The Stone Boy and Other Stories is a anthology of short narratives by Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh's writing brings together elements of Vietnamese legend and juxtaposes them with stories of the terrible atrocities meted out on the Vietnamese for the duration of and subsequent to its hostilities with France and the US. Thich Nhat Hanh, therefore, is a creation of his individual involvement in Vietnam's very recent history. Not much is really written about Thich Nhat Hanh - in terms of his private life and involvement and this is a great entrée into his mystery.

Thich Nhat Hanh uses heaps of farming metaphors and stories. His stories revolve mostly around the notion of "mindfulness," of become aware of things deeply, as in a really profound way, which is fundamental to a Buddhist conception of enlightenment. Thich Nhat Hanh's tales time after time highlight the import of "true seeing." Thich Nhat Hanh focuses on transcendence rather than anguish. Thich Nhat Hanh gives readers an opening for profound meditation. The eleven stories in The Stone Boy are come with brief commentaries as to their source and are helpful not only for the reason that it gives insight into the historical or spiritual contexts but they moreover provide proof of Thich Nhat Hanh's immense skill as a writer and understanding of complex items through his Upaya (skillful means). This book is a must for every collection.

Miguel Llora

I love all of Thich Nhat Hanh's books. He writes about Buddhism, human rights, and personal healing from trauma in a universal and clear way. This book is especially beautiful. These are fictional stories that show Vietnamese culture, and Thich Nhat Hanh's own experiences. He transforms incredible pain into beauty that teaches deep truths.

This is a very enjoyable storybook. The most interesting thing I discovered about it, is the traditional stories that I grew up with, being told in a Vietnamese setting. Very enjoyable, and I look forward to reading to my young girls these stories they know so well in another format!

This is an apparently simple story which becomes more meaningful with each reading. I would highly recommend it for anyone seeking a children's story with some substance.

The Land I Lost, by Huynh Quang Nhuong.(Reviewed by a 7 year old girl) This is a well written book, but still not my favorite book in the world. These stories from the author's childhood memories are fun, funny and sometimes heartbreaking. The book takes place in a small hamlet in Vietnam before the war. The author remembers adventures with the villagers and with various animals, particularly a special water buffalo named Tank. The several pictures in the book help to bring out the story. There is a great scene where the author and his sister catch some little birds. I won't tell you any more. Oh, if you are not comfortable with the death of animals and some villagers from snake bites and wild boar attacks, then I wouldn't recommend this book. All in all it's a pretty good book.

"The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam" is written by Huynh Quang Nhuong, and includes illustrations by Vo-Dinh Mai. A short author bio at the end of the book notes that Huynh was born in Vietnam and eventually moved to the United States. This book is a wonderful account of growing up in rural Vietnam.

Huynh describes his life in a village on a riverbank, with a jungle and mountains nearby. The book is divided up into several short vignettes that describe the lives of the people and animals of this world. Although the danger and violence of some sections may be upsetting to some readers, I get the sense that the author is trying to present a truthful portrait of rural life.

There are accounts of many interesting people, such as Huynh's opera loving, karate fighting grandmother. But I was particularly fascinated by the many accounts of the domestic and wild animals of Huynh's homeland. I loved the descriptions of animal behavior and the accounts of the interactions between animals and people, between animals of the same species, and between animals of different species. We meet monkeys, otters, a fearsome crocodile, and many other creatures. It's a rich tapestry of life that is described vividly by the author. One of the most memorable animal characters is Huynh's water buffalo, Tank, a creature of great strength, loyalty, and courage.

This is a wonderful book that is written in a very effective, straightforward style that is ultimately quite poignant. It's sort of like a Vietnamese response to Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved "Little House" books. I recommend "The Land I Lost" to readers of all ages.

The Land I Lost

By: Huynh Quang Nhuong

Review by: Mary Cheung

The Land I Lost was a very interesting story. It reflects on the authors' memory of his childhood in Vietnam. It was well written and each chapter seems to be a section or story in the authors' childhood. It really showed some of his thoughts and feelings towards many things. Some of the chapters in the book were quite exciting, such as the snake and wild boar hunts. The descriptions were quite vivid and the stories were beautifully told. I give this book, five stars.

This story is about a Vietnamese Child who came to America.She needs money for her mother to come to America, so she and her class makes a fair so she can come.But Ut waits a long time and she never camed to see her.Then finaly it is the last day of school.And she sees her father and Little Quang.And beside them...her mother!

My son is 5 years old and the media director read this book to his kindergarten class one day in media center. It is all I have heard about since, he made me go to the school and read the book so I could see for myself how good it was, and of course I had to find it for him for his home library. This is the first time he has ever wanted a book so badly.

This book is a wonderful story about a Vietnamese child trying to adjust to life in the USA. Ut has trouble with children at school because she is different. Haven't we all been there? Angel Child, Dragon Child is very realistic. Many children are brought to the USA by their families looking for a better life for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, not all people are accepting of those that are different. Surat does a terrific job of showing how UT sees herself as both an angel child and a dragon child. This story is one that should be used in classrooms across the country. Children can learn from this book that just because people look or dress differently, does not mean they do not have the same feelings as everyone else. Surat portrays how communities and people can come together to survive life. This is a wonderful story of accepting differences in others that children and adults should read.