Southeast Asians

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-- Southeast Asians, in this case, mean the ethnic majorities of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Most minorities in these nations are mentioned in the text, but only the Hmong and Chinese are given any real treatment. Of the majority groups, most treatment is given to the Vietnamese. This is a very broad introduction to these peoples, concentrating on recent history and the events that have led or forced them to emigrate. While not an in-depth study, the book has many features that make it a desirable purchase. Biographical insets of key figures; personal poems and reminiscences; and a variety of well-chosen photos (in both black and white and full color) of homelands, refugee camps, and resettlement neighborhoods enhance the more personal aspects of the Southeast Asian Diaspora. Charts of ethnic origins, provenance of immigration to the U. S., two serviceable maps, and a competent index add to this volume's utility for school reports. Organization is sensible; the writing is clear and interesting, marred only by an excessive use of the pronoun ``they.'' A very good first book for general informational purposes. --John Philbrook, San Francisco Pub . Lib .