Book Descriptions
for Little Brother by Allan Baillie
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
When Vithy is separated from his brother Mang while trying to cross the Cambodian border into Thailand, he doesn't know how to continue. Mang had always been there to take care of Vithy, even to orchestrating their escape from the Big Paddy where they had been held captive for months. Now, faced with a treacherous journey and danger at every turn, Vithy longs for Mang's guidance. As he makes his way towards the border, Vithy gradually discovers that he too is capable of making wise decisions. Set in post-Vietnam War Cambodia, the story of Vithy's plight and growing self-reliance is both suspenseful and credible. (Age 11 and older)
CCBC Choices 1992. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 1992. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
The shots were so close they seemed to explode inside Vithy's head. He threw himself to the ground and clapped his hands over his ears . . .
It's Cambodia. The killing machine that is the Khmer Rouge is in power. Vithy has lost everyone and everything he loved – except his older brother, Mang. They've escaped from almost certain execution, but the brothers become separated and Vithy is left alone to 'follow the lines . . . to the border' – his brother's last instructions.
But which lines? Which border?
A gripping tale of the journey of a boy alone and in danger as he tries to find his brother and escape to freedom.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.