In his refreshingly insightful and sensitive work, Leon Comber offers an account of the events and influences -- be they social, economic or political -- which culminated in the breakdown of Sino-Malay relations, and erupted into the violent racial riots of 13 May 1969. The work, while it will undoubtedly be of interest to scholars, has been produced for the benefit of the general public and in particular for those whom the author refer to as 'children of 13 May'. Set out in terms the layman can understand with ease, still it manages to convey the full significance of the events, and clearly defines their place in contemporary Malaysian history.