If you take elements of Clementine Wamariya's memoir, THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS, and Oliver Stone's docudrama, HEAVEN & EARTH, then throw in small sprinkles of Kevin Kwon'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. Strength from family and trust in oneself are at the heart of this book. 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.Â
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.
Reviews of the book:
"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
"Americans who are old enough experienced (what we call) the Vietnam War in one way -- as a conflict that ripped us apart as a country, and left our national psyche wounded. But in her novel Snow in Vietnam, Amy Le makes us privy to an intimate portrait of what that war was like from the inside. Amy does a superb job of making her characters come alive, and tell us what it was like to run for your life from a country you once called 'home'. This is an exciting read that left me treasuring the preciousness of life, and aching for those who lose it." --Keith Madsen, Author of The Sons and Daughters of Toussaint
"I stayed up all night reading because I literally could not put it down. This book leaves you hungry for the next chapter and the next chapter and the next chapter. This is the kind of book that you can't stop thinking about after you read it because the characters just come alive and the descriptions of the settings and the activities are so vivid." --Diana LeBeau, Beta reader
"I love how I laugh and cry and just find myself lost in your writing." --Courtenay Brimer, Beta reader
"Love the way you write! Can't wait to read all your stories and learn from you as well. Web Page is AWESOME!" --Frances Moore, Beta reader
"This novel is epic. Snow adapts and conquers; a great read." --Michael Harmon, Beta reader
"I loved going on Snow's emotional journey and learning about the Fall of Saigon through her unique perspective." --Lisa Schumann, Beta reader
