The powerful, universal theme—that human beings can survive incredibly cruel natural and man-made circumstances in the name of responsibility and love—guides character as well as setting. The main actors in this drama of survival are an adult and three children, who become the Boat People.

Historically, most boatloads of refugees were overladen, some even sinking under the weight of too many people. However, Wartski limits her cast to four, because her purpose is to show individual rather than collective experience and growth. The eldest traveler, village headman and scholar, is Thay (teacher) Van Chi. As the venerated leader of the small village, he is a wise, humane keeper of Vietnam's traditions.

Thus he is the inevitable target for "reeducation" by the New Government; rather than face internment and probably death in their resettlement camp, he reluctantly flees his beloved homeland...