Book
House of sticks : a memoir / Ly Tran.
"A powerful memoir by 25-year-old Ly Tran about her immigrant experience and her recent family history in the aftermath of the war that spans from Vietnam to Brooklyn, and ultimately to the Ivy League."--Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781501118814 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 368 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
- Edition: First Scribner hardcover edition.
- Publisher: New York : Scribner, 2021.
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Biographies. Autobiographies. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 974.723 Tran | 31681010237618 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
"A powerful memoir by 25-year-old Ly Tran about her immigrant experience and her recent family history in the aftermath of the war that spans from Vietnam to Brooklyn, and ultimately to the Ivy League"-- - Baker & Taylor
This memoir of a young Vietnamese woman follows her journey from war-torn Vietnam to New York City and struggles to reconcile her familyâs Buddhist faith and meager lifestyle with her desire to assimilate. 100,000 first printing. Illustrations. - Simon and Schuster
New York City Book Awards Hornblower Award Winner
One of Vogue and NPRâs Best Books of the Year
This beautifully written âmasterclass in memoirâ (Elle) recounts a young girlâs journey from war-torn Vietnam to Queens, New York, âshowcas[ing] the tremendous power we have to alter the fates of others, step into their lives and shift the odds in favor of greater opportunityâ (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).
Ly Tran is just a toddler in 1993 when she and her family immigrate from a small town along the Mekong river in Vietnam to a two-bedroom railroad apartment in Queens. Lyâs father, a former lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army, spent nearly a decade as a POW, and their resettlement is made possible through a humanitarian program run by the US government. Soon after they arrive, Ly joins her parents and three older brothers sewing ties and cummerbunds piece-meal on their living room floor to make ends meet.
As they navigate this new landscape, Ly finds herself torn between two worlds. She knows she must honor her parentsâ Buddhist faith and contribute to the family livelihood, working long hours at home and eventually as a manicurist alongside her mother at a nail salon in Brooklyn that her parents take over. But at school, Ly feels the mounting pressure to blend in.
A growing inability to see the blackboard presents new challenges, especially when her father forbids her from getting glasses, calling her diagnosis of poor vision a government conspiracy. His frightening temper and paranoia leave a mark on Lyâs sense of self. Who is she outside of everything her family expects of her?
An âunsentimental yet deeply moving examination of filial bond, displacement, war trauma, and povertyâ (NPR), House of Sticks is a timely and powerful portrait of one girlâs coming-of-age and struggle to find her voice amid clashing cultural expectations. - Simon and Schuster
An intimate, beautifully written coming-of-age memoir recounting a young girl's journey from war-torn Vietnam to Ridgewood, Queens, and her struggle to find her voice amid clashing cultural expectations.
Ly Tran is just a toddler in 1993 when she and her family immigrate from a small town along the Mekong river in Vietnam to a two-bedroom railroad apartment in Queens. Ly's father, a former lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army, spent nearly a decade as a POW, and their resettlement is made possible through a humanitarian program run by the US government. Soon after they arrive, Ly joins her parents and three older brothers sewing ties and cummerbunds piece-meal on their living room floor to make ends meet.
As they navigate this new landscape, Ly finds herself torn between two worlds. She knows she must honor her parents' Buddhist faith and contribute to the family livelihood, working long hours at home and eventually as a manicurist alongside her mother at a nail salon in Brownsville, Brooklyn, that her parents take over. But at school, Ly feels the mounting pressure to blend in.
A growing inability to see the blackboard presents new challenges, especially when her father forbids her from getting glasses, calling her diagnosis of poor vision a government conspiracy. His frightening temper and paranoia leave an indelible mark on Ly's sense of self. Who is she outside of everything her family expects of her?
Told in a spare, evocative voice that, with flashes of humor, weaves together her family's immigration experience with her own fraught and courageous coming of age, House of Sticks is a timely and powerful portrait of one girl's struggle to reckon with her heritage and forge her own path.
