I finally finished reading When Heaven Fell. I tried to keep in mind that 1) this was a book written for children and 2) it is written as fiction based on stories the author claims to have heard while visiting Vietnam. In order to do a decent review, I’d have to read the book again. I’m just not going to do that, so here are just some thoughts that came to mind as I read.
The book offers nothing new in the way of understanding either Vietnamese culture or the adoptee experience. If you’ve seen Daughter From Danang, this seems like a toned-down book version from a supposed Vietnamese child’s perspective. Not surprisingly, in the acknowledgments at the back of the book, the first mention is Daughter From Danang “for its sensitive portrayal of a situation very like Binh’s.” Sensitive?
My biggest pick is the annoying emphasis on material wealth and the constant have/have not comparisons. I can understand why the author might have wanted to go that route, but it takes up so much of the book that it becomes the focus. There are attempts to touch on culture, family ethics, Di’s adoption experience and the war. Much of that gets lost in the background however as we’re repeatedly reminded of the disparity of wealth between Vietnam and America.
I’m not saying the cultural clash, poverty and financial expectations aren’t a reality, but the focus becomes more about what Di has gained. Even Di’s disconnect with her ancestors is wrapped into thoughts by her family that her house is bigger than theirs. My question is why did this become such a large focus? Because it’s supposedly through the eyes of a nine year-old? How many of the author’s young audience will pick up on that? In the end, I have to ask what will this book really be saying to them?
This is not a book I would recommend for young Vietnamese adoptees. There were only cursory mentions of the difficulties many Vietnamese adoptees faced while growing up in post war America. As an adoptee, it felt like Binh had become an instrument for telling me how lucky I was that I didn’t grown up in Vietnam. I find it odd that she chose from among the poorest of the poor to portray as Di’s birth family. Again, yes it’s a reality in many cases, but I have to wonder if the purpose wasn’t merely to push the have/have not contrast.
In the end, When Heaven Fell should be taken for what it is, ventriloquy. It’s one person’s perception of a situation wearing the mask of a fictional 9 year-old Vietnamese character named Binh. All that said, I guess you’ll just have to judge for yourselves. It’s time for me to move on to more interesting things. Beyond Illusions by Dương Thu Hương currently occupies my reading table, and so far, it’s well worth the read.
salamz
yep well i remember your first post about this. questions pop into mind like why anything to do with VN which is produced by non-VN Americans and made for mainstream (white) audiences is always about VN women going with US soldiers, about the War, about the poor VN ppl and how (even though they won the war) they are envious of the rich US. It is as if US ppl think all VN ppl do is think about America and the war all day long everyday.
VN has so many other intesting stories, why not make children’s books about them? Why only focus on a)culture—New Years, etc, b)immigration to the US, and c)the War, some themes I have noticed about US children’s books with “VN” themes.
Even that one book about Cracker the best dog in VN was like that—he was an American dog, but he was the best dog in VN??? He was there for landmines left over from the war?
Good analysis. Even the use of a VN artist’s pictures is a slight because as usual, there is a white American voice being heard (with VN characters as puppets mouthing a white perspective of what they imagine VN children would say) and the artist is helping VN to been SEEN not heard.
I do hope u put what u have to say in the Amazon review space.
Good to read your thoughts on this book. Your thoughts read like a great book review anyway!
“Ventriloquy”. I like that description.
Thanks ya’ll.
Wa Salaams Fatima and thanks,
There were so many angles from which this book could have been written. I can’t say I’m surprised. Did you get a chance to check out the author’s bibliography? If you haven’t, check it out.
Kevin, I nabbed it from Resist Racism as they’ve done several posts under that tag.