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The Illiterate Daughter
In war torn Laos, thirteen-year-old Nou daydreams of the legendary heroes and mythical beings who live in the folklore stories she loves to hear. Remembering them helps her ignore physical pain as she struggles through the endless chores expected of a dutiful daughter. Each night, she examines the two books given to her by her ex-soldier father and prays for an end to the Vietnam War. Only peace will allow her to attend school and learn to read the secrets locked inside her wondrous books. In a late-night Communist attack on her village, Nou’s home, books, and illusion of safety are lost in the deadly flames and rifle fire that follow. Although her family escapes into the jungle, they leave behind unknown numbers of dead and missing friends and neighbors.As her father desperately searches for a place to rebuild their home, he learns that the Communist soldiers who control the country are intent upon killing any man who fought alongside the Americans. Nou’s family must flee their homeland or live under constant threat of imprisonment and torture. But escape from Laos requires a guide able to smuggle large numbers of refugees through the jungle’s high mountain passes and across the Mekong River into Thailand, routes watched by patrols instructed to shoot to kill. While the number of dead who litter their escape route increases, Nou increasingly draws upon her “worthless” folklore heroes for help in getting her surviving family members closer to freedom.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2021
About the author
Chia Gounza Vang
4 books6 followersHmong American YA historical fiction author and teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 13, 2022
The Illiterate Daughter was outstanding. For anyone who wants to learn about the atrocities that the Hmong people underwent after fighting for the U.S. in the Viet Nam war, this is an excellent book to read. Chia Vang crafted a tale that combines experiences that her family went through and her husband's family went through as they strove to flee Laos after U.S. forces left the county in 1975. I had the opportunity to read the first draft of this book several years ago and the story has stayed with me all those years. It is sad and tragic, yet our protagonist Nou held onto hope that someday she'd receive an education and be able write the stories and tales that had been handed down to her through the generations. That hope was enough to keep her alive through some of the most harrowing experiences a person could go through. Nou was born the same year that I was, so that made it even more interesting for me, comparing my life growing up in the United States to her life growing up in a war-torn nation and dreaming of starting a new life in the United States.
June 23, 2024
The Illiterate Daughter is a beautifully told story by Chia Gounza Vang. I cannot wait to read Dreamer's Dream!
August 11, 2022
Nou is a girl who dreams, she dreams of heroes, spirits and myths that shall be the ones to save her and the plight of many like her. The plights of the Hmongs were not looking great in Laos at the time. With the American troops retreating and the communists being relentless in their hunt for the traitors, the life there for Nou and her family was only something that could be tagged as hardship and no glorious silver lining.
Nou is a little girl who likes to read, how sad is it that when she wishes to be sitting at a school learning to read her treasured books when all she could do is wish there will be one day when the institutions can finally open. Life was harder for Nou because unlike everyone in her household she could not just give up on the dreams and act like they never existed. She was a dreamer and she liked to cling to her dreams, she was also naive but what more could we expect from a kid of that age. Time brings people to closure and to this book and Nou it brought maturity. I love the stories, the front and back. The stories of living in fear, the little romances, hopes and loved ones. All things are perfectly imbued into the essence of this novel.
This is a book that brings a certain essence to the history of Laos and the lives of people living there during the war. Yes we have had movies and we have had books written but this is special as the author has based the story partly on her life, the essence portrays that she has done some justice to the lives she had seen, she had lost and she had gained. I am amazed that a person not have known English and someone who was tagged as an illiterate by herself in her own book could have gone to write a book such as this. The writing is something I like and the form is artistic to graze my eyes and mind.
Nou is a little girl who likes to read, how sad is it that when she wishes to be sitting at a school learning to read her treasured books when all she could do is wish there will be one day when the institutions can finally open. Life was harder for Nou because unlike everyone in her household she could not just give up on the dreams and act like they never existed. She was a dreamer and she liked to cling to her dreams, she was also naive but what more could we expect from a kid of that age. Time brings people to closure and to this book and Nou it brought maturity. I love the stories, the front and back. The stories of living in fear, the little romances, hopes and loved ones. All things are perfectly imbued into the essence of this novel.
This is a book that brings a certain essence to the history of Laos and the lives of people living there during the war. Yes we have had movies and we have had books written but this is special as the author has based the story partly on her life, the essence portrays that she has done some justice to the lives she had seen, she had lost and she had gained. I am amazed that a person not have known English and someone who was tagged as an illiterate by herself in her own book could have gone to write a book such as this. The writing is something I like and the form is artistic to graze my eyes and mind.
May 27, 2022
A beautiful story based on real events that happened to the Hmong people. The story is set in 1974 after many of the Hmong men had volunteered to fight for the United States during the Vitenam war. When the U.S. troops retreat from Vitenam, they leave many of the Hmong families to the mercy of the Communists. Nou, is a young girl who has big dreams of learning how to read and write so that one day she can share her stories with the world. These dreams are shattered when the Communists attack her Family's village.
Many parts of this book left me completely heartbroken. I became so invested in the characters that it made it very hard for me to put the book down. I believe this story is very important and powerful and should be read by everyone!
Thank you to Scarsdale Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I cannot wait to read the second book!
Many parts of this book left me completely heartbroken. I became so invested in the characters that it made it very hard for me to put the book down. I believe this story is very important and powerful and should be read by everyone!
Thank you to Scarsdale Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I cannot wait to read the second book!
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February 19, 2022Although I read many self-published books, I rarely review them. This, though, demands that effort from me. In the most respectful way possible, I hope to demand that readers spend time meeting Nou and her family, learning about a time in history that is too little understood, or is neglected, distorted, or actively ignored.
It is easy to miss the "BOOK ONE" in the title that indicates this is the first book in a series that will follow Nou through her changing life, in geography, circumstances, relationships, and self-awareness. even if a stand-alone title, the scenes and intensity of character, culture, crisis, and concern are page-turning and absorbing, yet they reveal and inform with details and revelations about the daily life of people trapped and betrayed by political forces on all sides. The fact that we can expect to meet her again in future books is a bonus.
Nou's role as a middle child, as a girl, also trap her in a culture that denies her what she wants most- to learn to read. The patterns of duties, discipline, and sometimes desperation will elicit emotional reactions, but readers should avoid judgments. This is fully developed view of a culture different from ones most commonly portrayed in familiar novels, but that is a welcome revelation to expand and inform young minds.
Nou's series has the tag YOUNG GUARDIAN for many valid reasons. Each event, each challenge in her journey of personal growth and family roles strengthens her capacity to move beyond the deeply traditional cultural expectations into which she was born. Her intense drive to learn to read comes from her storytelling talent, but she discovers that reading can be a survival skill, too.
This is a sensitively-constructed story that was inspired by various true experiences, written with rich details. I imagine that it will ring true to those many who lived in those times and places, but will also make young readers feel immersed in that very real world. Hmong Americans have far too few books that reflect or reveal their history, and those of us who are NOT Hmong also suffer from that lack. It is also America's national history, and one we should all learn. In this novel we can expand our understanding while meeting a character who rises from the page and stands fully formed in our lives. Nou is a character reader will want to meet again.
It is easy to miss the "BOOK ONE" in the title that indicates this is the first book in a series that will follow Nou through her changing life, in geography, circumstances, relationships, and self-awareness. even if a stand-alone title, the scenes and intensity of character, culture, crisis, and concern are page-turning and absorbing, yet they reveal and inform with details and revelations about the daily life of people trapped and betrayed by political forces on all sides. The fact that we can expect to meet her again in future books is a bonus.
Nou's role as a middle child, as a girl, also trap her in a culture that denies her what she wants most- to learn to read. The patterns of duties, discipline, and sometimes desperation will elicit emotional reactions, but readers should avoid judgments. This is fully developed view of a culture different from ones most commonly portrayed in familiar novels, but that is a welcome revelation to expand and inform young minds.
Nou's series has the tag YOUNG GUARDIAN for many valid reasons. Each event, each challenge in her journey of personal growth and family roles strengthens her capacity to move beyond the deeply traditional cultural expectations into which she was born. Her intense drive to learn to read comes from her storytelling talent, but she discovers that reading can be a survival skill, too.
This is a sensitively-constructed story that was inspired by various true experiences, written with rich details. I imagine that it will ring true to those many who lived in those times and places, but will also make young readers feel immersed in that very real world. Hmong Americans have far too few books that reflect or reveal their history, and those of us who are NOT Hmong also suffer from that lack. It is also America's national history, and one we should all learn. In this novel we can expand our understanding while meeting a character who rises from the page and stands fully formed in our lives. Nou is a character reader will want to meet again.
February 21, 2023
The Illiterate Daughter is the debut novel by Chia Gounza Vang. It is a historical fiction story documenting the escape from the war torn country of Laos in the 1970s after the Secret War. It’s a story of tragedy, but hope. The book made me cry more times that I can count, and I am deeply in love with the story.
The book speaks to be deeply, as someone who always believed in empowering both women and youth, this book really made me feel good, as its from the point of view of a teenage girl in a culture where there are heavy gender roles that don’t always give women that chance to be who they want to be. In this book, the main character Nou accompanies her family as they try again and again to survive, and escape a country where they are in far too much danger. And more and more through the book Nou become more responsible for the family, eventually becoming the young guardian for them. I can’t say too much without spoiling the book, but I will say it is an incredible journey.
The book clearly brings the culture, circumstances, and situations to an English audience, who may not know much about that part of the world, or that point in history. It does so in a way that is educational and informative, without taking anything away from the story. It guides the readers along, as if they know nothing about any of this, yet at the same time doing it in the most natural way possible. It’s beautiful, and seamless, and I love it. It also opens ups the reader’s eyes to how much of a sheltered life we live in, and makes us readers really appreciate the family and lives we have, even if none of them are perfect.
The book is perhaps one of the greatest reads I’ve read this year so far, and I would highly recommend it to any book lovers out there. This book definitely gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me.
The book speaks to be deeply, as someone who always believed in empowering both women and youth, this book really made me feel good, as its from the point of view of a teenage girl in a culture where there are heavy gender roles that don’t always give women that chance to be who they want to be. In this book, the main character Nou accompanies her family as they try again and again to survive, and escape a country where they are in far too much danger. And more and more through the book Nou become more responsible for the family, eventually becoming the young guardian for them. I can’t say too much without spoiling the book, but I will say it is an incredible journey.
The book clearly brings the culture, circumstances, and situations to an English audience, who may not know much about that part of the world, or that point in history. It does so in a way that is educational and informative, without taking anything away from the story. It guides the readers along, as if they know nothing about any of this, yet at the same time doing it in the most natural way possible. It’s beautiful, and seamless, and I love it. It also opens ups the reader’s eyes to how much of a sheltered life we live in, and makes us readers really appreciate the family and lives we have, even if none of them are perfect.
The book is perhaps one of the greatest reads I’ve read this year so far, and I would highly recommend it to any book lovers out there. This book definitely gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me.
September 27, 2022
The Illiterate Daughter is a well-written story about Nou and her family's life after escaping Laos and coming to America. This is such a thought-provoking story that needs to be told. What they went through was heartbreaking and took courage. It was a sad part of history and their story was horrific but there was hope and love amongst the family that helped them endure and stay together. They made such difficult decisions that it had me gripping my e-reader anxiously. I experienced so many emotions reading this story that I can’t possibly describe them. Words are not enough because they are just that, words. You have to read this book to truly understand what they went through to get out of their war-torn homeland. Also, what it was like to be a refugee in another country. I don’t know how they survived all their struggles, but they did. This is a fantastic story that I highly recommend.
It was my pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
It was my pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
September 27, 2024
Searching for Her Strength!
Chia Gounza Vang's book (The Illiterate Daughter) tells an exciting story about a young girl named Nou.
Nou is 13 years old and lives in Laos, a country where there is a lot of fighting.
Life is hard for Nou because she's a girl, and in her culture, boys are often treated as more important.
Nou loves listening to old stories from her people, which helps her feel better when things get tough.
When it becomes too dangerous to stay in Laos, Nou and her family have to run away to find a safer place to live.
During their escape, Nou has to be really brave and help take care of her family, even though she's scared.
The book shows how Nou becomes stronger and learns that she can do important things, even if she's not a boy.
This story is unique because it tells us about how the Hmong people (Nou's people) came to live in America.
Some parts of the story feel like things that really happened to the author.
(The Illiterate Daughter) is a book that shows how strong kids can be when things get really hard.
Chia Gounza Vang's book (The Illiterate Daughter) tells an exciting story about a young girl named Nou.
Nou is 13 years old and lives in Laos, a country where there is a lot of fighting.
Life is hard for Nou because she's a girl, and in her culture, boys are often treated as more important.
Nou loves listening to old stories from her people, which helps her feel better when things get tough.
When it becomes too dangerous to stay in Laos, Nou and her family have to run away to find a safer place to live.
During their escape, Nou has to be really brave and help take care of her family, even though she's scared.
The book shows how Nou becomes stronger and learns that she can do important things, even if she's not a boy.
This story is unique because it tells us about how the Hmong people (Nou's people) came to live in America.
Some parts of the story feel like things that really happened to the author.
(The Illiterate Daughter) is a book that shows how strong kids can be when things get really hard.
May 6, 2023
Everyone should read this book! A reminder to be kind to anyone who arrives as a refugee in your country, because they have been through so much trauma. Based on the author’s own experience and that of her extended family and in-laws, this is a story of a family trying to escape Vietnam after the Americans withdrew from the war on Communism leaving those that had fought on their side to be killed and taken revenge on. It is a painful story and pulls no punches about the ensuing violence and the lowly position of women in the culture, while at the same time it is warm, human and gripping. I was cheering the heroine on all the way as she overcomes all the problems thrown at her and dares to step outside of the expectations of her societal place as a female.
It ends suddenly, but there is a sequel.
It ends suddenly, but there is a sequel.
August 1, 2023
An interesting, but sad, tale. It was distressing to read about the struggles of this young Vietnamese girl and her family, as well as those faced by many other villiagers, who were trying to escape the cruelty of the Communist rule after the Americans withdrew from Vietnam. I was impressed by the respect expressed toward the elderly and saddened by the many losses, not just of material possessions and home, but also of loved ones and dreams. I did, however, find the heroics of Nu to be a bit beyond her age and probable physical capabilities and therefore had a hard time accepting this telling as truly plausible. It did, however, give me much to think about and encourages appreciation for the many benefits we enjoy as citizens of this country.
December 31, 2021
Embark on an unforgettable journey of a lifetime with Nou and her family as they travel out of Laos, to Thailand, and then America. They seek freedom from persecution, torture, and enslavement, as well as fighting for survival, safety, and hope. The Illiterate Daughter draws one in from the very first line, and one cannot help but think about the deeper meaning behind love, courage, strength, responsibility of family, and the resilience of the human heart. The novel, based on true events, is suspenseful, riveting, compelling, and heart-breaking. The characters are at times faced with impossible choices but to do nothing also has its own risks and consequences.
January 9, 2022
There are funny books, romantic ones. etc. This is an important book. Nou, a feisty teenage Hmong girl, tells the harrowing story (based on the author's family's experience) of escaping the Communists during the Vietnam War. The action never lets up, and strong familial relationships and fascinating cultural references, especially related to gender, run throughout. Nou can't read, but it's her hope of learning to do so that keeps her strong. This hope sustains her and her family in the middle of a war they will lose. This wonderful book is the first in a series, and the reader is left wanting more of Nou's adventures.
November 21, 2021
The Illiterate Daughter is a must-read for anyone who is looking to better understand what life was like for Hmong refugees. Written from the first person point of view of Nou, a teenage girl who lives with her family in Laos, the story takes you through the struggles that her family encountered in order to survive in a war-torn country. Loosely based on the author's own story, the book gives a unique insight into the events that occur. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to learn more about what refugees went through in order to survive.
April 13, 2022
This story drew me in right from the beginning. Written with passion and emotion this story takes you to a place and time you couldn't even imagine. The continuous struggles and losses this young girl endures makes you appreciate the life you have. We are lucky to be able to hear of the journey that this girl Nou and her family took through the voice of an excellent story teller. Reading this book showed me the struggles and the strength some people go through and how to rise above things that are out of their control. It is inspiring to say the least. A must read!
Kerry Williamsen
Kerry Williamsen
February 17, 2022
I just finished the book and found it compelling. Very well written, Chia! A true depiction of the tragedies the Hmong families escaping Loas experienced and yet the main character, Nou, has the determination to persevere still knowing the female’s role in the Hmong family. You brought the characters to life. They touched my heart, sadden me, and turned me into a cheerleader throughout their journey. I look forward the the second book of the series.
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March 7, 2022"The Illiterate Daughter" is a powerful story of family, faith, stories and a young Hmong girl’s dream to receive an education so that she can write her stories someday. A powerful story that shares with readers the plight of Hmong refugees during the Secret War in Laos. A must read for all ages from a new voice in Hmong American literature.
March 12, 2024
Hits close to home!!
I cried reading this book! My heartaches for all the deceased and I can't imagine what my parents went through as Chao Fa's and refugees. I was born in Pana and was very fortunate to come to America at 5 months old. I will never know how Ban Vinai look like, but one day.i would love to go back and visit! I heard it's very different now.
I cried reading this book! My heartaches for all the deceased and I can't imagine what my parents went through as Chao Fa's and refugees. I was born in Pana and was very fortunate to come to America at 5 months old. I will never know how Ban Vinai look like, but one day.i would love to go back and visit! I heard it's very different now.
September 20, 2024
Harrowing story of survival (and some didn’t)
Despite some few grammatical errors, which are common to our culture these days, this was a riveting read. Since I had a Hmong sister-in-law, it was also a bit personal. I think anybody who wants to know about this hidden part of the Vietnam war should read this book. In fact, everybody should read this book!
Despite some few grammatical errors, which are common to our culture these days, this was a riveting read. Since I had a Hmong sister-in-law, it was also a bit personal. I think anybody who wants to know about this hidden part of the Vietnam war should read this book. In fact, everybody should read this book!
September 20, 2022
Amazing story captivated my heart
What an engaging story unfolded. The flight for freedom and to get to America showed true courage. Wonderful to see a strong courageous woman help lead her family to a new life in America.
What an engaging story unfolded. The flight for freedom and to get to America showed true courage. Wonderful to see a strong courageous woman help lead her family to a new life in America.
October 13, 2022
A great read that will give you such an wmotional insight into the lives of refugees after the war and settling in USA! Full if emotion, history, action and will have you flicking pages until it's done!
August 11, 2024
Compelling story
“The Illiterate Daughter” is told through the eyes of a young girl as she faces incomprehensible struggles/tragedy with her family in fleeing Communism as a Hmong refugee. Although this is historical fiction, it is based on actual events that will confound the reader and leave lasting emotional awakenings. The young girl is heroic in her efforts to survive, help her family, and seek freedom from oppression.
“The Illiterate Daughter” is told through the eyes of a young girl as she faces incomprehensible struggles/tragedy with her family in fleeing Communism as a Hmong refugee. Although this is historical fiction, it is based on actual events that will confound the reader and leave lasting emotional awakenings. The young girl is heroic in her efforts to survive, help her family, and seek freedom from oppression.
December 31, 2021
Amazing story of courage and bravery based on Hmong history. A must read!
January 1, 2022
Amazing story about a group of people that few people understand their history. Very interesting how the author's family stories are intertwined in the fictional tale.
February 13, 2023
Beautiful story of loss, survival and hope.
December 7, 2023
She was my teacher, but good book I read if I highly recommend
April 2, 2024
Amazing!!
So grateful to have found this book. It was so perfectly told. I had to double check to make sure it was fiction! I read it in two nights!
So grateful to have found this book. It was so perfectly told. I had to double check to make sure it was fiction! I read it in two nights!
August 3, 2022
Scarsdale Publishing reached out and asked if I would be interested in reviewing this book. Which I obviously said absolutely. The story follows Nou and her family’s struggles fleeing from Laos after the Viet Nam War. This book will not be for everyone. The writing style is short and succinct sentences which will turn some readers off. If you can see beyond that you will be rewarded with a great story. While this is historical fiction the story is based off of the experiences of the author, her husband, and their families. This story is devastating and I had to stop reading it one day as I was just sobbing. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the ending and it was because I didn’t get any resolution as I wanted more of the story.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews