Common Sense Note
Parents need to know there are recollections of the Vietnam War from the perspective of a Vietnamese family, including loved ones dying, bombs dropping, and villages destroyed. A mother, pregnant by an American soldier and fearful for her daughter's life, gives up her child for adoption in America. There are few books that suitably describe this important piece of history for young readers, but this one has accomplished this through the eyes of a likeable Vietnamese 9-year-old girl. Though she was not yet born during this time, she is very curious and asks many questions. The reader learns of traditions, customs, and ways of life that are inherent in Vietnamese culture.
Families who read this book together have an opportunity to discuss the Vietnam War, as appropriate to the individual child. How did the war evolve? And how is Vietnam today shaped by what happened then? Parents can point out the challenges faced by this family as illustrated by their living conditions, work ethic, and lack of schooling. But also, parents can ask, Despite these hardships, does this family appear unhappy or unloved? Families can discuss the expectation that this family had to receive money from the American visitor and why. Parents can ask kids, after getting to know the Vietnamese characters in this book, how would it feel to come to America?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Pam Gelman
Not many families bring up the Vietnam War for dinner table conversation. It's hard to discuss for some adults, much less children. Carolyn Marsden has made it easier by authoring WHEN HEAVEN FELL. It's a look at the everyday experiences of 9-year-old Binh, a girl who has heard stories and seen remnants of the Vietnam War. She also likes to wear new dresses, fantasizes about going to school, goofs off with her cousin, and bickers with her sibling.
Kids may be kids, but Binh also sells fruit cups at a stand to make extra money for the family who can't afford the $40 to buy her books and uniform to send her to the Communist-sanctioned school. Her life changes when she learns that her grandmother had a child by an American soldier. From then on the story is an eye-opener for Binh and American kid readers.
Marsden has mastered how to describe a complicated period of history as though it's being interpreted by 9-year-old Binh. There are descriptions of children being killed from bombs and mothers hiding in the jungle to escape execution. These pieces are illustrated without blood, gore, or descriptive violence. But the fear is there. Even for sensitive readers, this book is a wonderful opportunity to expose young kids to a very different world and period of history.
From The Book
"And now let me ask you a question," she said when the piece was coated white. "Your family has very little space. You're almost sleeping on top of each other. Yet there's this whole empty house. Couldn't the ancestors share?" Di reached to her full height to press the piece onto the wall.
Binh sucked in her breath and glanced toward the dark doorway. Had the ancestors heard Di? Were they murmuring among themselves? Were they saying that Di had a huge house with no room for them, yet had suggested that they share?
"Without ancestors, we wouldn't be alive," Binh said. "They deserve a place of their own."
Di shook her head as though she still didn't understand. The fragment dropped and Di recovered it. She stood tall, pushing it firmly.
And yet it was hard to blame Di for not having a connection to her ancestors, Binh thought. By going to America, she'd been cut off from them.
Plot Summary:
A 9-year-old Vietnamese girl learns of an aunt living in America who is coming to visit. Her grandmother had a baby by an American soldier during the Vietnam War, but had to give her up, as the Communist party threatened to kill all American-fathered babies.
There is great excitement among the family who thinks that this American woman may bring money as gifts. Maybe she will bring family members back to America who have visions of riches from the few movies seen in town. The aunt arrives, without gifts but filled with love for her family. She also carries painful memories of leaving her mother. Binh and her aunt form a special relationship to help each other understand the different cultures.
Related Books:
Other Books by Carolyn Marsden:
Silk Umbrellas
Mama had to Work on Christmas
The Gold-Threaded Dress
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Sexual ContentGrandmother tells granddaughter that she had a baby by American soldier who then left her. |
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ViolenceMemories described of bombs dropped, children and other loved ones killed, land mines, mothers having to run in fear, villages burned. |
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LanguageVietnamese words integrated into text. Glossary at the end. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorExample of Vietnamese culture from perspective of a girl, including respect to elders, strong work ethic, appreciation of cultural values. |
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Commercialism |
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Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
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