Spirit of Soccer

“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)

“Loung has written an eloquent and powerful narrative as a young witness to the Khmer Rouge atrocities. This is an important story that will have a dramatic impact on today’s readers and inform generations to come.”   Dith Pran - Dith's wartine life was portrayed in the award winning film The Killing Fields (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)

“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 strong story, simply told. Ung helps us understand what happens when a family is torn apart by politics, adversity, and war. Change the names of the characters, give them anotehr country of origin, and this story of dislocation becomes a tragedy millions of immigrants have lived through but seldom talk about… Ung’s story is a compelling and inspirational one that touches universal chords. Americans would do well to read it, no matter where they were born.”  Washington Post Book World (review for Lucky Child)