What is the author's tone in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman?

The tone of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is often somber. The Hmong people immigrate to America as refugees from a war-torn country. Many die and those that survive have a difficult journey. Integration into American society is difficult for many and impossible for some. Lia, the main character, has a medical crisis and is left brain dead and paralyzed before the age of five. The tragic events evoke a state of contemplation. The author manages to throw in some anecdotes that are humorous (see, for example, chapter two: Fish Soup) which helps to keep the book from being too heavy.