Escape From Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2004, Grades 4 and up, 110 pages.
This is the true story of Long, an Amerasian orphan who was the son of a Vietnamese mother and American father. Swept up in the sudden, climatic end of the Vietnam War, his very survival depends on being airlifted from Saigon to safety, and then to the arms of the American family waiting to adopt him.
“Escape From Saigon” explores many topics: Vietnam’s history, culture, and many wars, including the American war that we refer to as the Vietnam War; caring for the one million war orphans in South Vietnam and the role Americans and American agencies played in it; foreign adoption; the final, chaotic days of the war in April 1975, culminating in Operation Babylift—the airlifting of 2,500 orphans in Saigon awaiting passage to already-approved adoptive families in western countries. This includes Long’s escape via the airlift, his integration into his new family and culture, the discrimination he suffered as an Amerasian, and his return visit to Saigon as an adult and how he is able to make peace with his past. As readers take this journey with him, they gain valuable insight into the hardships suffered by children in war and by immigrants and refugees fleeing war for new homes in America.
The text features a map of North and South Vietnam, 42 black and white photos, postscripts on the main characters, and recommended books, websites, and videos and movies to supplement the text. Warren’s primary research included three weeks in Vietnam; interviews with key people in Vietnam, Australia, and the US who involved in war-time care of orphans and in planning and carrying out Operation Babylift; interviews with her main character and his family, and other young people orphaned by the war. Secondary research included books, press coverage, government documents, and historical photos showing daily life, the orphanages and child care centers, the war, Operation Babylift, and Long and his American family.
This book meets the Common Core Standards in multiple ways, including the following:
The Big Idea: Readers quickly realize that while soldiers fight wars, civilians, including children, often pay the greatest price. Additional themes are people helping others, often in the face of tremendous odds; and rebuilding one’s life after tragedy, which includes the acceptance of what has happened, and a determination to move forward while not forgetting and honoring the past.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: The author sets one child’s story against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, followed by his life in America. Readers learn about Vietnam and his culture, and, through Long’s eyes, see it contrasted with American culture.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: Escape from Saigon is nonfiction that reads like fiction. It is full of dialogue, description, telling details, and vignettes of village life and the streets of Saigon, of the war, of efforts to care for orphans, the collapse of a once-great city, the daring rescue of the orphaned children, and a Vietnamese child’s adjustment to a new country, culture, and family.
This book meets most of the National Education Curriculum Standards for English. Using Reading for Understanding as an example, readers learn of Long’s Buddhist upbringing and beliefs. They read about the Saigon’s open air markets and share Long’s astonishment the first time he visits an American grocery store. With the standards for Social Sciences, US History, World History, and Geography standards, readers learn about a life in a tropical country on the equator and how the heat and rain impact daily life. They learn about America’s involvement with North and South Vietnam before, during, and after the American war there and come to understand why it happened and why America lost.
Andrea Warren is the author of seven nonfiction books for young readers. Her honors include the Horn Book Award, the Sibert Honor Book Award, the William Allen White Award, many notable book awards, and others. Her adopted daughter was rescued from Saigon via Operation Babylift in April 1975. She and her daughter spent three weeks in Vietnam in 1996. Learn more about the author and her books, and find her e-mail address at AndreaWarren.com.
Teacher comments:
Andrea Warren’s book, Orphan Train Rider, captured their imagination and they were
really looking forward to the opportunity to meet her in a videoconference. The teachers have done a
great job in encouraging their students to read, write and think. about this era in American
history and I believe this will be a memorable experience for the vast majority of them. The
children were very excited to see and hear her. Her knowledge about the topic and obvious
passion for what she does provides these young people with a wonderful model for how their
learning can be turned into constructive action that touches the lives of others. Dr. Paul
Longo, Curriculum Consultant NYC Public School 49 Q.
This is the true story of Long, an Amerasian orphan who was the son of a Vietnamese mother and American father. Swept up in the sudden, climatic end of the Vietnam War, his very survival depends on being airlifted from Saigon to safety, and then to the arms of the American family waiting to adopt him.
“Escape From Saigon” explores many topics: Vietnam’s history, culture, and many wars, including the American war that we refer to as the Vietnam War; caring for the one million war orphans in South Vietnam and the role Americans and American agencies played in it; foreign adoption; the final, chaotic days of the war in April 1975, culminating in Operation Babylift—the airlifting of 2,500 orphans in Saigon awaiting passage to already-approved adoptive families in western countries. This includes Long’s escape via the airlift, his integration into his new family and culture, the discrimination he suffered as an Amerasian, and his return visit to Saigon as an adult and how he is able to make peace with his past. As readers take this journey with him, they gain valuable insight into the hardships suffered by children in war and by immigrants and refugees fleeing war for new homes in America.
The text features a map of North and South Vietnam, 42 black and white photos, postscripts on the main characters, and recommended books, websites, and videos and movies to supplement the text. Warren’s primary research included three weeks in Vietnam; interviews with key people in Vietnam, Australia, and the US who involved in war-time care of orphans and in planning and carrying out Operation Babylift; interviews with her main character and his family, and other young people orphaned by the war. Secondary research included books, press coverage, government documents, and historical photos showing daily life, the orphanages and child care centers, the war, Operation Babylift, and Long and his American family.
This book meets the Common Core Standards in multiple ways, including the following:
The Big Idea: Readers quickly realize that while soldiers fight wars, civilians, including children, often pay the greatest price. Additional themes are people helping others, often in the face of tremendous odds; and rebuilding one’s life after tragedy, which includes the acceptance of what has happened, and a determination to move forward while not forgetting and honoring the past.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: The author sets one child’s story against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, followed by his life in America. Readers learn about Vietnam and his culture, and, through Long’s eyes, see it contrasted with American culture.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: Escape from Saigon is nonfiction that reads like fiction. It is full of dialogue, description, telling details, and vignettes of village life and the streets of Saigon, of the war, of efforts to care for orphans, the collapse of a once-great city, the daring rescue of the orphaned children, and a Vietnamese child’s adjustment to a new country, culture, and family.
This book meets most of the National Education Curriculum Standards for English. Using Reading for Understanding as an example, readers learn of Long’s Buddhist upbringing and beliefs. They read about the Saigon’s open air markets and share Long’s astonishment the first time he visits an American grocery store. With the standards for Social Sciences, US History, World History, and Geography standards, readers learn about a life in a tropical country on the equator and how the heat and rain impact daily life. They learn about America’s involvement with North and South Vietnam before, during, and after the American war there and come to understand why it happened and why America lost.
Andrea Warren is the author of seven nonfiction books for young readers. Her honors include the Horn Book Award, the Sibert Honor Book Award, the William Allen White Award, many notable book awards, and others. Her adopted daughter was rescued from Saigon via Operation Babylift in April 1975. She and her daughter spent three weeks in Vietnam in 1996. Learn more about the author and her books, and find her e-mail address at AndreaWarren.com.
Teacher comments:
Andrea Warren’s book, Orphan Train Rider, captured their imagination and they were
really looking forward to the opportunity to meet her in a videoconference. The teachers have done a
great job in encouraging their students to read, write and think. about this era in American
history and I believe this will be a memorable experience for the vast majority of them. The
children were very excited to see and hear her. Her knowledge about the topic and obvious
passion for what she does provides these young people with a wonderful model for how their
learning can be turned into constructive action that touches the lives of others. Dr. Paul
Longo, Curriculum Consultant NYC Public School 49 Q.