Dust Child

By: Que Mai Phan Nguyen

Narrated by: Quyen Ngo

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

From the internationally bestselling author of The Mountains Sing, a suspenseful and moving saga about family secrets, hidden trauma, and the overriding power of forgiveness, set during the war and in present-day Việt Nam.

In 1969, sisters Trang and Quỳnh, desperate to help their parents pay off debts, leave their rural village and become “bar girls” in Sài Gòn, drinking, flirting (and more) with American GIs in return for money. As the war moves closer to the city, the once-innocent Trang gets swept up in an irresistible romance with a young and charming American helicopter pilot. Decades later, an American veteran, Dan, returns to Việt Nam with his wife, Linda, hoping to find a way to heal from his PTSD and, unbeknownst to her, reckon with secrets from his past.

At the same time, Phong—the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman—embarks on a search to find both his parents and a way out of Việt Nam. Abandoned in front of an orphanage, Phong grew up being called “the dust of life,” “Black American imperialist,” and “child of the enemy,” and he dreams of a better life for himself and his family in the U.S.

Past and present converge as these characters come together to confront decisions made during a time of war—decisions that force them to look deep within and find common ground across race, generation, culture, and language. Suspenseful, poetic, and perfect for fans of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Dust Child tells an unforgettable and immersive story of how those who inherited tragedy can redefine their destinies through love, hard-earned wisdom, compassion, courage, and joy.

©2023 Que Mai Phan Nguyen (P)2023 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel. From the horrors of war and its enduring afterlife for men and women, lovers and children, soldiers and civilians, she weaves a heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption. Dust Child establishes Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as one of our finest observers of the devastating consequences of war, and proves, once more, her ability to captivate readers and lure them into Viet Nam’s rich and poignant history."—Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Sympathizer and The Committed

"Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful."—Elif Shafak, author of The Island of Missing Trees

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book."—Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name

Please read this book

This book is so good. It makes you feel so many emotions, and gives a view through fiction of a perspective that Americans rarely, if ever get and is very powerful

Beautiful!

Very informative and well written. I loved all the characters that display their human nature and condition. I will look for other books from this author.

Beautiful and moving

Beautifully written and narrated. Although a fictional story, it very much portrayed the struggles and devastation of the Viet Nam War in the eyes of the young American soldiers and the Vietnamese girls; the lost of youth and innocence, love story, and the psychological and physical impacts that the characters endured over the years. As a Vietnamese who immigrated to the US when I was 10, all the Vietnamese proverbs that the author blended throughout the book brought back so many memories that I have forgotten over the years. Dan’s voice at times whining and the frankness of Thien’s voice at times rude and funny, and the northern VN soldier who has Alzheimer later in life (Viet Nam Vet from US, North and South VN) seem to ring so true - the chance meeting of all three, the moving Altar scene… This book takes you on a ride from childhood innocence, bubbling sweet crush, to later years after the war and eventually forgiveness. I found myself love, laugh, cry frustrate, angry and all the emotions in between and could not wait to get to the end. Once in a while you stumbled on a good book that when finished you would read again! I got the hard cover book and used my point to by the Audible copy. I love the feel of books, but my eyes are not as good as it used to be :( The narrator for the Audible did an excellent job switching between all the different voices and tones in English and Vietnamese.

A beautiful story, perfectly read

I couldn’t stop listening to this book! It is set both during the Vietnam war in the 70s (I was a teenager in those years and remember much of the details as described), and also in 2016. It’s a story told from different perspectives… the Vietnamese, American soldiers, and the Amerasian children who were created. It’s a story of war, of poverty, of love, loss, regrets, and forgiveness. Beautifully written and perfectly read. I did at times find it hard to keep some of the names straight but it all came together towards the end.

Such a compelling story!

A story everyone should read/listen to. Told with sensitivity and honesty. Would highly recommend.

Recommended

Very nice and recommended to those who wish to understand a bit more the period of Vietnam War. I loved the book and got emotional in the touching moments knowing that even if this is narrative, surly the feeling of the characters could have been real to many Vietnamese that lived in that time.

Incredibly moving!

Wow, one of my fav books, EVER! I’m I’m 66 years old and luckily missed out on going to the Vietnam war, but nevertheless, this story touched a nerve and brought back many memories from that time. The book is so powerful and the message so important. Nguyen’s writing makes it feel current and real. It transcends Vietnam and the pain and heartbreak likely apply to nearly every war and every nation!

A Better Understanding

I absolutely love this book. My mother-in-law is Vietnamese, and this book gave me a glimpse of the world she and my Father-in-law were living in. For me, the book is a little slow in the beginning, but it didn't last for long. Well worth the listen.

Beautiful

One of the best audio books I’ve ever listened to. Beautifully written and performed! Will seek out more works from this author.

Another amazing book by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Nguyen Phan Que Mai brings you into the life of people living out the aftermath of the Vietnam War. She places you in the life of various characters to understand many perspectives. Eye opening for me! As always, her writing is wonderful.