Arn is displaced by the Khmer Rouge. He is forced to commit horrific deeds to others in order to remain alive. He struggles between hope of a new land and the guilt of his actions in Cambodia. He arrival in America is marked by a difficult transition that is almost as difficult as his time in Cambodia. Arn finds power and redemption in telling his story. 
 I love the description of a teenager coming to a new land and his difficulties adapting to a different culture. Arn is able to survive by telling his story as he knows that it can help others. Readers will find a greater empathy for those adjusting to a new land.