The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam (Harper Trophy Book) (Paperback)

by Quang Nhuong Huynh (Author), Vo-dinh Mai (Illustrator) "My family had land on which we grew rice..." (more)
Key Phrases: lone wild hog, unfaithful birds, other buffaloes, Faithful One, Lunar New Year (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The author grew up in a hamlet in the central highlands of Vietnam, and these are his stories of that childhood. PW called it "a collection of beautifully written, true stories of growing up, of earthy humorous happenings and memories. Mai's action-filled illustrations impressively evoke a land physically lost to both author and artist but very much alive in this compelling volume."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"This is first-person narrative brims with life." -- -- School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064401839
• ISBN-13: 978-0064401838
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #27 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Asia
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars People and animals in rural Vietnam, January 19, 2003

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam" is written by Huynh Quang Nhuong, and includes illustrations by Vo-Dinh Mai. A short author bio at the end of the book notes that Huynh was born in Vietnam and eventually moved to the United States. This book is a wonderful account of growing up in rural Vietnam.

Huynh describes his life in a village on a riverbank, with a jungle and mountains nearby. The book is divided up into several short vignettes that describe the lives of the people and animals of this world. Although the danger and violence of some sections may be upsetting to some readers, I get the sense that the author is trying to present a truthful portrait of rural life.

There are accounts of many interesting people, such as Huynh's opera loving, karate fighting grandmother. But I was particularly fascinated by the many accounts of the domestic and wild animals of Huynh's homeland. I loved the descriptions of animal behavior and the accounts of the interactions between animals and people, between animals of the same species, and between animals of different species. We meet monkeys, otters, a fearsome crocodile, and many other creatures. It's a rich tapestry of life that is described vividly by the author. One of the most memorable animal characters is Huynh's water buffalo, Tank, a creature of great strength, loyalty, and courage.

This is a wonderful book that is written in a very effective, straightforward style that is ultimately quite poignant. It's sort of like a Vietnamese response to Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" books. I recommend "The Land I Lost" to readers of all ages.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The land I lost , written by Huynh Quang Nhuong( Author), January 15, 2004

By	trevor savage (Ellensburg, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This Adventure story is full of dangerous fun and sorrow. Huynh Quang Nhuong lives in a small hamlet (village)in the central high lands of vietnam. The hamlet he lives in has a jungle on one side in which they must watch for jungle cats, lone hogs and the most dangerous the horse snake. And on the other is a river which Crocodiles live in. Many of the crocodiles are man eaters like mister short. In the begin of the story you meet Tank the Water bufflo. Tank isn't your regular water bufflo. He is bred between a lowland female because it would be patient and A moutainous bull so it would have the fierce fighting able.

The reason I choose this book was because love the outdoors. when I six years old I live in a village in Alaska and I hunted and fished all the time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Little Hamlet, July 9, 2000

By A Customer

The Land I Lost, by Huynh Quang Nhuong.(Reviewed by a 7 year old girl) This is a well written book, but still not my favorite book in the world. These stories from the author's childhood memories are fun, funny and sometimes heartbreaking. The book takes place in a small hamlet in Vietnam before the war. The author remembers adventures with the villagers and with various animals, particularly a special water buffalo named Tank. The several pictures in the book help to bring out the story. There is a great scene where the author and his sister catch some little birds. I won't tell you any more. Oh, if you are not comfortable with the death of animals and some villagers from snake bites and wild boar attacks, then I wouldn't recommend this book. All in all it's a pretty good book.