The Spirit Catches You is all about exodus, in the immortal words of Bob Marley—you know, the movement of jah people. Sadly, the Hmong aren't quite so up-to-date on the Reggae movement, and they could use a little dose of don't worry, be happy.
So, the book. We follow the trials and tribulations of the Lees, a family of Hmong refugees who have fled war-torn Laos for the United States. This isn't the first time this has happened, either: the Hmong have been violently driven from their homes more times than they can count.
As they struggle to adapt to a country vastly different from their own, the Lees—and the Hmong community as a whole—reveal the deep psychological and emotional pain of having your home taken from you and getting used to life in exile.
Questions About Exile
- How has being in forced exile shaped Hmong culture?
- Why do the Hmong have so much trouble adapting to America?
- How does age play into the Hmong community's feelings about America?
- Did the U.S. mess up in their handling of Hmong refugees? Why or why not?
Chew on This
The insular nature of Hmong society is a direct response to being forced out of every country they've inhabited.
The Hmong community's migration to America is particularly difficult because American culture is so different from their own.