The story opens in a refugee camp in Hong Kong, six months after the three survivors have been rescued by an American ship. Kien, who became the head of the little family after Thay Van Chi died, now works at a low-paying job in order to take care of ailing Mai and bring pleasure to fun-loving younger "brother" Loc. Not described extensively, the camp nevertheless seems a bleak, tuberculosis-ridden place, and although they regret leaving friends there, the trio is happy when, after another five weeks, they connect with their sponsors in Bradley, California.

The central-inland town is pretty, the house "a palace" by Kien's standards, the big, fast car exciting, and the family welcoming. But adjusting to school is not easy, and as life becomes unbearable, Kien flees south to a small fishing community, Travor, California, supposedly "a friendly place" where he has read that Vietnamese have...