The Dragon's Song

by Binh Pham and R M Clark

• ISBN10: 1947796852
• ISBN13: 9781947796850
• Publish Date: 19 October 2020
• Publish Status: Withdrawn
• Imprint: Intense Publications
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 210
• Language: English

Reviews

[fanbook]

The Dragon's Song exceeds my expectations for a children's book. I'm not quite sure what I expected from the storyline before I started reading it. But after the first hour of reading about Bao's intriguing journey from Vietnam to the United States, I knew this book would make its way into my 5-star collection. Bihn Pham and R.M. Clark collaborated on the writing of this masterpiece. It is based on Mr. Pham's life experiences on escaping Vietnam and making his way to the U.S.A. The end result is a book I would highly recommend to both teens and adults. There are many heart-wrenching moments in the book, though. That's my only warning. The language is free from vulgarity, so children, ages 11 and above, should enjoy reading this book.

The book is narrated by Bao, a young Vietnamese boy. He and his cousin are smuggled from Vietnam to the United States. They believe that a better life awaits them there, in comparison to the harsh dictatorship they experience in Vietnam. While escaping Vietnam, they live in constant fear. They are smuggled from one destination point to another. They live in constant fear of being boarded by pirates while on the open seas. The living conditions on the boats are unbearable. Bao and his cousin aren't the only ones making the journey towards a better life. They have to share a cramped space with other Vietnamese people who are fleeing Vietnam as well. Along the way, they interact with different people and different personality types. They are even able to forge new friendships. Life in the refugee camps is relatively bearable, but the boys experience new challenges to their safety as they draw closer to the United States. With each new environment, they experience different obstacles that they have to overcome.

This book is heightened by its main plot— the dragon's song. In time, young Bao discovers he is a musical prodigy. He has a skill for effortlessly mastering new musical instruments. He is given a dragon-head talisman as a gift from a senior woman. This talisman motivates him to create a song that he plays throughout the book. All in all, this book is both inspirational and profound. It gives me a new appreciation for the life experiences of others. They say that you can't judge a book by its cover. The same expression applies to people. This book is worth its weight in gold. I hope others will appreciate it as much as I do.

[bookfreak]

I honestly can't recall the last time I read a children's book as heartwarming and emotional as "The Dragon's Song". It is co-authored by Binh Pham and R.M. Clark. This book is written with mostly middle-schoolers in mind. Trust me when I say this, they will love it. This book illustrates the story of a young boy, Bao, and his voyage from South Vietnam to the United States. He undergoes this trek as an expatriate, not long after the collapse of his country, at the hands of an oppressive Communist system. The storyline, and history of Vietnam, is more than enough to hold my interest in this unique tale. This book, however, takes things a notch further since it literally portrays Binh Pham's actual life experiences.

 

In a political landscape where Communism is threatening the way of life for the Vietnamese people, Bao's family is fearful of falling prey to Communist soldiers. Regrettably, their fears become a reality when his parents are apprehended by said soldiers, right before his very eyes. Through sheer determination, Bao escapes and seeks solace with his uncle's family. He lives with them for a couple of years. His uncle's family then orchestrates a plan for him and his cousin to take the perilous journey to the United States, where their extended family in the U.S. is waiting to care for them. Not only is the journey an extremely dangerous one for these children, but they travel under horrific conditions. It is truly a heartwarming tale of survival and self-discovery. I rate this novel 5 stars. I would have given it 10 stars if I could.

 

This book will certainly help young readers (and adults who love YA books) to sympathize with the challenges that youths from other cultures experience. Not only is this book educational, but it also conveys many important life-lessons that we as readers ought to consider. It educates the reader without coming off as superficial or redundant. Truth be told, it has the opposite effect. In actuality, the more you read this book is the more you will want to continue reading it. The storyline is simple and children will be able to understand it. The language is appropriate. Both children and adults will enjoy reading this book. As such, I won't hesitate to recommend it to children and adults who love reading children's historical fiction. It will even inspire them to do their own research on Vietnam's rich culture, and learn more about this fascinating country.

 

[lovelyreader]

"The Dragon’s Song" is a one-of-a-kind reading experience. I think this is the first time I have read a children’s book where the characters have to journey to another country, in an attempt to escape oppressive conditions in their country of origin. This story is deep and prolific on so many levels. As soon as I started reading it, I immediately knew I would give it a 5-star rating. I definitely think middle schoolers, young adults, and older adults with young hearts, will enjoy giving this book a read. I know I did.  

 

The story focuses mostly on Bao. He is our main character. The setting is Vietnam and the country is under the dictatorship of a Communist regime. After witnessing his parents being beaten and taken by Communist soldiers, he seeks refuge with his uncle and his uncle's family. Eventually, he and his cousin, Binh Pham, have to make the arduous journey to the US, where a better life awaits them both. They have many stops to make along the way, and with each new trip, they have to overcome new hurdles as well. The story is based on events from Binh Pham's life. He co-writes the book with R.M. Clark. Together with Clark, he has written a captivating young adult novel.  

 

Throughout the book, Bao and his cousin are smuggled from one destination to the next. The treatment and conditions they endure along the way are horrific. It's amazing that they made it at all, but the will to survive keeps them pressing forward. Some of the storyline is heartbreaking to read, but the overall plot is beautifully structured and effectively communicated.

 

The book doesn't divulge excess details on the historical or and political structure of Vietnam during that period. It doesn't delve too deeply into the Vietnam War or the resulting refugee crisis that occurs because of it. But I understand the writers' approach, because this story is being narrated from the perspective of an 11-year-old boy, after all. Most importantly, the book provides sufficient context for readers to understand the challenges that the Vietnamese people experienced during that period. It also does an excellent job of enlightening readers about the traumas and experiences that refugees have to bear while escaping dangerous living conditions in their homeland, all with the hope of seeking a better life in another country. This tale is beautifully written. I enjoyed reading it, and I think you will too.