CAMBODIA BOOK CLUB

It was a challenge to select the next Book Club book because there are limited choices for middle grade books that take place in Cambodia. Instead, we chose a book in which one of the main characters is from Cambodia.

This amazing book is called “Trouble” by Gary D. Schmidt, and it takes place in a wealthy town in Massachusetts. A middle grade boy named Henry Smith goes through a crisis when his brother, Franklin, is killed in a car accident. It is believed that Chay Chouan, an immigrant from Cambodia, was driving the pickup truck that struck Franklin. Throughout town, Chay is now known as the “bad guy from Cambodia.”

In my opinion, Chay is not a bad guy at all. He was just trying to keep Louisa, his girlfriend and also Henry and Franklin’s sister, out of trouble. He was covering for her because Louisa was the person driving the pickup truck! Chay had already gone through a hard life as a refugee, having his sister shot in front of him and his brother taken by force. He was a kindhearted dude, but judged harshly because of where he came from and the trouble that came his way.

This book is very involved, weaving in and out of Chay and Henry’s story, and introducing the reader to many other important characters along the way. The story is riveting, and had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it.

THE END!!!