We named you Kim Ha, after the Golden (Kim) River (Ha), where Father and I once strolled in the evenings.
-- Mother (Section 1, Page 6 paragraph 2)

Importance: Here, Mother explains the importance behind Ha’s name. Not only is Ha named after a beautiful place that meant much to her parents, but her name itself has important meaning. Rivers are seen as forces of life and progress, and things that are golden are seen as beautiful and good. As a result, Ha’s name can be seen as “beautiful life” and “good progress,” a telling name for the good things that Ha will someday do.

People can barely afford food.
-- Mother (Section 1, Page 15 paragraph 1)

Importance: As Ha and her family hunker down in Saigon as the war grows closer and closer, food becomes not only scarcer, but its cost skyrockets. It is a hardship brought on by war with bad consequences. As a result, people can barely afford food, they certainly cannot...