The Crying River

Book excerpt: Yer believed that her life would be peaceful and wonderful forever; that she would always be surrounded by family and friends in a small village. When the Secret War ended, American troops deserted her people and a sudden oppression from the Communists forced Yer and her family to flee into the jungle. There, they faced many hardships and must risk crossing a deadly river for a chance at freedom. Based on actual events, this stunning book stresses the importance of family. Yer's mother is the strength and glue that holds everyone together, showing unending courage and faith despite illness, starvation, exhaustion and fear of enemy detection. "The Crying River is an incredible story. Yer shows what it was like to be a Hmong living in Laos after the Secret War, describing the hardships and sacrifices so candidly that I cried. It's one thing to hear history in terms of the facts and dates, but reliving it through a young girl's eyes makes it come alive like nothing else can. This story is one that deserves to be read, not just to learn about one girl's childhood journey, but also to hear the voices of the Hmong, whose similar stories might never be told." -