Little Cricket
Grade 4-6–Known for her habit of standing on one leg and rubbing it with the other, 12-year-old Kia is lovingly called Little Cricket by her family. The Vangs are first seen in their Laotian village, and the narrative follows the dwindling family as they escape the North Vietnamese soldiers and search for safety by traveling to Thailand. Eventually Kia, her brother, and their grandfather make their way to St. Paul, MN. Brown tells the story as an omniscient narrator in simple straightforward language, staying with the child's point of view throughout and making frequent mention of the cultural underpinnings and beliefs. The book includes a pronunciation guide for the few Hmong words used in the text as well as some suggested readings and a short history of Hmong immigration. In addition to providing good information for children, this involving story emphasizes the resilience and perseverance of the characters rather than the suffering and pain they endured. Kia's friendship in her new home with an adult neighbor and her son serves as a warm balance to some of the more negative situations that occur. Similar in some ways to Pegi Deitz Shea'sTangled Threads: A Hmong Girl's Story(Clarion, 2003), this thoughtful title is more accessible. A poignant and insightful story of learning to live in a new land.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, COCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.