In 2007, seventeen-year-old Panna Krom was found guilty of murder after hiding her pregnancy and the newborn was later found dead.  Several years later, while volunteering for a prison writing group, author Doug Hood met Panna, and, after hearing her story, launched his own personal investigation into the "crime" itself and the inequalities of the judicial system.  This is not entirely about Panna and the legal system.  Hood also interviews Panna's family, refugees from Cambodia, and takes a look at the generational trauma that Panna grew up with that ultimately lead to the choices she made.  This is a somewhat difficult read due to the subject matter, and truly heartbreaking at times, but it's one that is thought-provoking and will certainly raise questions about the "fairness" of our legal system.

"Daughter of Song" is an exceptional book that captivated me like no other. From the moment I started reading, I couldn't bear to put it down. I devoured its pages, seizing every opportunity to delve deeper into its mesmerizing narrative.

The author's impeccable craftsmanship shines through every line, as they meticulously weave a tapestry of events and circumstances. The amount of effort and dedication put into this work, all done voluntarily, is truly awe-inspiring. The book exudes a profound appreciation for the art of storytelling, effortlessly enthralling and delighting its readers.

However, "Daughter of Song" is more than just an entertaining read. It serves as a profound educational experience, offering glimpses into the inner workings of our legal system, the intricacies of police investigations, the realities of prison life, and the rich history and religious traditions of the Cambodian people. Moreover, it delves into the psychological aspects of the crime, compelling readers to contemplate and seek meaning in the face of tragedy.

Throughout the book, the author adopts a documentary-style approach, presenting the facts in an intriguing and amusing manner. Occasionally, they intertwine their own family story and personal reflections, forging a connection between their own efforts to assist the affected family and the larger narrative at hand.

One cannot help but be deeply moved by the plight of Panna's family. The unimaginable trauma they endured during the Khmer Rouge regime before seeking refuge in the United States is truly heart-wrenching. Their unwavering support for their daughter during her time in prison showcases their remarkable resilience and unwavering commitment to doing what is right. Their willingness to openly share their life and tragic experiences with others is both admirable and inspiring.

In conclusion, "Daughter of Song" is a book that will leave a lasting impression. Its combination of masterful storytelling, educational insights, and heartfelt narratives makes it a truly remarkable read. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally compelling literary experience.

If not for this book, I would never have heard of Panna. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to hear her story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

It took me some time to get through this, due to the topic at hand.

While volunteering at a women's prison, Doug stumbles upon Panna Krom's story. As we read this story, we see that there was a huge bias involved when Panna was publicly handed out her long sentence, especially when we see other young girls who belong to favourable socio-economic status were given a lighter sentence than Panna's 18-year prison sentence, and in my opinion some racism being a factor to this.

Hood, from the sidelines, does whatever he can to help the family to help fight Panna's case, even after, when Panna faces other issues in her new life.

Very well written, and something I would definitely recommend.

A heart stirring novel. Though Asian, didn't know that family psyches of Cambodians are very similar to Indian psyche. Having gone through 2 guided pregnancies, I can't imagine how Panna got through the pregnancy alone. It is definitely scary what she went through. My heart goes out to her. Wishing her best.

Doug Hood, has done a great job as human being and as the author in recounting the events in Panna's case. I know you might have heard it often, but you are indeed an angel on Earth and wishing that you crack the half dozen more such cases that you have taken on.

I had mixed feelings and thoughts while reading the book.

Was there a huge bias involved when Panna was publicly handed out her 18 years sentence? The answer is Yes! Especially when we later come to know that a lot of other young girls who belonged to a particular favourable socio-economic status were never punished or their names publicly released when they committed the same crime.

However, did I feel sorry for Panna and the other women who committed the crime of neonaticide? The answer is not completely. Up till the time they committed the crime, they had a choice and option to choose an alternative path which they didn't; more so when it was clear that majority who decided to choose this path did it with a sound mind and felt no guilt.

The story is told by a neurology professor, Doug Hood, who led a therapeutic writing group in a women's prison. Based on these stories, Hood illustrates how American society is fixated on drama around crime and how, as a society, we want to "sock it to" offenders--unless, of, course it is ourselves or our loved ones. Then we want mercy..
Through Hood, we meet Panna, a teenage daughter of a Cambodian refugee family who delivered a baby in her bathroom. Panna is subsequently charged and convicted of murdering her infant daughter. She is sentenced to 18 years in prison. The story moves us through Cambodian history that shaped refugees' lives and perspectives on life.

Hood suggests that children lack the experience, perspective and judgement to recognize and avoid choices that could be detrimental to them and others. Further complicating this general principle in Panna's case are the Cambodian cultural influences.
I very much enjoyed this story and found myself needing to reflect on the bigger societal principles Panna's story illustrates.

After reading Daughter of Song, all I can say is "wow". I'd never heard of Panna's case prior to reading this, and it was a huge eye opener. At seventeen, Panna became pregnant, hiding it from everyone and even deluding herself. Completely unprepared, she gave birth in the bathroom, and her baby sadly drowned. For this, she was tried as an adult and received a harsh sentence of eighteen years, in a trial that clearly didn't take her circumstances into consideration. Years later, Doug Hood, author, discovers Panna's case and begins a several year long process to fight for her and hopefully reduce her sentence.
This was a painful read. It really does make you question the justice system as a whole when something like this occurs. I wanted to scream when reading about how the case of Panna's second child was handled, several years after her release. Absolutely insane. I applaud the author for championing Panna, spending years of his life in this fight. It's clear that he truly cared for Panna and her family. This is an important read and should be lauded as such.

This book sadly wasn’t for me. I had been really looking forward to reading it. I just couldn’t get into it

This was a very interesting read. Panna and her quite lengthy incarceration. Doug along with her mother and father Chan and Song were relentless in their pursuit of all avenues to help the then 17 year old, the age she was when arrested, this is just another example of how money does change things in the courts eyes.

I felt like this book was showing how the justice system in Connecticut worked.

The history of the life Song and Chan endured as children in Cambodia. That was quite eye opening to say the least.

I would recommend this book. It shows the Justice system and what it takes to achieve anything.

A panic-stricken teenage girl kills her infant daughter shortly after she gives birth-possibly by accident-and spends years in prison regretting how she trusted the police who took her statement. A second generation American of Thai-Cambodian descent, she doesn't navigate the United States court well, and receives what many people believe is an unreasonably long prison sentence. The narration of how she finally gets clemency with a great deal of help from some legal advocates makes a gripping true story.

I received a free copy of Daughter of Song, by Doug Hood, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Doug Hood was volunteering at a womens prison when he met Panna Krom. This story was a bit disturbing and depressing. This was a horrible situation that could of been prevented.

Doug Hood's fight to find justice for Panna Krom is a heartbreaking true story about the teenage daughter of Cambodian refugees. After barely surviving the Khmer Rouge purges, her parents were rejected by their relatives in Thailand for being destitute and illiterate, and eventually made their way to Connecticut.

Panna, born in the US into a strictly controlled culture of obedience, silence and premarital chastity, was completely unprepared for pregnancy at age 16. Suffering from denial and wishful thinking, she hid the pregnancy and delivered on her own in her family bathroom, letting the baby fall into the toilet and drown. After hemorrhaging and going to the ER, the police and prosecutors get involved. Although still a minor, she's interviewed without her parents or an attorney present, then accused of murder as an adult. Unable to fight her trauma, abusive police investigative tactics and cultural bias, and afraid to go to trial for murder, she settles for a plea deal for manslaughter and 18 years in prison.

Daughter of Song follows the fight (lead by Doug Hood) to free her from this punitive sentence which substantially exceeded any sentencing found in the state for similar teenage newborn killings. Hood's narration clearly tells the story of how the judicial system dispenses justice differently for the privileged vis-à-vis the rest of society, and how power can be abused by overzealous police and prosecutors. But it's also a story of hope and love.

Thank you to The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me an ARC. This review is my opinion. Daughter of Song would make an excellent book club selection and should be mandatory reading for criminal justice students.

4.5 rounded up
Took a bit to read this. It is not an easy read due to the subject matter. Amazing that thus happens...
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I found Daughter of Song to be a powerful book: compelling, informative, nuanced, culturally sensitive, and accessible. It focuses on the case of Panna Krom, a seventeen-year-old Connecticut high-school student who, early in 2007, was charged with the murder of her newborn daughter. She was subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Panna and her elder brother were born in Connecticut to Song and Chan Krom, Thai-Cambodian refugees who had fled the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s, losing multiple family members under harrowing circumstances. The parents never spoke about those traumatic experiences with their children. They just got on with life.

Panna was an excellent student. This was expected. Also expected was that in her teens she would contribute financially to the family. Therefore, in addition to attending high school full time, she worked two jobs. But Panna had a secret: a boyfriend since eighth grade. She feared her stern father who, like other conservative Cambodian Buddhist fathers, believed in the strict segregation of the sexes. When she became pregnant, she managed to hide her condition from her mother and father. Such a difficult matter could not be discussed; it was silently, stoically borne. Some school staff noticed and spoke to her. Panna lied to them, saying her parents were aware and the baby would be adopted. By turns, she was deeply distressed and in denial about her pregnancy. Her boyfriend was unsupportive. She was on her own.

When author Doug Hood befriended Panna’s parents, he saw that a letter from the high school addressing Panna’s absenteeism had not even been opened. Panna’s mother and father were functionally illiterate. They didn’t even attempt to deal with official looking correspondence. Hood also soon learned that Panna’s arrest had been managed very irregularly by police. It certainly seemed possible that racism was a factor. Miranda Rights were not stated to Panna (“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law . . .”); her interview with the police was neither videotaped nor tape-recorded, and neither legal counsel nor her parents were present during the interrogation, even though Panna was a minor. The sentence she was given was also disproportionately long compared to those of other teenage girls who committed neonaticide—the murder of a newborn.

Daughter of Song is Doug Hood’s account of his efforts to assist the Kroms’ petition for clemency for Panna. A thought-provoking and comprehensive book, it covers Panna’s crime, the psychological assessments she underwent, her parents’ traumatic Indo-Chinese history, other neonaticide cases similar to Panna’s, as well as details about the judicial system, including Panna’s clemency hearing, and prison life.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy, and I very much hope that Daughter of Song will be widely read. It deserves to be.

This book will bring forth so many emotions. First disbelief, that a young woman should face such strict justice in an age that proclaims itself fair and equal. Second sorrow, that this young woman felt that killing a newborn was her best/ only option. Her friends, family, neighbors and school failed her when she needed them most. Then anger, the "system" should have done more than shut the door and leave her. If not for the efforts of Doug Hood, she and many others like her would still face the same set of cruel consequences. A volunteer at the York Correctional Facility, he will find himself on a journey to find why, in a world where hardened criminals receive lighter sentences, these troubled young women find no help from the many agencies tasked to insure their health and wellbeing.

this book would be a hard experience if it were fictional. But the fact that it's true will bring anger and sorrow. But hope will follow, as surely as good people like Doug Hood do exist and are willing to give of themselves to help others.

Daughter of Song, by Doug Hood, is a gripping look at the lives Cambodian refugees who fled to America to escape the Khmer Rouge. It is a narrative nonfiction that takes a look at police procedure, our justice system, and "multi-generational trauma." It is written by the man who determined to help this family rescue their daughter. It should be read by those who want to be a part of our legal system and those who desire to help refugees.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

What an emotional and page turning book, some topics were heart wrenching but such an enjoyable book at the same time

A true heartbreaking tragedy Doug Hood brings this sad story to life.I was so involved I didn’t want to put the book down.#netgalley #daughterofsong,

Ohmy, when I received this book I was excited because the synopsis sounded so good. A true crime memoir but damn this was way more than that!!! Doesn't just talk about Panna and how her newborn baby died, which was tragic and horrible, but also talks about the life of female prisoners in York and Cambodian refugees. It talks about some things people in Cambodia suffered and how they lived under Pol Pot power. This book talks about justice and the lack of understanding of so many. This talks about PTSD, about family, about kindness, power...

I really liked the way the author mixed it all. A crime, history of Cambodia, the trauma of the refugees, everything is so well mixed that you can see the whole story. I didn't feel there was something missing. It's perfect because in case you knew nothing about Pol Pot and the murders the author explain it so you have it all in one book!!!! Just as it explains Panna's case perfectly!

The topics are hard but this book felt so important!!