SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

“In this gripping narrative Loung Ung describes the unfathomable evil that engulfed Cambodia during her childhood, the courage that enabled her family to survive, and the determination that has made her an eloquent voice for peace and justice in Cambodia. It is a tour de force that strengthens our resolve to prevent and punish crimes against humanities.”   U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, Congressional leader on human rights and a global ban on landmines (review for Lucky Child)

“Both stories–Loung’s, told in her own voice, and Chou’s, narrated in the third person–are inherently fascinating and are recounted with a vividness and immediacy that make them even more so… Written with an engaging vigor and directness, Lucky Child is an unforgettable portrait of resilience and largeness of spirit.”   Los Angeles Times (review for Lucky Child)

“This is a story of the triumph of a child’s indomitable spirit over the tyranny of the Khmer Rouge; over a culture where children are trained to become killing machines. Loung’s subsequent campaign against land mines is a result of witnessing firsthand how her famished neighbors, after dodging soldiers’ bullets, risked their lives to traverse unmapped minefields in search of food. Despite the heartache, I could not put the book down until I reached the end. Meeting Loung in person merely reaffirmed my admiration of her.”   Queen Noir, Cambodia (review for First They Killed My Father)

“Many recent books have told the tale of genocide and survival, but in Lucky Child Loung Ung has given us a book as unusual as it is heartbreaking-the story of a family torn in two after genocide…Loung has managed to follow First They Killed My Father with a book every bit as gripping and important, and she has given us a unique glimpse into America’s “melting pot”-a melting pot born of indescribable suffering but brimming with irrepressible life.”    Samantha Power, Author - A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide (review for Lucky Child)

“Lucky Child is a tender, searing journey of two sisters, two worlds, two destinies. It is about the long-term consequences of war-how it changes everything, annihilates, uproots and separates families. And it is about how humans triumph, building lives wherever they land and finding their way back to each other.”   Eve Ensler, Author - The Vagina Monologues (review for First They Killed My Father)