If you take elements of Nguyen Phan Que Mai's THE MOUNTAINS SING and Amy Tan's THE JOY LUCK CLUB, then throw in sprinkles of Kevin Kwan's CRAZY RICH ASIANS, you'll get Amy M. Le's debut historical fiction novel, SNOW IN VIETNAM. There are elements of humor, romance and heartache injected throughout these pages of fear and uncertainty.
Growing up in war-torn Vietnam was normal, even idyllic at times, for Snow, the youngest of seven children in her family. Although her heart belongs to an American GI, she honors her father by marrying a Vietnamese man. Her halcyon life unravels as the Vietnam War ravages her country and the threat of communism culminates with the fall of Saigon. Life in unified Vietnam under the new regime becomes unbearable. Betrayed by her husband and left with a dying child to raise, Snow must set aside her morals and push herself to the limit emotionally, physically, and mentally, to buy her way out of the country. Her decision to escape and find sanctuary in America takes her adrift in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand with her daughter, nephew, and other boat refugees. For days, they are at the mercy of pirates, storms, and dire conditions. Ultimately, Snow settles into a refugee camp on the island of Galang in Indonesia, but life there is deplorable. The threat of repatriation and the will to keep her family alive keeps her motivated to hustle for a ticket to freedom.
SNOW IN VIETNAM was written to honor the memory of the author's mother. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Pacific Northwest Writers Association literary award. This story is dedicated to the boat people of Vietnam and all the refugees who risked their lives in a desperate search for safety and freedom.
Praise for SNOW IN VIETNAM:
"The book is beautifully written, the story told with equal amounts of heart and skill and this reader could hardly tear away from the story for real-life each day. The plight of the Vietnamese boat people is told in heartbreaking detail as Snow's journey to America is continually thwarted. I loved this book that reminded me of Amy Tan's richness of story and detail. It was a joy to read and I look forward to the author's second book."
-Kim Hornsby, USA Today Bestselling Author and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
"I love the title... I also loved the novel. Amy Le should be pleased with her work."
-Bill McCloud, Vietnam Veterans of America
"Well-developed characters, a brave and admirable protagonist, a vivid setting and heartbreaking struggles that felt real combine to make SNOW IN VIETNAM a compelling, unforgettable read."
-Alicia Dean, Award-Winning Author of Heart of the Witch
"Compelling, informative, and beautifully written."
-Frances Evlin, Author of Circles of Deception
"I stayed up all night reading because I literally could not put it down."
-Diana LeBeau, Beta reader
"The author has the uncanny ability to make the reader feel he or she is right in the middle of this tense and danger-filled escape."
-Greg Simpson, Vietnam War Veteran