reach the camp, their struggles are far from over. Na Pho is a forgotten place where life consists of squalid huts, stifling heat, and rationed food. Still, Vonlai tries to carry on as if everything is normal. He pays attention in school, a dusty barrack overcrowded with kids too hungry to learn. And, to forget his empty stomach, he plays soccer in a field full of rocks. But when someone inside the camp threatens his family, Vonlai calls on a forbidden skill to protect their future—a future he's sure is full of promise, if only they can make it out of Na Pho alive.
In her compelling debut, Laura Manivong has written an evocative story that is vividly real, strongly affecting, and, at its heart, about hope that resonates in even the darkest moments.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Laura Manivong
2 books19 followersLaura Manivong never knew she wanted to write books until she met her husband, but the clues were there all along. Her mother and grandfather were writers. Her college professor told her to keep writing, which made her wonder, write what? And her study at Missouri State University, after some detours, led her to a job as a television writer/producer. But after marrying Troy, it began to click. After eight years, two kids, and countless drafts, Escaping The Tiger was done, its pages based on Troy's experiences as a Lao refugee hoping for a new home.
Laura and Troy live in Kansas City, where she was born and raised, and where he started life over at 19. They share their house with their two lovely, loud children, their louder dog, and ever-shifting piles of clutter. Escaping The Tiger is her first novel.
Read Chapter One at http://lauramanivong.wordpress.com/20...
Laura and Troy live in Kansas City, where she was born and raised, and where he started life over at 19. They share their house with their two lovely, loud children, their louder dog, and ever-shifting piles of clutter. Escaping The Tiger is her first novel.
Read Chapter One at http://lauramanivong.wordpress.com/20...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 30, 2018
“Escaping the tiger to face the crocodile.”Escaping the Tiger, a historical fiction novel by Laura Manivong, is full of a strong consistent fight for survival, power, will, pride, and strength. I always thought that life in a refugee camp was filled with waiting and not the most comfortable of conditions like my mom had described. I was somewhat always aware about what had happened I feel more people should know about what happened. It makes you realise what else was going on in the world around the 80’s that you may have been unaware about, while it also makes you reconsider some of your thoughts on the refugee crisis that is currently taking place.
Escaping the Tiger is about Vonlai, a 12 year old Laotian boy, and his family in the early 1980s. Vonlai and his family must flee from Laos and spend four years in a refugee camp in Thailand. The story navigates through the struggle of living through discrimination, the “Tiger”, and adapting to whatever situation he’s in, the “Crocodile” . The book also rollercoasters through the characters’ emotions, not just in Vonlai’s life but in his peers as well. Although the book got uninteresting at points, it has a spiritually uplifting ending. It’s good to hear a story that gets the life of a Laotian refugee across.
When the book begins, it immediately gives the reader the setting. The author explains the situation straight forward in the first few chapters. The story takes place in Laos, Thailand, and America. The environment across the Mekong has been destroyed. The reader starts to understand why Vonlai wants to leave in the first thirty pages. A little later on, the story advanced through flashbacks of Vonlai’s hopes and dreams. You learn more of Vonlai’s dreams to become a architect in America after looking at his father’s architecture books. The story overall is very simple and told with strong emotion. It was really hard not to read this book because of how much you wanted to see the end goal. With background info, the characters or the story, the reader is rather hooked even in the first few pages.
But once you begin to understand the characters more, Laura Manivong tells a beautiful tale of adventure, risk, courage, and love. A character, Meh, is one of the more realistic characters as realistic fiction novels go. Meh takes care of her family but she also sinks into a depression because its not thee life they use to have; not wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to move, stuck in the same position. The setting, as well as the characters really shapes the book quite well.
All in all, the book is worth reading. Escaping the Tiger tells an important story that isn't well known with Laotian people and the hardships they face in their Communist home country, as well as in the refugee camps the facts are disturbing, But in contrast, the characters in this novel are uplifting and reflect that there are a lot of successful Laotian immigrants. The novel is ground up with small happy moments that keep the story from being too bland. It's a steady read moving through, but rarely boring since there are many little battles going on within the people and with others. The little feelings or pieces that people might overlook about living in a refugee camp are the feelings of loneliness, starvation, selfish, and hope that come with the situation are well portrayed. What really pulled this story together was the afterword. It’s about the authors husband, Troy Anousone Manivong. Who spent eight months in Na Pho refugee camp in 1988, when he was eighteen. The character Vonlai, reflects Troy and his stories that he shared with Laura Manivong. The book was great. I would recommend Escaping the Tiger if you like very historical books. It’s a solid 9/10 young adult book.
Escaping the Tiger is about Vonlai, a 12 year old Laotian boy, and his family in the early 1980s. Vonlai and his family must flee from Laos and spend four years in a refugee camp in Thailand. The story navigates through the struggle of living through discrimination, the “Tiger”, and adapting to whatever situation he’s in, the “Crocodile” . The book also rollercoasters through the characters’ emotions, not just in Vonlai’s life but in his peers as well. Although the book got uninteresting at points, it has a spiritually uplifting ending. It’s good to hear a story that gets the life of a Laotian refugee across.
When the book begins, it immediately gives the reader the setting. The author explains the situation straight forward in the first few chapters. The story takes place in Laos, Thailand, and America. The environment across the Mekong has been destroyed. The reader starts to understand why Vonlai wants to leave in the first thirty pages. A little later on, the story advanced through flashbacks of Vonlai’s hopes and dreams. You learn more of Vonlai’s dreams to become a architect in America after looking at his father’s architecture books. The story overall is very simple and told with strong emotion. It was really hard not to read this book because of how much you wanted to see the end goal. With background info, the characters or the story, the reader is rather hooked even in the first few pages.
But once you begin to understand the characters more, Laura Manivong tells a beautiful tale of adventure, risk, courage, and love. A character, Meh, is one of the more realistic characters as realistic fiction novels go. Meh takes care of her family but she also sinks into a depression because its not thee life they use to have; not wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to move, stuck in the same position. The setting, as well as the characters really shapes the book quite well.
All in all, the book is worth reading. Escaping the Tiger tells an important story that isn't well known with Laotian people and the hardships they face in their Communist home country, as well as in the refugee camps the facts are disturbing, But in contrast, the characters in this novel are uplifting and reflect that there are a lot of successful Laotian immigrants. The novel is ground up with small happy moments that keep the story from being too bland. It's a steady read moving through, but rarely boring since there are many little battles going on within the people and with others. The little feelings or pieces that people might overlook about living in a refugee camp are the feelings of loneliness, starvation, selfish, and hope that come with the situation are well portrayed. What really pulled this story together was the afterword. It’s about the authors husband, Troy Anousone Manivong. Who spent eight months in Na Pho refugee camp in 1988, when he was eighteen. The character Vonlai, reflects Troy and his stories that he shared with Laura Manivong. The book was great. I would recommend Escaping the Tiger if you like very historical books. It’s a solid 9/10 young adult book.
March 18, 2013
I was reading this book for a research project in English, and I was not expecting to be so touched by it. I was expecting a boring story written about a boring topic. Instead, I found myself reading one of the best books I had read in a long time. It was touching, thought provoking, and perspective changing. Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong is a book that showcases family loyalty and values, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Escaping the Tiger is set in the 1980s. It is the story of a Lao family trying to flee the Communist government in their homeland in hopes of a better life. The story is often told from the viewpoint of Vonlai, the young boy in the family. The reader is taken through the entire journey that refugees face, starting with escaping the homeland. The story starts right in the middle of the action, with Vonlai’s family fleeing Laos. They flee across the Mekong River into Thailand.
Once in Thailand, the reader receives a detailed explanation of life in a refugee camp. It goes through the conditions, the guards, and the abuse, all seen the way a child would experience it. Reading this book makes the reader realize what a terrible process refugees go through; all the struggles they face every day. The characters make new friends, new enemies, and really learn who they can trust. Being a spectator to this horrific process is heart-wrenching.
By Vonlai’s standards, life in the Na Pho refugee camp is worse than his old life in Laos. He doesn’t completely understand why his family had to leave. Vonlai finds himself missing his friends across the river, but he does know that if his family can be relocated to a third country his life will be much better than it was before the move. Another thing Vonlai doesn’t understand is why there is so much inequality in the camp. Some people are treated better than others. For example, men who served in militaries that sided with Thailand were more likely to be resettled more quickly than other men. Vonlai’s family had some military background, so Vonlai hoped that their family would be transferred to the United States more quickly than others.
To pass the time in camp, Vonlai played soccer on a field of rocks. He made friends with whom he shared a deep, bonding passion. However, none of his soccer playing friends compared to his relationship with the old man who sat under the tree whittling wood day in and day out. This man is Colonel, and Vonlai has a very tight relationship with him. Colonel provides a lot of valuable insight into life in a refugee camp, and provokes a lot of heart breaking thoughts.
Overall, Escaping the Tiger is an amazing read. It is everything that a reader could ask for in a book: happiness, tears, romance and struggle. I would very strongly recommend reading this book, as Laura Manivong manages to turn a tough subject into an enticing book that you just can’t put down.
Escaping the Tiger is set in the 1980s. It is the story of a Lao family trying to flee the Communist government in their homeland in hopes of a better life. The story is often told from the viewpoint of Vonlai, the young boy in the family. The reader is taken through the entire journey that refugees face, starting with escaping the homeland. The story starts right in the middle of the action, with Vonlai’s family fleeing Laos. They flee across the Mekong River into Thailand.
Once in Thailand, the reader receives a detailed explanation of life in a refugee camp. It goes through the conditions, the guards, and the abuse, all seen the way a child would experience it. Reading this book makes the reader realize what a terrible process refugees go through; all the struggles they face every day. The characters make new friends, new enemies, and really learn who they can trust. Being a spectator to this horrific process is heart-wrenching.
By Vonlai’s standards, life in the Na Pho refugee camp is worse than his old life in Laos. He doesn’t completely understand why his family had to leave. Vonlai finds himself missing his friends across the river, but he does know that if his family can be relocated to a third country his life will be much better than it was before the move. Another thing Vonlai doesn’t understand is why there is so much inequality in the camp. Some people are treated better than others. For example, men who served in militaries that sided with Thailand were more likely to be resettled more quickly than other men. Vonlai’s family had some military background, so Vonlai hoped that their family would be transferred to the United States more quickly than others.
To pass the time in camp, Vonlai played soccer on a field of rocks. He made friends with whom he shared a deep, bonding passion. However, none of his soccer playing friends compared to his relationship with the old man who sat under the tree whittling wood day in and day out. This man is Colonel, and Vonlai has a very tight relationship with him. Colonel provides a lot of valuable insight into life in a refugee camp, and provokes a lot of heart breaking thoughts.
Overall, Escaping the Tiger is an amazing read. It is everything that a reader could ask for in a book: happiness, tears, romance and struggle. I would very strongly recommend reading this book, as Laura Manivong manages to turn a tough subject into an enticing book that you just can’t put down.
June 1, 2015
Review copy: Author provided Kindle edition
In Escaping the Tiger, readers get an intimate look at life in a refugee camp following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Southeast Asia. Vonlai shares what it is like as his family escapes from Laos into Thailand and waits for the day that they will be able to begin their new life in another country. The wait seems endless though and he and his family begin to lose hope. Vonlai finds friendship in the camp, but is always hungry.
There are some stories in this book that are difficult to read. War is so ugly and there are tragedies that shaped the people in the camp.
There are many people in our community who have shared this type of experience either first-hand or have family members who also fled Laos. This is a book that could be both a window and a mirror for the teens in our community. I will definitely share it with our young adult librarians.
In Escaping the Tiger, readers get an intimate look at life in a refugee camp following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Southeast Asia. Vonlai shares what it is like as his family escapes from Laos into Thailand and waits for the day that they will be able to begin their new life in another country. The wait seems endless though and he and his family begin to lose hope. Vonlai finds friendship in the camp, but is always hungry.
There are some stories in this book that are difficult to read. War is so ugly and there are tragedies that shaped the people in the camp.
There are many people in our community who have shared this type of experience either first-hand or have family members who also fled Laos. This is a book that could be both a window and a mirror for the teens in our community. I will definitely share it with our young adult librarians.
January 16, 2012
I never had to experience the immigrant / refugee experience, but I personally know people who escaped from Laos to Thiland refugee camps and then to the U.S. In this story, Vonlai and his family have to leave the only home he has ever known to escape the Communist Pathet Lao government. It was hard for Vonlai to keep up his spirits with a few grains of rice a day, filthy, cramped living quarters and always being under the watch of corrupt guards. His story of survival kept me turning pages to see if his family made it out. His experience is similar to many Lao immigrants in Mountain Lake. This book should be required reading for junior high and older students in our school!
October 16, 2012
This historical fiction novel is about a 12 year old Laotian boy and his family in the early 1980s. Vonlai and his family must flee from Laos and spend four years in a refuge camp in Thailand. Due to its content surrounding political events, this book is appropriate for children ages 11-14. The author draws you into the the story with her dangerous and eventually hopeful plot, as well as the realistic characters she creates. This book may be used in a classroom setting to give students a glimpse into the life of a refugee or the life of a person living under communist rule.
October 25, 2011
This is an excellent YA novel about a family who escapes the Pathet Lao in 1982 and goes to a refugee camp in Thailand. They are hoping to get to the United States immediately, but instead have to spend years in that camp in poverty conditions. It is a very good story of hope and perseverance.
November 30, 2009
This book transports you to the main character's world and reminds us all of the power of the human spirit. Great job by Laura Manivong!
January 4, 2010
An amazing debut from Laura Manivong!!
April 20, 2022
Good story for young readers about hope and the refugee status of a family.
Vonlai is a 12 year boy living with his family along the Mekong River in Laos. The Pathet Lao (Communist Party in Laos) was ruthless and not rebuilding Laos after the war. His family decided to escape the tiger (Pathet Lao) by canoeing across the Mekong in the middle of the night without being shot at by Laotian guards. They make it and, with assistance for money, they make it to the police station waiting to receive their refugee status. It takes a few weeks, but they are on the bus to the Na Pho refugee camp. They were hoping to be there for a few months and then travel to the USA to meet a cousin. Four years later, they are still living in the squalid conditions as a refugee.
During their time at the camp, they learn about starvation and living on meager rations. Vonlai is able to go to school but only until he graduates 6th grade. There was no further schooling at the camp. He learns about hope and dreams and carving and looking after his older sister who is almost raped by a Thai guard.
Although the characters in this story are fictional, some of the events and stories are true and were told to the author. This is a good story about a boy growing up and even in despondent situation he has hopes and dreams of a future.
Vonlai is a 12 year boy living with his family along the Mekong River in Laos. The Pathet Lao (Communist Party in Laos) was ruthless and not rebuilding Laos after the war. His family decided to escape the tiger (Pathet Lao) by canoeing across the Mekong in the middle of the night without being shot at by Laotian guards. They make it and, with assistance for money, they make it to the police station waiting to receive their refugee status. It takes a few weeks, but they are on the bus to the Na Pho refugee camp. They were hoping to be there for a few months and then travel to the USA to meet a cousin. Four years later, they are still living in the squalid conditions as a refugee.
During their time at the camp, they learn about starvation and living on meager rations. Vonlai is able to go to school but only until he graduates 6th grade. There was no further schooling at the camp. He learns about hope and dreams and carving and looking after his older sister who is almost raped by a Thai guard.
Although the characters in this story are fictional, some of the events and stories are true and were told to the author. This is a good story about a boy growing up and even in despondent situation he has hopes and dreams of a future.
February 17, 2024
They can’t burn what’s in your mind, Vonlai. Your mind and your dreams are your own, and you can’t let them steal your hope.
Vonlai and his family must leave. Under the cloak of night, they board a rickety paddle boat and barely escape gunfire and sinking to make it across the Mekong River from Laos to Thailand. However, once they make it to the shores safely, there respite is short-lived as they now encounter new challenges and dangers. Becoming refugees is never easy and readers will discover the everyday panics they must overcome and the blind leaps they must take in order to survive.
As a teacher in Thailand, I have been continuing my hunt for books set here. After discovering Christina Soontornvat's writing a few years ago and having her visit our school last year, I have been struggling to find "What's next?" I discovered Escaping the Tiger from a Goodreads list of books set in SE Asia. It is an important story, but the writing was clunky--jumping from one moment to the next. The pacing wasn't smooth and I'd wished certain scenes lingered a bit more. Regardless, representation matters, and I hope to at least get a copy into my classroom library or a set for our historical fiction book club unit. Recommend for GR 7 - 8.
Vonlai and his family must leave. Under the cloak of night, they board a rickety paddle boat and barely escape gunfire and sinking to make it across the Mekong River from Laos to Thailand. However, once they make it to the shores safely, there respite is short-lived as they now encounter new challenges and dangers. Becoming refugees is never easy and readers will discover the everyday panics they must overcome and the blind leaps they must take in order to survive.
As a teacher in Thailand, I have been continuing my hunt for books set here. After discovering Christina Soontornvat's writing a few years ago and having her visit our school last year, I have been struggling to find "What's next?" I discovered Escaping the Tiger from a Goodreads list of books set in SE Asia. It is an important story, but the writing was clunky--jumping from one moment to the next. The pacing wasn't smooth and I'd wished certain scenes lingered a bit more. Regardless, representation matters, and I hope to at least get a copy into my classroom library or a set for our historical fiction book club unit. Recommend for GR 7 - 8.
November 18, 2018
The book Escaping the Tiger is a about a child named Vonlai and his family trying to get a better life outside of Communist Lao. When Vonlai and his family start to realize that they might not leave Na Pho the refugee camp for sometime Vonlai starts to begin classes with a mysteries old man. He learns many skills from him like how to make beautiful carvings in wood. Vonlai even learns English from the old man hoping that one day he will be able to leave Na Pho and go to America. A major theme in this book is grit. Grit is when you have the courage to get through a very difficult situation that you are facing. Grit is a big part of the book because Vonlai and his family have to live through the harsh conditions of Na Pho. They get limited food every day and have almost no meat. A connection I have is to A Long Walk To Water because Salva always needed Grit when he was walking from one camp to another. He also get very limited food in the refugee camp in Ethiopia and Kenya just like Vonlai did in Na Pho. All in all Vonlai needed Grit, determination, courage, and willpower to get through everything that he was facing.
April 16, 2025
Really interesting learnt some bit about Loas the communist war… living in a refugee camp
March 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
June 15, 2010
The author managed to create a cast of characters that you are rooting for because they go through so much but they are flawed. Vonlai, Dalah and their mother (Meh) each have low spirits at some point. At the refugee camp they barely get anything to eat, Meh manages to make the most out of the little food they get. She also insists that Vonlai look after Dalah and never let her out of his sight. Meh takes care of the family but she also sinks into a depression. Dalah has her ups and her downs, one minute she's enjoying herself with her friends, the next she is listless in bed. Vonlai can act selfish sometimes, but that's a normal thing for a kid. He puts up with all the sacrifices he has to make, but he can only take so much. Vonlai was my favorite character, he was full of hopes and dreams. He wants to go to America and be an architect. I loved that he was so protective of his older sister, even though she resisted his protection, but it was necessary due to Thai guards trying to take advantage of female refuges.
The only thing that struck me as a little odd was Dalah's character. She is described as feisty, but my first impressions of her were that she was a whiner. To me, feisty and whining don't go hand in hand, being feisty is having a lot of spirit and determination. At the beginning of the novel I don't think she really understood the urgency of her family's situation and the danger they were in while trying to escape Laos. Even towards the end of the novel, I didn't love Dalah but I did get a better understanding of her. Dalah couldn't go to school because in the refuge camp, school only went up to sixth grade. Usually I like feisty characters but I guess Dalah just wasn't feisty enough for me. Other than Dalah, I really liked all the other characters (Kavin's story almost made me cry. I love him!), they weren't stock characters.
Escaping the Tiger tells an important story that isn't well known. I always thought that life in a refugee camp was filled with waiting and not the most comfortable of conditions, I never knewe about the lack of educational opportunities there as well as the lack of food and respect (the guards were usually very rude to the refugees). The story of the Laotian people and the hardships they face in their Communist home country as well as in the refugee camps is heartbreaking, but the characters in this novel are uplifting. The novel is sprinkled with small happy moments that keep the story from being too bleak. It's slow moving, but never boring since there are many little battles going on. The little details that people might overlook about living in a refugee camp; the feelings of loneliness, selfish and hope that come with the situation are well portrayed. The sometimes selfish actions of the characters are far overpowered by the uplifting actions they do afterwards. This story is even more powerful because it's based on a slightly similar experience the author's husband went though. His story is included in the afterword. They are both amazing stories.
The only thing that struck me as a little odd was Dalah's character. She is described as feisty, but my first impressions of her were that she was a whiner. To me, feisty and whining don't go hand in hand, being feisty is having a lot of spirit and determination. At the beginning of the novel I don't think she really understood the urgency of her family's situation and the danger they were in while trying to escape Laos. Even towards the end of the novel, I didn't love Dalah but I did get a better understanding of her. Dalah couldn't go to school because in the refuge camp, school only went up to sixth grade. Usually I like feisty characters but I guess Dalah just wasn't feisty enough for me. Other than Dalah, I really liked all the other characters (Kavin's story almost made me cry. I love him!), they weren't stock characters.
Escaping the Tiger tells an important story that isn't well known. I always thought that life in a refugee camp was filled with waiting and not the most comfortable of conditions, I never knewe about the lack of educational opportunities there as well as the lack of food and respect (the guards were usually very rude to the refugees). The story of the Laotian people and the hardships they face in their Communist home country as well as in the refugee camps is heartbreaking, but the characters in this novel are uplifting. The novel is sprinkled with small happy moments that keep the story from being too bleak. It's slow moving, but never boring since there are many little battles going on. The little details that people might overlook about living in a refugee camp; the feelings of loneliness, selfish and hope that come with the situation are well portrayed. The sometimes selfish actions of the characters are far overpowered by the uplifting actions they do afterwards. This story is even more powerful because it's based on a slightly similar experience the author's husband went though. His story is included in the afterword. They are both amazing stories.
April 18, 2011
Dalah sat up, cradling her abdomen and rocking on the edge of the bed. "I hate this place."
"I know," Vonlai answered. "I hate it, too, but we won't be here forever."
"How do you know? Jun's been here since she was ten. That's almost four years, Little Brother. Four years! She doesn't even talk about getting out anymore."
-----
Stuck in limbo, an in-between camp of the unwanted. That's where Vonlai and his family have found themselves. They fled their homeland of Laos because they doubted their chances of survival at the hands of the Pathet Lao government, nearly dying crossing the Mekong River in the middle of the night. Fled to Thailand, a country that didn't want them but provided space for refugee camps, waiting to see if nations like the U.S. or France might reluctantly take them in.
Life in refugee camp limbo consists of waiting in little half-buildings, the entire family sharing one bed, barely surviving on minimal rice and a bit of meat delivered once a week. Limited, shared water from a well, no electricity or any other convenience. Playing soccer to pass the time, hoping to learn useful things from each other without getting irritated or violent. Hoping to keep hoping, because that's all they have.
-----
"Can you teach me a few English words, Colonel? Tell me about America. I'm in the mood for a dream."
"America," Colonel said in English. "Land of the free. Home of the brave." Then he switched back to Lao. "A place where they have special food for dogs."
"What do you mean, special food?"
"Food for dogs that people don't eat. Comes in little cans or big bags. Americans buy it at their market stores."
"You mean Americans don't give their old rice to the dogs?" Vonlai asked, trying to wrap his mind around what a dog would eat other than table scraps.
"Well, Americans don't eat rice every day. Even if they did, they still have a type of food only for dogs. Ground-up meat that people don't eat. Dog food."
"Why can't people eat it if it's meat?"
"Because it's food for dogs. Specially made for puppies. Old dogs. Even fat dogs."
Vonlai let out a laugh. "Fat dogs! Now I know you're teasing! Tell me something that's true."
"I know," Vonlai answered. "I hate it, too, but we won't be here forever."
"How do you know? Jun's been here since she was ten. That's almost four years, Little Brother. Four years! She doesn't even talk about getting out anymore."
-----
Stuck in limbo, an in-between camp of the unwanted. That's where Vonlai and his family have found themselves. They fled their homeland of Laos because they doubted their chances of survival at the hands of the Pathet Lao government, nearly dying crossing the Mekong River in the middle of the night. Fled to Thailand, a country that didn't want them but provided space for refugee camps, waiting to see if nations like the U.S. or France might reluctantly take them in.
Life in refugee camp limbo consists of waiting in little half-buildings, the entire family sharing one bed, barely surviving on minimal rice and a bit of meat delivered once a week. Limited, shared water from a well, no electricity or any other convenience. Playing soccer to pass the time, hoping to learn useful things from each other without getting irritated or violent. Hoping to keep hoping, because that's all they have.
-----
"Can you teach me a few English words, Colonel? Tell me about America. I'm in the mood for a dream."
"America," Colonel said in English. "Land of the free. Home of the brave." Then he switched back to Lao. "A place where they have special food for dogs."
"What do you mean, special food?"
"Food for dogs that people don't eat. Comes in little cans or big bags. Americans buy it at their market stores."
"You mean Americans don't give their old rice to the dogs?" Vonlai asked, trying to wrap his mind around what a dog would eat other than table scraps.
"Well, Americans don't eat rice every day. Even if they did, they still have a type of food only for dogs. Ground-up meat that people don't eat. Dog food."
"Why can't people eat it if it's meat?"
"Because it's food for dogs. Specially made for puppies. Old dogs. Even fat dogs."
Vonlai let out a laugh. "Fat dogs! Now I know you're teasing! Tell me something that's true."
March 23, 2010
Escaping the Tiger is the story of Vonlai Sirivong, his mother, father and sister, and it is based on the first hand experience of the author’s husband.
Twelve-year-old Vonlai wakes up when his father shakes him and says, “We’re crossing tonight.” Vonlai and his family paddle, then swim for safety across the Mekong river from communist Laos into Thailand. As Laotians say, “Escaping the tiger to face the crocodile.” The refugee situation in Thailand leaves Vonlai and his family in fear for his sister’s safety from the camp guards and in constant hunger for both food and a home.
There were so many gorgeous, touching moments in this book, it’s not fair to share just one. However, I hate spoilers, so I picked the following passage. It was the first, but not the last time I cried. Early on, we learn of Vonlai’s dream to become an architect like his father was before the war. His father’s book of western architecture was a prized possession until the communists learned of it through Vonlai’s indiscretion and they burned the book:
From then on, his father stopped telling stories about America, but Vonlai repeated the old ones to himself and drew the pictures in his mind so he wouldn’t forget. And Vonlai did dream, while vowing never to betray Pah’s trust again. He dreamed of one day seeing those architectural marvels with his own eyes. Building a life for himself as strong as skyscrapers, double-decker bridges, underground trains, and soaring highways that looped up and around one another like ribbon on a gift.
Those desires and dreams are difficult to hold onto when a month in the camp turns into a year, then four years. Vonlai makes friends with Colonel, a kind old man with hideous war wounds earned from the Pathet Lao communist guards in Laos. Colonel teaches Vonlai how to survive hell and still cling to his dreams. Their interaction remains true throughout the book and moved me to tears. Have I mentioned how much I love books that elicit strong emotional responses?
“Escaping the Tiger” is among the most uplifting pieces of literature I’ve been privileged to read and I want to thank the author and her husband for sharing the tale.
Twelve-year-old Vonlai wakes up when his father shakes him and says, “We’re crossing tonight.” Vonlai and his family paddle, then swim for safety across the Mekong river from communist Laos into Thailand. As Laotians say, “Escaping the tiger to face the crocodile.” The refugee situation in Thailand leaves Vonlai and his family in fear for his sister’s safety from the camp guards and in constant hunger for both food and a home.
There were so many gorgeous, touching moments in this book, it’s not fair to share just one. However, I hate spoilers, so I picked the following passage. It was the first, but not the last time I cried. Early on, we learn of Vonlai’s dream to become an architect like his father was before the war. His father’s book of western architecture was a prized possession until the communists learned of it through Vonlai’s indiscretion and they burned the book:
From then on, his father stopped telling stories about America, but Vonlai repeated the old ones to himself and drew the pictures in his mind so he wouldn’t forget. And Vonlai did dream, while vowing never to betray Pah’s trust again. He dreamed of one day seeing those architectural marvels with his own eyes. Building a life for himself as strong as skyscrapers, double-decker bridges, underground trains, and soaring highways that looped up and around one another like ribbon on a gift.
Those desires and dreams are difficult to hold onto when a month in the camp turns into a year, then four years. Vonlai makes friends with Colonel, a kind old man with hideous war wounds earned from the Pathet Lao communist guards in Laos. Colonel teaches Vonlai how to survive hell and still cling to his dreams. Their interaction remains true throughout the book and moved me to tears. Have I mentioned how much I love books that elicit strong emotional responses?
“Escaping the Tiger” is among the most uplifting pieces of literature I’ve been privileged to read and I want to thank the author and her husband for sharing the tale.
May 20, 2010
Told in unassuming third-person narrative, ESCAPING THE TIGER sheds a necessary light on a painful part of history: the Lao refugees’ experience. While the writing is not quite spectacular, first-time author Laura Manivong just might move you to tears, as she did me.
ESCAPING THE TIGER is a slow close-up on the characters’ emotions as they go through their refugee experience. That means that if you’re looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven story, you won’t find it here. Vonlai’s time in the refugee camp is full of unending tension, impatience, and doubt. The refugees go through what most of us can never imagine: unhygienic conditions, extreme lack of privacy, and doubt as to whether everything you did prior to the Communist takeover was worth anything at all. But in the midst of all this are sparks of humanity that shine like relieving fireflies in the darkness: Vonlai’s banter with his friend stands out to me here. This book does something extremely difficult by balancing the inhumanity of the Na Pho experience with the little, warm things about people that keep our spirits alive even in the lowest of times.
The characters did feel a bit stiff at times, though, for me. I often couldn’t figure out whether the characters’ jarring “unapproachability” was intentional or the result of somewhat stilted writing. For example, Vonlai and his sister Dalah’s bickering often got borderline vicious with no real explanation from their personalities, with the result being that their improved relationship at the end came off as questionable to me. I was left feeling less emotionally attached to the characters than I wanted to be, especially since the book is on such a sensitive matter, but I’m not sure if anything could’ve been done about that, whether that was just an inevitable result of the subject material.
Overall, you can read ESCAPING THE TIGER as an essential work on Lao and Thai history, despite its sometimes detached writing. This could be a good one for the avid young reader who’s interested in learning an important history lesson.
ESCAPING THE TIGER is a slow close-up on the characters’ emotions as they go through their refugee experience. That means that if you’re looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven story, you won’t find it here. Vonlai’s time in the refugee camp is full of unending tension, impatience, and doubt. The refugees go through what most of us can never imagine: unhygienic conditions, extreme lack of privacy, and doubt as to whether everything you did prior to the Communist takeover was worth anything at all. But in the midst of all this are sparks of humanity that shine like relieving fireflies in the darkness: Vonlai’s banter with his friend stands out to me here. This book does something extremely difficult by balancing the inhumanity of the Na Pho experience with the little, warm things about people that keep our spirits alive even in the lowest of times.
The characters did feel a bit stiff at times, though, for me. I often couldn’t figure out whether the characters’ jarring “unapproachability” was intentional or the result of somewhat stilted writing. For example, Vonlai and his sister Dalah’s bickering often got borderline vicious with no real explanation from their personalities, with the result being that their improved relationship at the end came off as questionable to me. I was left feeling less emotionally attached to the characters than I wanted to be, especially since the book is on such a sensitive matter, but I’m not sure if anything could’ve been done about that, whether that was just an inevitable result of the subject material.
Overall, you can read ESCAPING THE TIGER as an essential work on Lao and Thai history, despite its sometimes detached writing. This could be a good one for the avid young reader who’s interested in learning an important history lesson.
February 20, 2011
I remember standing in the Columbus Airport with flags, flowers and signs waiting for the Laotian family we had sponsored to arrive. It was so exciting as we watched for their faces to appear in the crowd of people departing the plane. When they first appeared, I remember shyness overcoming me. We were the focus of the airport - this family of five and the crowd of sponsors who were there to greet them. It was overwhelming to me - a child of 10 or 11. I cannot imagine how it felt to Nenh, Bonsou, Lampenh, Lampanh and Lampao.
This book brought back all the memories of this family and the period of time they were in my life. They lived in a refugee camp like the family in this book, and by reading the story of Vonlai, I felt like I understand more the reactions and feelings the Onechamny family may have had. ( I am butchering the spelling of these names, by the way!) This is a great book for middle schools to read. The situation in Laos is one that most history books do not cover, yet their story is very much part of the US story. Discussions of geography and culture are just some of the topics that this book can produce.
My family has lost touch with the "refugees" as we called them. They lived in our small town for about 4 years, and then they moved to be closer to other Laotian families near Columbus. The impact this period had on me is long-lasting, however. My mother worked for about 2 years to help sponsor them. I will never forget this family - the three young girls especially - who got a new chance. Thanks to this book, I understand just what that meant to them.
This book brought back all the memories of this family and the period of time they were in my life. They lived in a refugee camp like the family in this book, and by reading the story of Vonlai, I felt like I understand more the reactions and feelings the Onechamny family may have had. ( I am butchering the spelling of these names, by the way!) This is a great book for middle schools to read. The situation in Laos is one that most history books do not cover, yet their story is very much part of the US story. Discussions of geography and culture are just some of the topics that this book can produce.
My family has lost touch with the "refugees" as we called them. They lived in our small town for about 4 years, and then they moved to be closer to other Laotian families near Columbus. The impact this period had on me is long-lasting, however. My mother worked for about 2 years to help sponsor them. I will never forget this family - the three young girls especially - who got a new chance. Thanks to this book, I understand just what that meant to them.
April 7, 2011
1982, 12 yr old Vonlai, his older sister Dalah and their parents must escape their home country of Laos, which was had a Communist government. In the beginning the family leaves in the night for Thailand. While in Thailand they must stay in a refugee camp. Vonlai's father tells the family they will only be there a few weeks. However, they aren't given an opportunity to leave for a few years. Escaping the Tiger centers around Vonlai and his families time in Thailand.
The author will hook many readers with the midnight escape. It moves at a good clip, there's danger and a little action. We get to know the family and what they are leaving behind, especially Vonlai. Young readers will be able to relate to Vonlai sadness at not being able to say goodbye to his best friend. Or never being able to play soccer with this friends again.
Vonlai's family must adjust to the hard life of living in a refugee camp. This is a visual story, readers will be able to easily picture Vonlai's new world. While playing soccer Vonlai becomes friends with, Kavin, an older boy. He was my favorite minor character. There were moments when the book crossed over into too much lesson not enough story. Except for the parts with Kavin. Vonlai was a strong enough character to over come this and keep my attention. Vonlai's relationship with his sister, Dalah was one of the stories strengths.
Escaping the Tiger is a good story with protagonist readers will want to follow until the end.
The author will hook many readers with the midnight escape. It moves at a good clip, there's danger and a little action. We get to know the family and what they are leaving behind, especially Vonlai. Young readers will be able to relate to Vonlai sadness at not being able to say goodbye to his best friend. Or never being able to play soccer with this friends again.
Vonlai's family must adjust to the hard life of living in a refugee camp. This is a visual story, readers will be able to easily picture Vonlai's new world. While playing soccer Vonlai becomes friends with, Kavin, an older boy. He was my favorite minor character. There were moments when the book crossed over into too much lesson not enough story. Except for the parts with Kavin. Vonlai was a strong enough character to over come this and keep my attention. Vonlai's relationship with his sister, Dalah was one of the stories strengths.
Escaping the Tiger is a good story with protagonist readers will want to follow until the end.
March 27, 2010
This is one of those books that I have the opportunity to read every now and again that I really cherish. My favorite books in the young adult genre are those that delve into the difficult, real-life experiences of teens placed into impossible circumstances. I also love learning about these other cultures and the truth behind what has been happening around the world. It’s unfortunate that all too often here in America, we don’t care enough about the world outside of our own country to pay it much mind. The entire story is happening during my lifetime, and I had no idea that there was such strong oppression in Laos until after reading this book.
As for the text itself, Manivong narrates the story in a way that creates an excellent balance between the plot and characters and the description of the world. I could have used a bit more, actually, of the description of the awful circumstances in which our main characters have found themselves. Overall, it’s a compelling story with beautiful narration and an educational journey that is good for American audiences. I recommend it to readers 12+.
-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com
As for the text itself, Manivong narrates the story in a way that creates an excellent balance between the plot and characters and the description of the world. I could have used a bit more, actually, of the description of the awful circumstances in which our main characters have found themselves. Overall, it’s a compelling story with beautiful narration and an educational journey that is good for American audiences. I recommend it to readers 12+.
-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com
April 26, 2010
It's 1982, Vonlai is 12, wants to build skyscrapers and loves playing soccer. Typical 12-year old stuff with one difference. Vonlai and his family escaped Communist Laos in the middle of the night down the Mekong River passed armed soldiers and are now in a refugee camp in Thailand. He is constantly hungry, he lives in a hut, and his sister is in danger. He still plays soccer, but in a field of rocks. How can he and his family survive to make it to the United States?
This book made me think about how I was living in 1982 and wondered if I knew people could be enduring situations like this. While 1982 may be ancient history to kids reading this book, hopefully they will connect with what they have in common with Vonlai, and see how things like soccer, coke and dog food are part of a different reality for him. Hopefully they will wonder about, or become more aware of, the difficult lives of many kids their age. Kids just like them.
This book made me think about how I was living in 1982 and wondered if I knew people could be enduring situations like this. While 1982 may be ancient history to kids reading this book, hopefully they will connect with what they have in common with Vonlai, and see how things like soccer, coke and dog food are part of a different reality for him. Hopefully they will wonder about, or become more aware of, the difficult lives of many kids their age. Kids just like them.
June 9, 2010
Beautifully written, strong, realistic characters. Vonlai, what a strong boy! living in fear for so many years, being hated by everyone, and still being so optimistic. Still not giving up, still having BIG dreams. He is someone many of us need to look up to. I loved how the family stayed together through the hard times, Meh handled herself pretty well, i think, seeing your kids hungry everyday cant be easy. Vonlai's love to his sister is amazing. even though he is younger than her, he is her little protector. I fell in love with this family, and my heart aches for what they went through.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
November 19, 2011
It is hard to judge this book. Again and again I must come up against my incredible ignorance. This time, the story is about Laotian refugees in Thailand. Even though there is great dignity in most of the refugees, my reaction was one of despair at how we treat each other. The author of the book is the wife of a man who lived through escape from the Pathet Lao and detention in Thailand and then disappointment as an immigrant to the US. It is not particularly well written but still compelling.
December 8, 2009
I had the pleasure to read ESCAPING THE TIGER as an ARC and I have to admit that I was wary of not being able to understand the culture. However, Laura Manivong managed to weave the familiar and the alien into a tapestry that made me laugh, worry, and clap for joy. While I felt Vonlai's pain at being an outsider, I never felt like an outsider myself.
This is the kind of book I wish I'd had as a kid and the kind of book all kids will enjoy. A wonderful debut.
This is the kind of book I wish I'd had as a kid and the kind of book all kids will enjoy. A wonderful debut.
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July 11, 2016Excellent depiction both of life in a refugee camp and life under communist rule. The story is honest and unflinching, but not so brutal that children won't be able to handle reading it. Should be a real eye-opener for young readers born after the end of the Cold War.
Made me very grateful for this country. And for the baked chicken I ate for dinner last night. And the meat I ate the night before that, and the night before that...
Made me very grateful for this country. And for the baked chicken I ate for dinner last night. And the meat I ate the night before that, and the night before that...
April 17, 2010
This is one of the best YA books about Southeast Asia I have read, and it made me aware of what a refuge camp is, what it means. This is the story of a Laotian family, escaping communist Laos in the early 1980s, and their years in a refuge camp in Thailand. The story is well done - not flat and colorless like many I've read. Each chapter is marked with a date - one in the 1980s, a time when I was in high school, then college. It provides a bizarre context to the story.
January 30, 2010
Vonlai stepped right into my heart. Would he survive? Would his family? After reading ESCAPING THE TIGER I have a heightened sensitivity to the plight and courage of refugees. Laura Manivong has given us a gritty story about real people that touches our humanity and our determination to hope. A beautifully written must read for all ages.
February 27, 2011
Good book about a country and people I know very little about. I really got to know the characters and wanted it to have a nice tied up happy ending for everyone but I think it was true to reality and did not. I really enjoyed learning from this book and story. Great local author that will be visiting the Plaza Library in March!
March 8, 2010
I’m partial but love this book’s universal message in its beautiful story with characters that I think of often – and for whom I wish the best – long after my reading of it.
June 23, 2010
I was fortunate enough to read this while it was being written. Its first line will always be one of my favorites. Evoking, emotional, and beautifully written. I heart Laura Manivong!
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