The Unwanted; a Memoir of Childhood by Kien Nguyen

The child of a Vietnam woman and an American soldier, Kien Nguyen was born shortly before his father was rotated home to the United States. His memoir describes how his mixed race and some family misfortunes made him an outcast in Vietnam. Much of his life was a simple struggle for existence; food was in short supply and there were always worries in dealing with government authorities. The Unwanted is a compelling and wonderful read, although I mentally questioned how he could recall detail experienced at a very young age. This memoir was Nguyen's first literary attempt, and I liked it so much I immediately bought his second book which is a first novel.