DUST CHILD

U.S. Edition / U.K. EditionSwedish Edition / Italian Edition / Dutch Edition / Croatian Edition / French Edition / German EditionSpanish Edition / Audiobook

The novel is being translated into Russian, Finnish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Czech, Norwegian, Sinhala ...

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

* Winner of the 2023 She Reads Best Historical Fiction Award

* Chosen by independent booksellers in the United States as an Indie Next List Great Read

* Named Best International Novel of the Year at Apple Books Canada

* Named a Best Book of 2023 by Star Tribune

* Short-listed for the Edward Stanford Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place

* Named a Best Book of the season by the Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, Good Morning America, Ms. magazine, Amazon, the Chicago Review of Books, BookPage, Book Riot, The Buzz Magazines, Apple Books, and BookBub

 

From the internationally bestselling author of THE MOUNTAINS SING, a suspenseful and moving saga about family secrets, hidden trauma, and the overriding power of forgiveness. DUST CHILD tells an unforgettable and immersive story of how those who inherited tragedy can redefine their destinies through love, hard-earned wisdom, compassion, courage, and joy.

PRAISE FOR DUST CHILD:

A "sweeping, decades-spanning saga" - The New York Times

"The plot is intricate and ingenious" - The Washington Post

"An exquisite novel" - The Boston Globe

"Another triumph! Powerful and deeply empathetic. A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption."—Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer

“Dust Child is satisfying, lyrical, and deeply empathetic. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is a born storyteller.” —Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

"Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful."—Elif Shafak, Women's Prize shortlist author of The Island of Missing Trees

"I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book."—Chanel MillerNew York Times bestselling author of Know My Name

"As an adopted Amerasian orphan from the Vietnam War growing up in America, Dust Child is more than a book to me, it is much-needed reconciliation and healing." -Trần Văn Kirk (Kellerhals), director of Intersections, winner of Best Inspiration Film at the 2022 Cannes World Film Festival

"A page-turner" - Star Tribune

"Insights into the period and eloquent prose are impressive." - Financial Times 

"Notable for its boundless compassion" - The Times

"Beautifully crafted...a masterful display of Quế Mai's capacity to evoke compassion through her lyrical prose" - The Irish Times

"Wonderful linguistic play... deft and illuminating descriptions..."  BookPage

"A family epic to remember."Chicago Review of Books

“Achingly honest and ultimately hopeful; essential reading."— Library Journal starred review

"Phenomenally beautiful" - The Australian Women's Weekly

"A blistering novel" - The Toronto Star 

"Quế Mai's kaleidoscopic view opens doors of empathy and humanity" - Sydney Morning Herald

“Nguyễn deftly wields her own polyglot talents to reclaim lives too long overlooked.”— Shelf Awareness 

“An insightful, engrossing novel.”—The California Review of Books

"...lyrical novel by a bold talent."—Good Morning America 

“A poignant and suspenseful saga.”BookBub 

“A moving saga about family secrets, trauma, discrimination, hope and, ultimately forgiveness.”―San Diego Union Tribune 

“Told from three points of view with emotion and skill, these intersecting stories will stay with you.”―BookTrib

“Offers fresh, compassionate lens on Việt Nam”―KPBS (San Diego NPR ) Midday Edition


“At once empathetic, devastating and upbeat, burnished with Quế Mai's stunning signature prose.”WGBH / Under the Radar

"A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience."—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars

"With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Quế Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing." Thi Bui, American Book Award-winning author of The Best We Could Do

"Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written. This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!"—Lệ Lý Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 

"Once again, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Việt Nam. Dust Child is simply stunning."—Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost To The Water

“One of the most important works of historical fiction in recent times.” Sofia Akel,  founder of the Free Books Campaign

“An evocative tale… Nguyễn’s love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.” —Jing-Jing Lee, Women Prize long-listed author of How We Disappeared 

“Rewarding… with a cinematic clarity.”—Publishers Weekly

"Stirring ... a page turner and sheds light on a neglected subject." Kirkus Review

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time. She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery." —Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

“A powerful and moving story, brilliantly told." —Robert Mason,  New York Times bestselling author of Chickenhawk

“Riveting... Nguyễn creates, in her luminous prose, a gripping and nuanced narrative.” —Steven DeBonis, author of Children of the Enemy: Oral Histories of Vietnamese Amerasians and Their Mothers

MORE about Dust Child. MORE about The Mountains Sing.

A list of books and films about Amerasians and their family members