A Hmong Boy's Story Contest Ends Today!

A Hmong Boy's Story Contest - Last Day to Enter!

April is coming to an end.  I would like to highlight Hometown Track Minnesota Author in the Spotlight, Yakao Yang.

Today is the last day to enter the contest to win one of five personalized copies of A Hmong Boy's Story.  The contest ends at midnight tonight.  The contest is open internationally and is available to all Booksnob followers.  Good Luck and as always thanks for following Booksnob!


Click here to enter: A Hmong Boy's Story

Please check out my book review of A Hmong Boy's Story.  This is an true story of perseverance during The Vietnam War, told from the Hmong perspective.  You will learn a lot about Hmong culture and their way of life.

A Hmong Boy's Story Book Review

You can check out my author interview with Yakao Yang as well.  This is a man who values education and strives very hard to achieve.  His love of family and his dedication to the Hmong way of life shows in his book and in his interview.

Yakao Yang Author Interview

I really enjoyed working with Yakao.  I would like to thank Yakao for being April's Minnesota Author in the Spotlight.  Please support this emerging author by reading his book, A Hmong Boy's Story and checking out his website at www.yakaoyangbooks.com

Yakao Yang Author Interview

Yakao Yang Author Interview

Yakao Yang is the April Hometown Track Minnesota Author in the Spotlight this month and I pleased to share this interview with you.  If you would like to win a copy of his book A Hmong Boy's Story please enter HERE

1. Tell us little bit about yourself
      I was a poor class Hmong boy that the majority Laotian called the " Mountaineer tribe boy" from the high elevation of the country. Lack of opportunities I fought very hard in education by surviving         many phases and obstacles, I became a young grade teacher at age 13 then a young professor in the French-Lao education system.

2.  What inspired you to write A Hmong Boy's Story?
      It was my desire since I was A little boy that I wanted the whole world to feel the pains that I contributed for my education which was not available to anyone during that period of time.

3.  Education is a strong theme running through your book, why is education so important to you?
      In a poor country and new born, opportunities were zero, only education could make money in many sectors of the government. So, only education could make a happy life.

4.  Is it hard to write a book  in a language other than your native tongue?
      Yes, it is so hard and very difficult for me who didn't know the basic of English and never spent an hour even a minute in school learning English while coming to this country.

5.  Do you have any advice for first time Authors?
      Yes, be patient and follow your dream. Writing a book is a dream but it is a hard work without a fight patiently.

6. Is A Hmong Boy's Story true to the best of your knowledge?
     Yes it is, from the best of my writing and I love it. it is well written from the bottom of my heart that could never be regret.

7. What are the lessons you want to impart to your readers?
     Without a good education with high achievement there are no good jobs too. To do that you had to have a goal combine with your parents goals too

8. Have you been back to Laos to visit?
     No, and never, it is painful to see the country!

9. Are there still refugee camps located in Laos and Thailand? are Hmong still waiting to come to America?
     Yes, refugee camps still existed in Thailand not in Laos which was the mother land. Hmong from both countries always wanted to come to to US to escape big threat because they were victims of
     fighting with the US/CIA during the spreading Vietnam war in Laos.

10. In one sentence, please tell us why we should read A Hmong Boy"s Story?
      Combined with good advices, funny, sad and emotional parts. It is good to know the Hmong people and its culture and ways of life, why are they In the US.

Thanks Yakao!!

A Hmong Boy's Story

A Hmong Boy's Story by Yakao Yang

During the Vietnam War, the Hmong people helped the United States fight the Vietnamese communist regime.  As you know the U.S. did not win the war and only prolonged the inevitable advance of communism.  The Vietnamese were very cruel to the Hmong people who fought against them and as a result many Hmong people entered refugee camps and tried to find a way to live the rest of their lives here in the United States.  Today, their are still Hmong waiting in Refugee camps in Thailand.

A Hmong Boy's Story chronicles the life of a young boy growing up during this conflict of political powers.   This is Yakao Yang's memoir which details the racism and prejudice he faced as a Hmong boy trying to get an education (when education wasn't valued by Hmong people).  He had to attend school where at times he was the only Hmong child in the classroom.  He made friends, learned as much as he could and overcame many obstacles.

What I enjoyed most was learning about the Hmong culture and history, from their lifestyle in the mountains, their courting and marriage rituals, to life in the refugee camps and the migration of the people from place to place.  I really learned a lot and feel I know the history and culture of my Hmong students better.  Every year I attend Hmong New Year at my kids school and participate in the ball toss and the traditional New Year's feast.  I feel that I truly understand the surnames and the rituals behind the Hmong New Year. 

Yang's memoir is very detailed and hard to read at times because English is not his native language. Yet, it is very readable and entertaining for those willing to persevere.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the Hmong culture.  I think he has created a unique memoir and his family would be very proud of all he accomplished in his life.  Yakao is a man who values education and loves his family and it shows in his book.  Thank you Yakao Yang for sharing your personal story.

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #9

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #9

 I would like to announce the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight.  Yakao Yang is the Hometown Track MN Author for the month of April.  Mr. Yang wrote a memoir of his life growing up in Laos before the"war" broke out.  He then travels as a refugee to Thailand and makes the journey here to America and finally settles in Minnesota. 

This month you can expect a contest, a book review, an author interview and hopefully a guest post by Yakao Yang.  This book A HMONG BOY"S STORY promises to be a unique reading experience in which you will learn about the Hmong culture. 

You can visit Yakao Yang's website at www.yakaoyangbooks.com