After enduring years of hunger, deprivation, and devastating loss at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, ten-year-old Loung Ung became the "lucky child," the sibling chosen to accompany her eldest brother to America while her one surviving sister and two brothers remained behind. In this poignant and elegiac memoir, Loung recalls her assimilation into an unfamiliar new culture while struggling to overcome dogged memories of violence and the deep scars of war. In alternating chapters, she gives voice to Chou, the beloved older sister whose life in war-torn Cambodia so easily could have been hers. Highlighting the harsh realities of chance and circumstance in times of war as well as in times of peace, Lucky Child is ultimately a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and to the salvaging strength of family bonds.
"Heart-rending and eloquent . . . a moving reminder of human resiliency and the power of family bonds."--Newsweek
"As piercing and poignant as its title."--Richard North Patterson
"[Ung] captured my heart...Lucky Child is captivating, deep and delightful."--Chicago Tribune
"Ung is a masterful storyteller whose fresh clear prose shimmers with light and sorrow."--Mary Pipher, Ph.D., author of Reviving Ophelia
"Written with an engaging vigor and directness, Lucky Child is an unforgettable portrait of resilience and largeness of spirit."--Los Angeles Times
"Deeply stirring...heart-breaking and not less than brilliant."--Miami Herald
"Highly readable."--Minneapolis Star Tribune
"[A] fiercely honest and affecting memoir."--Seattle Times
"At once elegiac and clear-eyed, this moving volume is a tribute to the path not taken."--Vogue
"A rich narrative that explores the ravages of war and the strength of family bonds...powerful and moving."--Amnesty International
