June 8, 1972: Kim Phuc is a nine year old girl, living in the village of Trang Bang(South Vietnam) with her family who owned a noodle restaurant, when her village was attacked by napalm bombs. Kim and her family where hiding in the local Caodai temple, but because it wasn't safe there too, the children where sent away the first to escape when the bombs fell. Kim was caught by the napalm and the fire, but she got rid of her burning clothes and tried to run away to Route 1, the main road, with her brothers and other children, crying out in pain of her burning skin.
Photographer Nick Ut who was reporting the napalm strike, made the world famous picture of Kim running, and he and other reporters brought her to a hospital in Saigon. After that, Kim and her family's life became a struggle under the strict communist regime in Vietnam. Kim tried to study medicine, but her study was constantly interrupted by requests for interviews, she was constantly chaperonned to every interview by the government, and she faced life long health problems because of her burned skin. Kim and her family had many troubles to survive, but Kim stayed strong, said the faith of Caodai farewell and became a Christian, which helped her to not give up hope to survive hard times and escape.Kim is now a UNESCO Honorary Ambassador, and lives in Toronto with her family.
The Girl from the Picture is a must read book for everyone. I think it is just even as mandatory to read for everyone as the story of Anne Frank.
I was deeply effected by Kim's picture when it was first published. It's good to know she survived and eventually thrived. I'm definitely putting this title on my reading list. Thanks for your review!
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