Doan Phuong Nguyen’s A Two-Placed Heart is a tender and beautifully crafted exploration of identity, belonging, and the ties that pull us between cultures and places. With evocative prose and a deeply emotional narrative, Nguyen captures the complexities of finding home within yourself. A poignant and unforgettable story for readers seeking heart and depth.

This is a beautiful meditation on life and identity told through verse. Bom is 12 and caught between worlds: her homeland of Vietnam and her new home in Tennessee. Bom feels as though her sister is losing her Vietname and she is writing her memories and feelings about her life. People don't need to lose their culture and heritage when they move, and keeping the memories alive makes their lives richer. There is so much love in this story. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook; the narrator was wonderfully calm yet expressive.

Wow! This was such a heartfelt novel in verse!

As an immigrant who moved overseas at a young age, I can wholeheartedly relate to Bom's experiences living between two worlds and having to Americanize myself to fit in with my peers in grade school. I can see myself in both the MC and her sister, having experienced both viewpoints throughout my childhood (remembering and forgetting my roots).

I loved learning about the refugee experience. Growing up, I went to schools with a sizable Vietnamese and Hmong refugee community, not to mention refugee kids from other countries and communities too, so I vaguely understand the process (being sponsored and/or placed in different cities). But I really liked reading about it from another POV, even if this was a fictional memoir.

I know this is a children's/MG book, but I definitely think adults can learn a thing or two from this story. Being able to read about and understand (even if partially) someone else's lived experiences is always good practice when it comes to learning about sympathy and being a good human being.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this arc.