First They Killed My Father Summary
Ung, Loung

First They Killed My Father Overview

First They Killed My Father is a nonfiction book by Loung Ung, describing one family's experiences in Cambodia during the time of the Pol Pot government and the subsequent Vietnamese -- called 'Youn' in the book -- liberation. The novel begins in Phnom Penh and then follows Loung Ung, the protagonist, as she flees her home town with her family and begins a life of relocation and work in various labor camps, with the siblings being split up and several losses occurring along the way. It is a deftly-written and heart-wrenching account of a true historical event, made more poignant by the author's descriptions of her loved ones and their suffering. The book explores themes such as wartime propaganda, hatred, revenge, and familial love as Loung Ung traces her own and her family's history with nostalgia, sympathy, and a longing for the innocence she lost during the war.