Scan barcode
garlic_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I have had no prior knowledge or history of what happened in Cambodia, so this was all new information for me. Reading this has sparked me to read more books and learn more about the history.
I felt a little lost at times trying to distinct who some family members were and when/where they were separated. The family tree helped a bit with the distinctions. The artwork is unique and I appreciated the line work.
I felt a little lost at times trying to distinct who some family members were and when/where they were separated. The family tree helped a bit with the distinctions. The artwork is unique and I appreciated the line work.
albertomdh's review against another edition
4.0
La odisea de una familia camboyana durante la dictadura de los Jemeres Rojos. Un repaso muy amplio y bien narrado de los horrores del período, aunque quizás ganaría con una caracterización más clara de los personajes.
ian_se's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
kat_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This graphic novel tells the true story of one family’s struggle to survive the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Spending months walking across Cambodia to safety, trading items for food, lying, sneaking, seeking assistance from relatives - this is such a powerful retelling of a horrendous time in history.
.
Although not something that is “enjoyable” to read, I found it such an impactful read and increased my knowledge of the history of Cambodia and definitely recommend this novel.
erine's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to rate someone's memoir of a time of terror. In the sense that the illustrations and story conveyed the systematic and implacable horror of the time period, the chaos and feeling that trouble was everywhere, and even the ragged path back to normal, this was very successful. The tragedy is how much this echoes so many other periods in history, so many other authoritarian and repressive regimes, so many other quests for power that leave so many citizens with nothing or dead.
One of the most moving parts was reading how Tian's extended family reacted to their story being published: some wanted to never remember this time, others had painful flashbacks, and others casually noted the book's arrival. Tian himself was born mere days after the new regime took power, and his earliest days were spent in a village under authoritarianism. Food was not fairly distributed, belongings were confiscated by those in power, the slightest infraction was punishable by death. Being a baby and toddler and young person at that time must have been horrifyingly confusing, and then trying to make sense of your family's history years later would have been heartbreaking.
A story that should be told, shared, read, discussed.
One of the most moving parts was reading how Tian's extended family reacted to their story being published: some wanted to never remember this time, others had painful flashbacks, and others casually noted the book's arrival. Tian himself was born mere days after the new regime took power, and his earliest days were spent in a village under authoritarianism. Food was not fairly distributed, belongings were confiscated by those in power, the slightest infraction was punishable by death. Being a baby and toddler and young person at that time must have been horrifyingly confusing, and then trying to make sense of your family's history years later would have been heartbreaking.
A story that should be told, shared, read, discussed.
mergs_scribbles's review against another edition
4.0
It was difficult to keep up with the large cast, but the family tree diagram in the beginning helped a bit.
jodene55's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This is very accessible and so good. Very good artwork with expressions that further the story along. Love it.