Summary

No one has the same perspective on April 30, 1975. Some call it Liberation Day, while others remember it as "the day we lost our country" (211). With the victorious Northern forces moving toward Saigon, southern citizens anticipated a bloodbath but communist forces entered the city peacefully. Unhappy and threatened by the dangerous new regime, Thi's parents planned to escape. In the meantime, Bo lost his job, the currency changed, and Bo fell into depression. Life continued to worsen and more escape plans were foiled. Just after Ma got pregnant again, a new opportunity to leave the country by boat arose. The day to leave the country finally arrived when Ma was eight months pregnant.

The family made their way to a dock and boarded a boat with several other refugees, including some of Ma's extended family. The boat got stuck against a river island and...