Books like The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story

'The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story' is an immensely powerful representation of a Hmong family living in the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand. The protagonist lives with her grandmother, and she learns to access her past through art as she embroiders representations of events in her past. Mai's parents were both killed by soldiers during the night, and upon being rescued by her grandmother she was able to enjoy life in a comfortable house and experience snow and fond memories swimming in the ocean prior to being transported to the refugee camp. Mai recounts these memories, both pleasant and painful, in her stitching and despite the horrors of her past, the young girl reaches a point of catharsis in her art and the story manages to conclude on a resolutely optimistic note. This story is effective in representing families that have been devastated by tragedy, and in touching upon the death of a parent it serves as a resource for children who have endured unimaginable grief. It is a multicultural resource in its depiction of an Asian family, and is sensitive yet accurate in its portrayal of their heritage. The story also helps to validate the experiences of children who are not originally from the United States, as the illustrations convey landscapes and countrysides very different from our own. The illustrations are both in watercolor and in screen-printed images of embroidered scenes, which soften the blow of the story's events given the delicate nature of stitching.