The River Flows Both Ways

The Nguy family fled China as Japan invaded, settling in peaceful Cambodia. Years later, with bombs falling and local forces turning against Chinese and Vietnamese families, they fled into Vietnam, and tried to remain neutral in a raging conflict. After the tragic killing of the head of the family, other events pushed and pulled the Nguys and their three young boys--Phuong, Long, and Au--in many directions until, once again, they knew they had to try to leave. Plan after plan failed. Two of the boys escaped into the hands of the Khmer Rouge. The rest of the family were captured and returned to Vietnam. Later Au would try to escape following the same route that the two older boys had used. The three boys held the hopes of the long-suffering family. They faced hardships of long journeys, repeated imprisonments, risky escapes, refugee camps, and separation from each other. How would they find their way out, a new home, and each other? This is the story of one family among tens of thousands who struggled against overwhelming threats and survived. The narrative is a blend of historical events, personal memories, and fiction. It occurs in the context of a traditional Vietnamese "Feast for the Dead." The narrators are two of the beloved ancestors who are honored in the feast.