The Dancing Lion by Stephen D. Barry [in AsianWeek]
Based on 15 years of experience as the faculty advisor to the Vietnamese Student Association at a San Jose, Calif., high school, Barry condenses his experiences to tell the story of a year in the life of one Bill Harris, who is unexpectedly assigned to teach a group of barely-English speaking Vietnamese immigrants, and has the cultural exchange of his career – not to mention his life. The opening of each chapter with an excerpt from the journal of a young Vietnamese boy proves an effective device, imbuing the book with cultural sensitivity and authenticity.
Review: “New and Notable Books,” AsianWeek, January 27, 2005
Readers: Adult
Published: 2004
Discussion