Music Through the Dark: A Tale of Survival in Cambodia (Intersections: Asian and Pacific American Transcultural Studies)
Lafreniere retells the story of Daran Kravanh, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge reign in Cambodia. Written in Daran's voice, with photographs and historical information added by Lafreniere, the book recounts the terrorism of the Khmer Rouge, and the political dogma that stripped Cambodians of their possessions, families, and lives. Daran was born into a musically talented family of nine children and a culture that cherished music. After his family was separated and Daran was under strict control of the Khmer Rouge, he found an accordion, an instrument he had loved since childhood. The Khmer Rouge allowed him to play with a group of captured musicians, soothing captors and captives alike with their music. Daran also adopted a spiritual outlook that enabled him to maintain his sanity and to assist others. He nearly gave up living when he learned about the death of his family, but again music saved him. This is a beautiful, poetically written story about the endurance of the human spirit and the sustaining and restorative powers of music.Vanessa BushCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.