Summary

In Part I, "August 1979," Hương searches her New Orleans apartment for her sons. She thinks the hurricane alarm is a sign of war. Her babysitter and friend, Bà Giang tells her it is just a test. Huong sees her sons outside and "feels...happiness, comfort, and relief" (5).

In Part II, "Hương, 1978," when Hương and her boys arrived in New Orleans, their sponsor, a priest, "paired them with the Minhs" (9). The Minhs were difficult to live with. Mr. Minh was nothing like her husband, Công. He was "rude, drunk and loud," and made their stay difficult (11). One day, Hương decided to find a job. She had trouble with English, and it was difficult to take her boys Tuấn and Bình along with her.

That night, Hương and Mrs. Minh sat together. Hương pretended she did...