Loung Ung reviews Bones That Float
I wanted to thank everyone for their interest in my soon to be released book Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia.
I just received a review from Luong Ung that you might find interesting.
“Bones That Float is Kari Grady Grossman’s tender tale of her journey to find her son in Cambodia. But more than an adoption story, this beautifully written book brings to light the external, internal, and spiritual struggles mothers of internationally adoptive children face in their new roles. As a mother, Kari understands the cultural and emotional issues her son, like many other young Asian Americans today, will face in our contemporary American society. As a writer, she knows that Asian Americans are more than the one dimensional characters they are often portrayed on television and in films. Instead, they are a juxtaposition of old and new world views, proud of their cultures but also finding that sometimes they have to rebel against traditions that keep them down. Like her son, today’s Asian American youths will have to break molds and barriers to create a new mosaic of families, lives, and multi-national identities in their increasingly global world. In her desire to understand and make whole her sonís two countries, Kari integrates both cultures into her heart and their lives so successfully, sheís fallen in love with her sonís ëotherí brothers and sisters in Cambodia. This led Kari to return to Cambodia many times to build a school and become ëmamaí to over 450 children. Told with fierce honesty and an affecting voice, Bones that Float is a love story of mother for her child, and a testimony of how love can change the world.”
- Loung Ung, author of First They Killed My Father and Lucky Child.
Even more important, I spoke to our school director this weekend; because of my visit to the school 6 weeks ago, and the children being featured on Voice of America, 100 children have come back to school!!! They were all 3rd-6th grade students who had dropped out to work. For their parents, everyday they send them to school is a sacrifice, but they again see hope. That is why the relationship matters as much as the money.
If you have already ordered the book during the pre-publication sale, I thank you for your support and patience. Books are due to be shipped to us on March 16, and out to you on March 22.
The Official Publication date for bookstores is April 17, 2007, commemorating Khmer New Year and the 32-year anniversary of the Khmer Rouge takeover, in this new year when UN war crime trials are supposed to begin.
If you are interested in ordering the book, the most money goes to our school in Cambodia when you order direct from www.BonesThatFloat.com.
We are only 50 books away from reaching our pre-publication goal of 500!!!
I will be at the Long Beach Khmer New Year on April 21st, signing books!
With profound gratitude, Kari Grady Grossman
proud moma of Grady, age 6 Cambodia, and Shanti, age 2, India
author of Bones That Float, A Story of Adopting Cambodia on sale now at http://www.BonesThatFloat.com
sales benefit The Friends of the Grady Grossman School http://www.GradyGrossmanSchool.org
