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Quote [include context] or specific example: When the Khmer Rouge bans civilization advancements such as watches, it is an important tool of survival that the Ung family complies. The officer says, "You!" A Khmer Rouge soldier comes over to us. "Give me your watches." "Certainly." With shoulders bent to show submission, Pa takes the watches of of Meng and Khouy's wrists. Pa does not look the soldier in the eyes as he hands the watches over" (Ung 27).

Analysis: This is an important tool of survival because if the Ung family showed any sign of resistance, disrespect, or unwillingness, they would be shot by the Khmer Rouge immediately. Therefore, they must comply with the soldiers' orders to stay alive.

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Quote [with context] or specific example: When Loung is simply stating what she understands from their current situation as a 5 year old, she comes across somewhat rude. Her Pa scolds her, "The sternness in Pa's voice makes my face burn with shame" (Ung 39).

Analysis: In the beginning of the novel, Pa is described to be kind and caring to Loung. He is often on her side, supports her, and feeds into her wild imagination and creativity. As the pressure and stress of the evacutaion grows, Pa's concerns are more focused on the protection of his family, not entertaining his young children. This is shown by his sternness because he has little patience to teach Loung right from wrong and focuses his efforts on her safety.

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Definition: "The organization"; the name of the Cambodian government under the leadership of the Khmer Rouge

How it relates to story/what it helps reader to understand: It helps the reader to understand the condition of Cambodia. It makes the interrogations and words of the Khmer Rouge more understandable; the Ankgar is always watching, the Angkar knows all, you cannot lie to the Ankgar, it gives an understanding to these threats.

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Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person

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Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person

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Quote [with context] or specific example: After the Khmer Rouge takes over Cambodia, the Ung family finds themselves searching for a home. Unfortunately, "Now the villagers have to seek permission for the simplest of human desires- to have family members live with them or to leave the village to visit another area" (Ung 39).

Analysis: This violates the declaration of human rights article 3 because it doesn't allow the villagers to live their life freely or happily. They have to beg for their basic needs and for things that shouldn't be up for debate, like allowing a family member to live within the house they own themselves.

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Quote: When Loung imagines what happens when Keav died, she remembers how Keav hasn't been able to experience things a normal teenager would. She thinks about how, "She is fifteen and has never held a boy's hand, never been kissed by a boy, never felt a lover's warm embrace... she wanted someday to experience the love Ma and Pa have for one another" (Ung 95).

Analysis: This quote resonated with me because I could never imagine a life without the feeling and experiences of love in my life. Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the Cambodian Genocide, many young children were unable to truly experience life as a teenager. And many who didn't survive the genocide never got to experience these important things at all, such as Keav. My heart breaks for these people who would never understand the joy of being young and in love. They would never know how it feels to be cared for and comforted by a person in your life that you see as a large part of your future. A life without the experience of love is a life I would be miserable in. To wake up every day without knowing the feeling of the warm embrace and gentle touch by someone you love seems painful. The genocide took many monumental milestones away from these children's lives, something I couldn't imagine living without. I don't know what I would do if I were in that situation, knowing that I would die without many of my "firsts" and without ever meeting my loving boyfriend.

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Quote: When Loung and Chou arrive at the child labor camp after leaving Ro Leap, they are introduced to campfire lessons by the Met Bong. They are filled with propaganda about the achievements of the Angkar, "Angkar is all-powerful! Angkar is the savior and liberator of the Khmer people!" (Ung 125).

Analysis: This is a tool of oppression because it forces the children to be almost brainwashed into believing, or at least pretending to believe, that the Angkar is a powerful, all-knowing, savior that has come to the liberation of the Khmer people. The propaganda itself is a tool of oppression because no matter how much one might disagree, speaking out against the Angkar is a punishable crime. They are not allowed their freedom of speech and must take in all the information they are spoon-fed by the Met Bong willingly and joyously.

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Quote: When Pa goes missing, Loung uses her imagination to explain what she thinks, or wishes, has happened. She explains, "My spirit cries and hovers down over him. My spirit wraps invisible arms around him, making him cry even more" (Ung 106).

Analysis: Loung uses the italics to indicate that this is what she had imagined happening, not what actually happened. She uses this to tell the story of Pa's murder. She tells the thoughts of her spirit leaving her body to find Pa. When she locates him, she finds the Khmer Rouge soldiers lining him up with other men to be killed by a hammer to the head. In reality, it is more likely that Pa was killed like the others, being buried alive. But Loung's imagination was likely a coping mechanism for her, to know that Pa died in peace with her spirit arms wrapped around him until the very end.

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Quote: After the deaths of her father and her older sister, Keav, Loung finds herself growing more violently hateful of the Khmer Rouge and specifically Pol Pot in order to survive. Loung's emotions give her a drive to live, "Rage makes me want to survive and live so that I may kill. I feed my rage with bloody images of Pol Pot's slain body being dragged in the dirt" (Ung 108).

Analysis: Loung's character changes from an innocent and childish five-year-old to a wildly violent and hateful girl. This is a direct result of the deaths of Keav and Pa which left a large absence in her heart. This void is now filled with hatred instead of sadness and grievance in order for Loung to survive. If Loung did not feed her own hatred, she would end up killing herself due to her lack of motivation and suicidal thoughts. She uses her hatred as a tool to keep herself motivated with the thought that one day, she may be able to seek revenge for all the trauma and wrong-doings she faced during the genocide.

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Definition: "In a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling"

How it relates to story/what it helps reader to understand: It helps the reader to understand the emotion of the men's words. When they are talking about their gratitude for the Youns, Loung writes, "On every side of us, men talk vehemently about the Youn invasion and the defeat of Pol Pot's army" (Ung 169). The word helps to emphasize how grateful they are for the Youn's invasion.

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Question: Will Loung realize she is in danger?

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Question: Will Loung realize she is in danger?

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When Loung is following the Youn, I wondered when she would realize that she is in great danger. This question is significant because it isn't until Loung reaches the bush that she realizes that the Youn wants to harm her, "By now my palms are sweating with fear. He points to the bushes and motions for me to follow. "No!" I say firmly, refusing" (Ung 179). This means that along the walk to "water" Loung trusted the Youn, completely unaware of the trauma that she was soon to endure. As a reader, however, I had a feeling that Loung was in a dangerous situation, and I questioned when Loung would realize it herself.

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Quote: On their way to Thailand, pirates boarded the boat and demanded the passengers handed over their valuables. The passengers, "... hand(ed) over their valuables without protest" (Ung 227).

Analysis: In order to survive and not be brutally massacred, the passengers complied with the pirates willingly. If they had hesitated or refused to hand over their valuables, the tales of violent massacres carried out by pirates could have been reality. This is a tool of survival throughout the entire book. Most often, the Ungs and other Cambodians obey the orders from the Khmer Rouge, Met Bongs, or anyone that poses as a possible threat.

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Definition: "In a random manner; unsystematically. In a way that does not show care or judgement"

How it relates to story/what it helps reader to understand: By knowing the definition of this word, the reader can better understand the contrast between the inhumanity of the Khmer Rouge in some provinces versus the humanity of those in others. The Khmer Rouge in the areas Loung lived in killed villagers at ease, even without reason, in contrast, in the east, "... the soldiers did not kill the villagers indiscriminately" (Ung 213) and were overall more humane.