Common Book Project

2009-10 Common Book selection

The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir

The Century Common Book Project committee has selected Kao Kalia Yang's "The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir" for our 2009-10 Common Book.

In the mid-1970's, the Hmong people were murdered for their collaboration with the United States during the Vietnam War.

Thousands of Hmong families fled war-torn Laos for overcrowded refugee camps in Thailand. From there, the fortunate ones went to America, in search of a new life. Their stories were rarely told, until now.

Yang’s family immigrated to America when she was six. She writes poignantly about the challenges of adjusting to a culture so different from what she had previously known. She also writes about the dreams and traditions passed down from her grandmother and shared by her entire community.

After her grandmother’s death, Kao Kalia Yang was committed to sharing their story. Her memoir is a tribute to the matriarch whose love bound them together.

Reader Resources

View “The Place Where We Were Born" — Kao Kalia Yang’s 20-minute video.

Contact

We would love to hear how you are using the Century College Common book. If you have any comments or questions, please contact:

Amanda Olson
Chair of the Common Book Committee
651-747-4058