• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Thirteen—year—old Yen and her family have survived a war, famine and persecution. When a flood ruins their village in rural Vietnam, they take the ultimate risk on a chance for a better life.

Nhung Tran-Davies is a physician, author, mother of three and an advocate for social justice through education. Born in Vietnam, the youngest of six children, she was five when she and her family came to Canada in 1979 after spending eight months in a Malaysian refugee camp. Green Papayas is her fifth picture book. She lives in Calmar, Alberta.

Nhung Tran-Davies' profile page

"Tran-Davies does not shy away from the terrible realities of post-war Vietnam, including the poverty, corruption, and violence that affected its citizens. The events in this novel are based on history and will act as curriculum tie-in for middle school students. Yen is a well-written character, a strong young teen, struggling to understand the world around her. Ma speaks little, but much is learned by her actions. Much is included in this book including many secondary characters and the many political and social issues of the time.
Highly Recommended."
— CM Magazine

"A suspenseful action story. . . which gives insight into the events that still haunt Canada's Vietnamese population — and the struggles of refugees past and present.
— Quill & Quire