Response - I have been to Cambodia and have seen some of the places mentioned. The author does a superb job telling a story that is common to many Cambodians.

Curricular connection - Unit on war and conflict or the Khmer Rouge or SE Asian history

Half Spoon of Rice is based on true stories of courage, friendship, survival, and the triumph of the human spirit. The book features vivid illustrations and historical photographs documenting the Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979.

I didn't know what to expect from something in a short picture book format on a subject of this nature. Now that I've read it I'm not any more sure what I think of it than I was of what to expect. It's written in a manner of the picture books for young children of an age for which the subject would be of questionable value. Then it seems too short to really engage someone of the middle grade group it's marketed to. The story is just a short straightforward account. So I suppose the story works as supplemental material to the brief historical summary in the Editor's note at the end as the story at least introduces a character to attempt to personalize the history and contains some decent and appropriate art. Really not sure if the presentation is of value to an age group to which the material is of value. But then there's probably not a lot available on this subject. ( )