Land of Dreams: An Immigrant’s Journey from War-Torn Vietnam to America

In this concise and affecting memoir, Hoang (In the Shadow of Green Bamboos) recalls his escape from Vietnam in 1974 and subsequent life in the U.S. Taking advantage of a 36-hour ceasefire during the Vietnam War, 11-year-old Hoang and his older sister, Lan, fled Saigon for the U.S., where they settled in Athens, Ohio. He delivers a charming account of his early life in America, during which he purchased postcards to send back to his family in Vietnam and focused intently on his studies to earn admission to the University of Ohio. Small acts of kindness dot the narrative—a roommate lent Hoang headphones and a stack of Beatles tapes, which helped him sharpen his English language skills—while reports of deteriorating conditions back home inject urgency into his hopes to earn enough money to bring the rest of the family to the U.S. The action culminates with Hoang receiving a full scholarship to UC Berkeley for graduate school, becoming a U.S. citizen, and seeing his parents arrive on American shores. Though not without its share of challenging moments, Hoang’s memoir bursts with hope, offering a counterweight to more trauma-focused immigrant narratives. It’s a balm. (June)