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The Clay Marble
Fleeing war-torn Cambodia in 1980, Dara, her mother, and her older brother find sanctuary in a refugee settlement on the Thailand border, but when fighting erupts, Dara finds herself separated from everyone and everything she loves.
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
151 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
About the author
Minfong Ho
28 books46 followersMinfong Ho is an award-winning Chinese-American writer. Her works frequently deal with the lives of people living in poverty in Southeast Asian countries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
February 27, 2020
"The Clay Marble", although directed towards younger audiences, expresses a message about war, loss, and friendship beautifully in it's simplicity. As most of the books that fall under the title of children's literature do, it depicts quite a mature image with meaningful themes, hiding behind the innocence of a child's book. Depicting the life of a girl caught in the middle of a war, this book describes the struggles of being a war refugee.
This book is similar to the book "First they Killed my Father" in terms of both the plot, setting, character, and emotional impact. Both main characters become war refugees and both are at a similar age. Perhaps most important of all, both books have a similar theme throughout. Both are separated from their families at crucial moments in time and, as a result, start a search for them. In the process, both female protagonists learned to fend for themselves, making temporary allies, clawing their way into refugee camps, and fighting tooth and nail to escape death and harsh punishments. Both girls also display incredible strength of will. Throughout the war, many events threatened to end either their lives or their families. There was only a sliver of a chance that their parents would have found their way back to them. Yet, not once did any of them lose hope of reunion with their loved ones. Ultimately, this was what lead to their eventual reintroduction to living a peaceful life devoid of war.
This book is similar to the book "First they Killed my Father" in terms of both the plot, setting, character, and emotional impact. Both main characters become war refugees and both are at a similar age. Perhaps most important of all, both books have a similar theme throughout. Both are separated from their families at crucial moments in time and, as a result, start a search for them. In the process, both female protagonists learned to fend for themselves, making temporary allies, clawing their way into refugee camps, and fighting tooth and nail to escape death and harsh punishments. Both girls also display incredible strength of will. Throughout the war, many events threatened to end either their lives or their families. There was only a sliver of a chance that their parents would have found their way back to them. Yet, not once did any of them lose hope of reunion with their loved ones. Ultimately, this was what lead to their eventual reintroduction to living a peaceful life devoid of war.
February 25, 2012
I was reminded of how much I like good Children's Literature and how often I think it is stronger than a lot of fiction intended for adults.
This story is of a young Cambodian girl and her family who were made refuges during the nightmares of the Cambodian Wars. She, and what was left of her family, create another family with other refuges and the children use clay to make toys in a metaphor for sustaining their lives.
She survives starvation, invading armies, shelling, injuries, and death of those who are close to her. This is certainly more honest about human suffering than books were when I was a kid, but probably not as bad as it really was.
This story is of a young Cambodian girl and her family who were made refuges during the nightmares of the Cambodian Wars. She, and what was left of her family, create another family with other refuges and the children use clay to make toys in a metaphor for sustaining their lives.
She survives starvation, invading armies, shelling, injuries, and death of those who are close to her. This is certainly more honest about human suffering than books were when I was a kid, but probably not as bad as it really was.
February 28, 2015
My teacher urged me to read this book and so did a classmate of mine. At first it was a little dry and slow but then it became this rich story line full of twists and turns. Every character changes his or her mindset in some way. The details sometimes can be violent and a bit graphic but it does convey the point of War. Many innocent people, who just want peace, die. I know that people can also be used as pawns in a big game of chess where nobody ends up winning.
September 28, 2013
This book was the first book that made me cry and made me very sad. It changed the way I think about soldiers, rice and the world. This is the only spoiler I can tell, I wished that the book had a happy ending. This book really got me because most of the books I read I don't really vision them as reality but this book, I can imagine it straight away and it makes me very sad.
November 16, 2019
Then I turned away and started walking east, away from the safety of Thailand. My shadow stretched out long and thin in front of me. It would be dark before too long, I thought, but I would not be afraid. The magic marble was firm and smooth in my hand.
April 4, 2015
This book gave a new perspective to the Cambodian conflict, showing the struggles at the refugee camp and ongoing conflict. The pacing of the plot varies, with some chapters moving slowly and others moving more quickly with more action/drama. The characters are believable and allow the reader to step into a place and time far from their experience.
December 17, 2018
The Clay Marble by Mingfong Ho has many similarities and connections to A Long Walk to Water by… The first connection is that they both have a setting as war, The Clay Marble has bombing and shooting and ALWTW has shooting too. The second connection is that the 2 main characters both try to find their parents Dara from The Clay Marble is lost from the bomb that was fired right next to her and Jantu, Dara’s friend, Jantu’s brother injured his leg so Dara had to find their families on her own. In ALWTW, Salva lost his parents during war but found his uncle on the way to the camps. The last connection I found was that both characters found someone who helped them through their journey. In The Clay Marble, Dara found the bully, Chnay on her way and he changed a lot and helped her succeed through her journey by helping her find her parents and her brother. While in ALWTW, Salva found his uncle and he helped Salva through his harsh journey by encouraging him and guiding him, and even saving his life. The three connections that The Clay Marble and A Long Walk to Water have in common are, setting as war, both try to find parents, and lastly, they both find someone helpful who help them through their harsh trip.
October 19, 2018
This book is like the Inside out and back again but much much better.
April 19, 2017
At first the book seems a little but dull as it is a typical refugee family story but things became interesting when they arrived to the camp.
In the beginning of the days in the camp, everything is news but they found another helpful family and things turned out to be good. However, it didn't last long because of the air raid.
Life became more intense after the air raid and bomb blasting. That's when Jantu created a magic clay marble for Dara. Dara overcome almost all the obstacles because of the magic marble.
While I was reading it, I felt like I became Dara. If she run, I run along with her. When she got lost, I, myself, felt lost. Before I realized, I jumped into the book. Although I thought Dara was the main character, at the end it was Jantu who passed all her courage to people around her. I cried when Jantu died. She was suffering before she died and it broke my heart into pieces.
The author bitterly mentioned the life of refugees in a paragraph. 'So that was what it meant to be a refugee. We were farmers who had been displaced from our old land and yet prevented from settling on any new land. Would we always be on the move, people who not only didn't have a home but weren't allowed to build a new home anywhere? (Dara).'
The war changed the life and mindset of people. Although Dara became mature lady, her brother (Sarun) became more thirst for war. The family was almost drifted apart because of the war but love won at the end.
Of course Cambodia is one of my favorite subjects to talk about and displace people is my another areas of interest. With these two reasons, it is enough for me to fall in love with this book. Plus, my dad recommended me this book.
In the beginning of the days in the camp, everything is news but they found another helpful family and things turned out to be good. However, it didn't last long because of the air raid.
Life became more intense after the air raid and bomb blasting. That's when Jantu created a magic clay marble for Dara. Dara overcome almost all the obstacles because of the magic marble.
While I was reading it, I felt like I became Dara. If she run, I run along with her. When she got lost, I, myself, felt lost. Before I realized, I jumped into the book. Although I thought Dara was the main character, at the end it was Jantu who passed all her courage to people around her. I cried when Jantu died. She was suffering before she died and it broke my heart into pieces.
The author bitterly mentioned the life of refugees in a paragraph. 'So that was what it meant to be a refugee. We were farmers who had been displaced from our old land and yet prevented from settling on any new land. Would we always be on the move, people who not only didn't have a home but weren't allowed to build a new home anywhere? (Dara).'
The war changed the life and mindset of people. Although Dara became mature lady, her brother (Sarun) became more thirst for war. The family was almost drifted apart because of the war but love won at the end.
Of course Cambodia is one of my favorite subjects to talk about and displace people is my another areas of interest. With these two reasons, it is enough for me to fall in love with this book. Plus, my dad recommended me this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2011
"Fleeing their war-torn Cambodian village in early 1980, twelve year-old Dara and her family establish a makeshift home at a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. Then shelling and fighting, inescapable even there, separate Dara from her family and she must overcome her fear and lack of confidence to find them again."
Minfong Ho tells Dara's story with strong words and detailed scenes which make this story seem so real, so alive. Even though Dara's story is made up, it is based on the real character Dara, who Minfong Ho met in a refugee camp in Cambodia. The girl gave her a clay marble and when Minfong Ho made one for the little girl, she smiled. Minfong Ho then got inspired to write how the little girl called Dara may have come to that refugee camp.
I really like the book, especially how it constantly shifts between happy and sad scenes. It makes you want to read more, more and much more.
I recommend this book to people who like reading about everything in one. Action, tragedy, history and adventure all in this great book!
Minfong Ho tells Dara's story with strong words and detailed scenes which make this story seem so real, so alive. Even though Dara's story is made up, it is based on the real character Dara, who Minfong Ho met in a refugee camp in Cambodia. The girl gave her a clay marble and when Minfong Ho made one for the little girl, she smiled. Minfong Ho then got inspired to write how the little girl called Dara may have come to that refugee camp.
I really like the book, especially how it constantly shifts between happy and sad scenes. It makes you want to read more, more and much more.
I recommend this book to people who like reading about everything in one. Action, tragedy, history and adventure all in this great book!
August 24, 2025
I read this in (I think) 7th grade for school, and I really did not appreciate it then. Now that I'm an adult and am increasingly aware of the consequences of America's imperialist agenda, I wanted to learn more about Cambodia. Cambodians are often the forgotten victims of the Vietnam War, and of America's meddling in Southeast Asia in general.
This was devastating. It is a story of a child who just wants to go home, to rebuild her family, to rebuild her farm and her village that have been senselessly taken from her. She finds little moments of joy among the cruelties. She maintains her hope, loses it, and finds it again over and over. The tragedies that befall her and her family are both cruel and commonplace in war.
Being in the middle of the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, this hit even harder. Dara's story is playing out every day for thousands of Palestinian children, and the American government still does not care. We have not learned to listen to the victims of war or to care about children. What a disgrace it is to live in a country that cares so little about the consequences of its own actions.
This was devastating. It is a story of a child who just wants to go home, to rebuild her family, to rebuild her farm and her village that have been senselessly taken from her. She finds little moments of joy among the cruelties. She maintains her hope, loses it, and finds it again over and over. The tragedies that befall her and her family are both cruel and commonplace in war.
Being in the middle of the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, this hit even harder. Dara's story is playing out every day for thousands of Palestinian children, and the American government still does not care. We have not learned to listen to the victims of war or to care about children. What a disgrace it is to live in a country that cares so little about the consequences of its own actions.
November 8, 2022
pretentious war trauma porn
November 7, 2018
This book is about a girl who lives in cambodia and here villiage get attack. Then her and family have to travel to a safe place. Then that gets attacked and she get seperated from here family. How will she survive... Read to find out
April 30, 2017
I liked it enough to find more books by this author!
March 13, 2016
Genocide doesn't have a starting or stopping point. And genocide cannot be isolated to one geographic location. Atrocities push people from their homes and pull t"people and their trauma into nearby lands. These people are forgotten until someone tells their story. I find most powerful the stories written by survivors, but this story comes from someone who served Cambodians in Thailand's refugee camps as survivors redefined family and home and dared to imagine a life beyond the camps. Read this now and think about all the people in our world living in camps due to the actions and inaction of the international community.
October 4, 2011
This was a very good book! I think that Jantu was one of a kind because she taught Dara to believe in herself. She taught Dara to be happy of who she was. I would recommend it to anyone. And I think Dara was confident in herself after Jantu taught her to be.
The only annoying thing is that the word rice was used very often. And it seemed like they were all obsessed with rice.
The only annoying thing is that the word rice was used very often. And it seemed like they were all obsessed with rice.
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December 11, 2012It is very interesting to learn how refugees live.
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December 11, 2019YEAH
May 25, 2018
Book review
Minfong Ho
The Clay Marble
The book is fiction, adventure. I chose to read it because I needed to read it for English (independently) and then write a comparison with another book. Minfong Ho was born in Asia, in Rangoon, Burma. Thus in her books she usually tells about what happened in Asian countries. In this book, she talks about the refugee problem in Cambodia. The Clay Marble is Minfong Ho’s third book.
This book is about Dara, a 12-year-old girl refugee, and her experiences in Cambodia in the 1980’s. She was forced to flee her home because of a war with Khmer Rouge. Together with her family and some friends who survived the war set on a trip to the Border: a refugee camp on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. There, they were given some food (e.g. rice, fish, oil) and something to drink. One day, when she woke up, her family was gone. She went out to search them, but now she was no longer afraid: she survived the death of some of her loved ones and starvation. Moreover, when she was younger, her friend, Jantu, gave Dara a clay marble. The clay marble was magical: it made Dara more courageous and brave. Will Dara survive? Is her family still alive? Read the book to find out.
I enjoyed reading this book because it is conveying real problems in a realistic manner: Dara’s feelings were well portrayed, and I travelled by reading the book together with Dara. I would recommend this book to everyone from 10 to 14 years old because it is easy to understand, while the problem conveyed stays relevant today. My rating for this book is 9/10.
Minfong Ho
The Clay Marble
The book is fiction, adventure. I chose to read it because I needed to read it for English (independently) and then write a comparison with another book. Minfong Ho was born in Asia, in Rangoon, Burma. Thus in her books she usually tells about what happened in Asian countries. In this book, she talks about the refugee problem in Cambodia. The Clay Marble is Minfong Ho’s third book.
This book is about Dara, a 12-year-old girl refugee, and her experiences in Cambodia in the 1980’s. She was forced to flee her home because of a war with Khmer Rouge. Together with her family and some friends who survived the war set on a trip to the Border: a refugee camp on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. There, they were given some food (e.g. rice, fish, oil) and something to drink. One day, when she woke up, her family was gone. She went out to search them, but now she was no longer afraid: she survived the death of some of her loved ones and starvation. Moreover, when she was younger, her friend, Jantu, gave Dara a clay marble. The clay marble was magical: it made Dara more courageous and brave. Will Dara survive? Is her family still alive? Read the book to find out.
I enjoyed reading this book because it is conveying real problems in a realistic manner: Dara’s feelings were well portrayed, and I travelled by reading the book together with Dara. I would recommend this book to everyone from 10 to 14 years old because it is easy to understand, while the problem conveyed stays relevant today. My rating for this book is 9/10.
August 11, 2024
'The Clay Marble' is a historical fiction novel, written in 1991 by Mingfong Ho. It tells the story of a 12-year-old Cambodian refugee girl, Dara, and her family as they try to escape from Pol Pot’s murderous Khmer Rouge army. Dara lives in a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. In the camp, Dara meets Jantu, a resourceful girl who opens up her imagination to new possibilities. This is symbolized by a clay marble that Jantu makes for Dara. The clay marble, literally formed out of the mud and earth, goes on to symbolize much more to Dara as she and her family embark on their journey toward freedom and safety.
This book could be used within the context of any middle school modern history or English language arts class. The fact that the book can be used to inform historical context and or as a novel study in an English class gives it great utility.
'The Clay Marble' could be used to reinforce the following common core state standard: “CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.9: Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.” Upon completion of the novel, students could do a webquest wherein they investigate modern Cambodian history and the impact and devastation that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge had on the country. Students could then compare and contrast the events of the book with the real history of Cambodia.
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. (2010). Common Core State Standards for English language arts and literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. Washington, DC: Authors.
This book could be used within the context of any middle school modern history or English language arts class. The fact that the book can be used to inform historical context and or as a novel study in an English class gives it great utility.
'The Clay Marble' could be used to reinforce the following common core state standard: “CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.9: Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.” Upon completion of the novel, students could do a webquest wherein they investigate modern Cambodian history and the impact and devastation that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge had on the country. Students could then compare and contrast the events of the book with the real history of Cambodia.
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. (2010). Common Core State Standards for English language arts and literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. Washington, DC: Authors.
December 20, 2021
I'm emotionally wrecked.
The Clay Marble is a novel set in 1980 war-torn Cambodia. The novel begins with a young girl, Dara, and her family traveling to the border for the chance to rebuild their lives. Although they are going just based off rumors, it is soon confirmed that there are stations set up at the border that will give you food, bags of rice, and tools to help you farm and fish. When Dara's family gets to the camp, they meet another family and quickly become very friendly with them. One of the girls is even Dara's age and has the unique talent of making toys from random pieces of metal, wood, and clay. Jantu makes a clay marble for Dara and tells her it's magic will help her through whatever she faces. Pretty soon, life at the border becomes less idyllic than it once was. In the beginning, the border felt like a safe place but soon they
This novel is expertly weaved and beautifully told. It was incredibly heartbreaking and I haven't been this touched by a novel in awhile. I can't recommend The Clay Marble enough.
September 24, 2024
In our small make-believe world, at least, life was simple and easy to understand. There were no soldiers and no war, only people like ourselves quietly getting on with their lives.
Dara finds herself needing to flee her beloved Cambodia. War has come to their peaceful corner of the world, and heading toward Thailand seems like the best—no—the only option. Along the way, Dara is reminded that there are kind people in the world, but also violence in the world, an uncomfortable pairing forever in tandem. But will she ever find peace? Will her country ever return to what it once was?
My GR 7 students are currently in historical fiction book clubs. I usually read a title that went unchosen by students in order to promote it in future years. Although the title and cover make sense, they are a curse for 21st century readers. Both are too drab. After reading this book, my first ever book set in Cambodia, I wish more students gave it a chance. The book discusses a very challenging time period when the Khmer Rouge darkened Cambodia; however, Minfong writes it in a way that is middle school "friendly." Given that I live and work in neighboring Thailand, many of my students have visited Cambodia and I'd like to challenge them to read this book. Recommended for GR 6-7.
Dara finds herself needing to flee her beloved Cambodia. War has come to their peaceful corner of the world, and heading toward Thailand seems like the best—no—the only option. Along the way, Dara is reminded that there are kind people in the world, but also violence in the world, an uncomfortable pairing forever in tandem. But will she ever find peace? Will her country ever return to what it once was?
My GR 7 students are currently in historical fiction book clubs. I usually read a title that went unchosen by students in order to promote it in future years. Although the title and cover make sense, they are a curse for 21st century readers. Both are too drab. After reading this book, my first ever book set in Cambodia, I wish more students gave it a chance. The book discusses a very challenging time period when the Khmer Rouge darkened Cambodia; however, Minfong writes it in a way that is middle school "friendly." Given that I live and work in neighboring Thailand, many of my students have visited Cambodia and I'd like to challenge them to read this book. Recommended for GR 6-7.
May 6, 2018
When I found this novel in the library, it stood out to me. No doubt it was a easy read, but a highly influential one. It was the perfect combination of history and emotion mixed into a single story. If you enjoy a heart-touching story and fictional plot, then I can guarantee you will like this book. The story is set in Cambodia during a dictatorship which has created a war between the governments and the dictatorship. The main character is a young girl during this time and as the story progresses, you will start seeing the world of conflict through her eyes and how she manages to survive.
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October 22, 2019The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho is a historical story about the Vietnam War. It's about a girl named Dara and her family that need to survive the Vietnam War but they get separated so Dara and her new friend from the Border, Jantu, need to find their family but Jantu's baby brothers foot gets hit by a bomb and she has to go to the hospital and Dara needs to find her family and Jantu's. I really like the message that this story gives us because it made me think a lot about how life is full of mysterious things that could happen at any time and we need to be grateful for the people that are by our side every day and for our family that after god are the people that love us the most.
September 13, 2019
This is an interesting read for an upper elementary student or a middle school student. It focuses on the life of a girl and her family during the civil war in Cambodia. In order for kids to understand, they may need a little help with geography and culture. However, with guidance, it is a good read for them. For older readers, the resolution of the story will fall flat and lack plausibility, but that really isn't the point of the book.
April 11, 2022
Reading this book admist the on-going Ukraine situation really puts it in a different perspective. It describes the calamities of war on normal people like you and I.
It has also been a journey seeing the transformation of Dara, and it does inspire one to take a bit more courage - you never know what's gonna happen next!
Writing style wise, I thought the earlier portions of the boon were a little slow paced but the ending was really poignant. 🙂
It has also been a journey seeing the transformation of Dara, and it does inspire one to take a bit more courage - you never know what's gonna happen next!
Writing style wise, I thought the earlier portions of the boon were a little slow paced but the ending was really poignant. 🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2017
'The Clay Marble' is a very eye opening book. When you live in a protected bubble all your youth, you don't really understand the harsh scenarios people go through. From not having enough money to keep you well through a few more days... to losing a friend or family member. You never know what's going to happen when you're out in the wild.
May 30, 2018
Minfong Ho is clearly a social activist in all the best senses of the word. She has done, and continues to do, great things. For all her talents, writing is not one of them. Even by middle school literature standards this book is filled with two-dimensional characters, ham-fisted morals, and pointless descriptive flourishes which add nothing of substance to the story.
August 31, 2017
This was a well thought out, touching story. I learned quite a bit about life in a small Cambodian town and the effect of war on the families. The sadness was touched upon, and the overcoming of trials and fears was sweetly taught.
May 17, 2018
Great read. Very well written. Tells the story of the Cambodian conflict through the eyes of a child, and does it in a way that is very understandable and appropriate for kids. Also, shows the power of human resiliency.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews