Characters & Family
Who is the narrator of the story?
Loung Ung
What country does this memoir take place in?
Cambodia
How does the family show support for each other? (3 ways)
Sharing food
protecting each other
comforting one another
obeying parents
Food is mentioned often. What does it symbolize for Loung and her family?
Survival, comfort, love
What does the word evacuate mean in the context of the book?
To leave or be forced to leave a place for safety
Name one of Loung’s siblings and their role in the family
Chou (gentle sister), Meng (protective oldest brother), Geak (baby), Kim (helps with chores)
In the opening chapters, what city does Loung’s family live in?
Phnom Penh
Name 3 ways the family adapts to survive
- Disguising as peasants
- following orders
- eating less
- hard labor
Uniforms are described in detail. What do they symbolize in the story?
Authority, fear, power of Khmer Rouge
Define regime in your own words.
A government in power, often harsh
What is Pa’s job before the Khmer Rouge take power?
Government official / high-ranking military police officer
What major historical event causes the family to flee?
The Khmer Rouge takeover (fall of Phnom Penh in 1975)
How does Loung’s point of view as a child affect the way we understand events?
events are emotional, sensory, sometimes confused which shows innocence
The family home in Phnom Penh symbolizes what?
Stability, safety, their old life
Loung describes being “crammed together like sardines.” What literary device is this?
Similie
Why does Ma often tell the children to stay quiet?
To avoid suspicion or anger from soldiers
Why do the soldiers force families to leave the city?
To “purify” the country and send people to work as peasants
What does the story reveal about power and control in times of conflict?
The soldiers control food, speech, identity, and movement thus stripping freedom
Name one recurring image Loung notices that shows contrast between her old life and new one.
Clothes, toys vs. labor tools, city luxuries vs. countryside deprivation
Find an example of imagery Loung uses to describe a journey or setting
Crowded roads, starving families, countryside landscapes...
Which family member is described as protective and serious, especially with responsibility?
Meng
What hardships does the family face while traveling to the countryside?
Hunger, exhaustion, heat, carrying heavy loads, fear of separation
Why might the author want readers to reflect on innocence and childhood during war?
To show how war destroys childhood and innocence
Silence is a symbol in the story. What does it represent?
Fear, obedience, hiding true feelings to survive...
Why does the author sometimes use short, simple sentences in intense moments?
To mirror a child’s view and heighten urgency