A review by krystaaal
Kween by Vichet Chum

emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Vichet Chum's debut novel, Kween, is part of a small list of Khmer YA novels that I would have loved to read as a teen. I still found it relatable even as an older second generation millennial Khmer American. Reading Kween reminded me of when I would write stories of my own when I was younger that featured Khmer characters and families, reflective of my own experiences. I used to read a lot of YA novels back then and have always wanted to publish my own. Reading Kween has definitely helped urge that fire in me to get back into writing (consistently)! Whether it's a YA novel or something else completely, I just want more Khmer stories to be told.

Kween was a refreshing read with relatable characters that captured the beautiful chaos of Khmer American life to a t. The story of Soma's dad's deportation hit close to home as a family member of mine was deported some years ago too and it's been hard on my family ever since. I felt Soma's and her family's pain.

Young or old (like me), Khmer or not Khmer, I recommend giving Kween a read, especially if you're looking to diversify your reading list!