Selected by the Washington Post as one of 2012's best works of non-fiction. "Showcasing the work of an unknown author of exceptional ability. ... an ire-inspiring account."
We've heard of China's buying sprees. That it's plowed billions of dollars into some of the poorest nations in the world. But the story we don't know is what this money means for the people there. In Cambodia, the cost has been devastating. More than 700,000 people have lost their homes -- others their lives -- while China buys the former killing fields for resorts, hotels, and exclusive residences. And as this country of genocide descends into another era of chaos and violence, some whisper it's the second coming of Pol Pot.
But one woman has fought back. In this fast-paced narrative, Terrence McCoy follows Vanny Tep's quest to save Cambodia from China's money. Leading a small, fiery group of women, Vanny has sparked a grassroots movement from one of the most daunting slums in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Her battles are against the Cambodian government, Chinese companies, and a male-dominated society. Powerful and profound, "The Playground" takes us across Cambodia to discover the true meaning of a global Chinatown.
