Thank you to Graywolf Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for review.

3.75 stars

Firstly I’d like to say thanks to the author Mai Der Vang for teaching me about the soala because they’re adorable and I had never heard of them prior to reading this.

Secondly the writing was so artistic and beautiful though really truly sad. The injustices and honestly racism the Hmong people have endured is so tragic and this dives into that hard “How do you translate: “fuck you” in Hmong, says your ten-year-old logic. Someone tags those words on the side of your house. Your parents are furious. You do not tell them what it means. You know it is the neighborhood kids, bored to blank, targeting your wall: with crosshairs of a spray can.” Treated as they’re not even human for absolutely no reason is disgraceful and disgusting and so upsetting. I hate how people can act towards others but this book is beautiful, not vengeful. It opened my eyes to the hate some people have survived through just for simply existing. And I do agree — it’s very lyrical.

Thank you! This makes me want to read more poetry.