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.