BookDragon Books for the Diverse Reader

The Dancing Lion by Stephen D. Barry [in AsianWeek]

Dancing LionBased 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

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