Diana Khoi Nguyen

"Root Fractures" is a poetic excavation, revealing moments of rupture in the aftermath of the Fall of Saigon. Nguyen delves into the experiences of a mother forced underground, a father forging a new life as an immigrant in California, and a brother who chose to cut himself out of the family narrative entirely. As new generations emerge, the opportunity for renewal intertwines with echoes of the past, creating a picture of fractured roots and resilient shoots.

Pros:

Longlisted for the National Book Awards this poetry collection is not just haunting in its words, but also in the images it contains. The collection deals primarily with her deceased brother and the grief and confusion over his loss. She is a multi-media artist, so this book is also filled with family images with the missing brother cut out and poetry shaped to his form. This presents a compelling, emotional read.