First They Killed My Father Review


After reading First They Killed My Father it really made me realize that so many people have a truly hard life and that I am very fortunate to have everything I need. At times the book became dull and boring, but it all lead up to a series of traumatic and heartbreaking events. This story tells the history of the Cambodian Civil War. Reading the story makes you feel as if you are living through the hardships. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is looking to read a touching piece of literature.

First They Killed My Father is about a young girl named Loung. She lived in Cambodia with her middle class, happy family until they are forced to evacuate their hometown of Phnom Penh by the communist Khmer Rouge. Loung was only five years old when she was required to leave with her family to move to wherever the Khmer Rouge soldiers told them to go.

The Ung family was living in small villages where they had to hide their past from everyone in order to save their lives. They watched the families living in their village die of starvation and disease as they struggled to stay alive themselves. The government slowly tore the Ung family away from each other, sending the two eldest boys to labor camps, as well as the oldest girl. Loungs father was taken away by soldiers and never returned back to his family. The three younger children were sent away by Ma because she couldn’t raise them by herself after Pa was gone.

Still having to hide their lives, Loung and her sister Chou tell their camp leader that they are orphans. The leader of this camp sees fighting potential in Loung and sends her to a soldier training camp. Loung uses her one visit to go to her old village to see Ma and her youngest sister, Geak, only to discover they are dead.

First They Killed My Father is a touching, influential story that really makes you grateful for what you have, after seeing the lack of necessities Loung lived without for so many years. This story is not only moving, but also gives you a history lesson on the Cambodian Civil War and the effect it had on not only the Ung family, but all the citizens of Cambodia.

After making it to America, Loung started a new beginning at that point in her life and began inspiring others by telling her story. Loung is the spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine-Free World. She travels around the world inspiring people with her story.