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ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Gold Medalist and an International Reading Association Notable Book, Weeping Under This Same Moon is based on the true story of two teenage girls from different cultures, whose paths intertwine, dramatically altering the course of their lives.
Mei is an artist whose life has been disrupted by the Vietnam War. Her anguished parents send her away on a perilous escape during the exodus of thousands of Vietnamese refugees known as “Boat People.” In Mei’s words we learn of the dangers she faces caring for her two younger siblings on a sea journey fraught with hunger, thirst and deprivation, leaving behind everything she loves, to find refuge for her family.
Hannah is an angry seventeen-year-old American high school student. Friendless, neurotic, a social misfit – her passion for writing and the environment only intensify her outcast state. Through Hannah’s voice, we get inside her head, there to discover a gentle soul beneath all the anger and turmoil.When Hannah learns of the plight of the “Boat People,” she is moved to action.
Destiny brings Mei and Hannah together in a celebration of cultures and language, food and friendship, and the ultimate rescue of both young women from their own despair. Weeping Under This Same Moon is a testament to the power of love and the spirit of volunteerism; affirming that doing for others does so much for one’s self.
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George Rupp
President, The International Rescue Committee
Emmanuel Dongala
Author of Little Boys Come From The Stars and Johnny Mad Dog (now a major motion picture)
In the United States, Hannah, a teenage girl, finds herself struggling to fit into a culture focused on drugs and parties. A non-conformist, she is drawn to important causes, and finds herself alone most of the time. When she hears of the plight of the “Boat People” escaping Vietnam, she knows she needs to help.
Weeping Under This Same Moon tells these two girls’ stories, which begin to intersect as Hannah befriends Mei and her family, and helps them acclimate to life in the US. Told with amazing perception and attention to detail, the author brings their stories to life. Great character development helps us to understand each girl and her unique situation.This book is a fictionalized account of two real women who forged a lifetime friendship during a time of adversity. I highly recommend Weeping Under This Same Moon – a story of friendship, hope, and the spirit of helping others.”
Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews
Ann B. Barrett
Executive Director, Landmark Volunteers
Shirley Paukulis
former editor SAWADDI Magazine (AWC) Bangkok, Thailand
Martin Meader
Co-Executive Producer/Co Story Writer Paradise Road, Author of The Adventures of Charlie and Moon.