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When Heaven Fell
When a Vietnamese girl receives a visit from her half-American aunt, brimming curiosity and cultural misperceptions come to the fore.
Every day nine-year-old Binh sells fruit and sodas to the girls whose families can afford to send them to school, and every night she returns to her one-room home to share a simple meal with her family. Everything changes, however, when her grandmother tells Binh she had a daughter during the war, a child who was sent away to America as a little girl. Now Di Hai — Binh’s aunt, a teacher — is coming to visit, and Binh can’t help but wonder what luxurious gifts she will bring.
Yet when Di Hai arrives, there are so many confusing things about she’s taller than the men, she’s not married, and her presents are mere trinkets that could have come from Third Aunt’s tourist shop! Still, Binh secretly hopes Di Hai will take her to live in America. Can her aunt live up to her expectations? Carolyn Marsden tells Binh’s story with warmth and sensitivity as she ushers readers into the life and dreams of a young Vietnamese girl.
Every day nine-year-old Binh sells fruit and sodas to the girls whose families can afford to send them to school, and every night she returns to her one-room home to share a simple meal with her family. Everything changes, however, when her grandmother tells Binh she had a daughter during the war, a child who was sent away to America as a little girl. Now Di Hai — Binh’s aunt, a teacher — is coming to visit, and Binh can’t help but wonder what luxurious gifts she will bring.
Yet when Di Hai arrives, there are so many confusing things about she’s taller than the men, she’s not married, and her presents are mere trinkets that could have come from Third Aunt’s tourist shop! Still, Binh secretly hopes Di Hai will take her to live in America. Can her aunt live up to her expectations? Carolyn Marsden tells Binh’s story with warmth and sensitivity as she ushers readers into the life and dreams of a young Vietnamese girl.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2007
About the author
Carolyn Marsden
28 books18 followersCarolyn Marsden was born in Mexico City to missionary parents. She has been a writer all her life, but THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS is her first book. About THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS she says, "I wrote this story when my half-Thai daughter was being teased at school. As a parent and elementary school teacher, I watched her struggle to establish a cultural identity. I became fascinated with a conflict that is common to many children in our increasingly diverse United States." Carolyn Marsden has an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College. After spending the last twenty-five years in Tucson, Arizona, Carolyn Marsden now lives by the ocean with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 26, 2021
This was a very cute book at a very young-age reading level. The main character is only 9 year old and it is written in her perspective. The moral of the story was good, not to stereotype, keep an open mind, and it also taught on multiculturalism, but the story did not flow very well in my personal opinion, making it hard to read. For how short and easy of a read the book is, it took me over a week to finish it!
January 27, 2015
I picked up this book as part of an independent reading assignment for a children's literature assignment on multiculturalism. I loved it so much I wanted to share it here.
A full disclaimer... in my previous life, I was a Vietnamese linguist in the US Army. Because of that, I fell in love with all things Vietnamese culture, a big reason I chose this novel. The messages of this book are both eye-opening and beautiful, and it truly shows the differences and assumptions that are often made about different cultures.
It is set in relatively contemporary times in Vietnam. Binh is 9 years old and has spent her entire life in her village, never even seeing her own country. She lives with her parents, her brother, and her grandmother in a tiny one-room home nestled next to the river. Her days are spent by the highway, selling fruit and soda to passersby. Although school is free in communist Vietnam, the uniforms and books are not and her family cannot afford to send her to school. A little cost comparison... school costs approximately 600,000 dong in southern Vietnam, which today is equivalent to about $28.
Ba Ngoai, Binh's grandmother, finds out that her long-lost daughter Thao is coming to visit her. Ba Ngoai has not seen her daughter since she gave her away after the end of the war when the Communist regime threatened the lives of Vietnamese children of American mixed blood. Thao's father was an American soldier, her life at risk. Binh's family sees all Americans as rich and assume that Thao will bring them gifts, gifts that will bring them a life of ease, maybe even a move to the States. Instead, Thao comes with little, seemingly meaningless gifts. The entire book is a journey for Binh to understand that there are gifts and beauty to be found in her own country, in her own life. Thao learns about the value of things that she takes for granted, how much those very things mean to the family left behind. There is so much to learn about diversity and culture and values in this book and it is simply beautiful. There is a quote from a story within the book told by a Buddhist monk that I love. The story was about a rich man looking for his runaway cows. No one had seen them and after he left, the Buddha told his followers that the mand was burdened by his cows and that they were the lucky ones, having no cows to worry abot.
Please think about your cows. Some cows may be possessions Others may be ideas you cling to. Think of releasing your cows.
My Recommendation: Although a middle grade book, it is a beautiful story that I highly recommend!
A full disclaimer... in my previous life, I was a Vietnamese linguist in the US Army. Because of that, I fell in love with all things Vietnamese culture, a big reason I chose this novel. The messages of this book are both eye-opening and beautiful, and it truly shows the differences and assumptions that are often made about different cultures.
It is set in relatively contemporary times in Vietnam. Binh is 9 years old and has spent her entire life in her village, never even seeing her own country. She lives with her parents, her brother, and her grandmother in a tiny one-room home nestled next to the river. Her days are spent by the highway, selling fruit and soda to passersby. Although school is free in communist Vietnam, the uniforms and books are not and her family cannot afford to send her to school. A little cost comparison... school costs approximately 600,000 dong in southern Vietnam, which today is equivalent to about $28.
Ba Ngoai, Binh's grandmother, finds out that her long-lost daughter Thao is coming to visit her. Ba Ngoai has not seen her daughter since she gave her away after the end of the war when the Communist regime threatened the lives of Vietnamese children of American mixed blood. Thao's father was an American soldier, her life at risk. Binh's family sees all Americans as rich and assume that Thao will bring them gifts, gifts that will bring them a life of ease, maybe even a move to the States. Instead, Thao comes with little, seemingly meaningless gifts. The entire book is a journey for Binh to understand that there are gifts and beauty to be found in her own country, in her own life. Thao learns about the value of things that she takes for granted, how much those very things mean to the family left behind. There is so much to learn about diversity and culture and values in this book and it is simply beautiful. There is a quote from a story within the book told by a Buddhist monk that I love. The story was about a rich man looking for his runaway cows. No one had seen them and after he left, the Buddha told his followers that the mand was burdened by his cows and that they were the lucky ones, having no cows to worry abot.
Please think about your cows. Some cows may be possessions Others may be ideas you cling to. Think of releasing your cows.
My Recommendation: Although a middle grade book, it is a beautiful story that I highly recommend!
December 9, 2014
This is a wonderful chapter book about a young Vietnamese girl and her family who live in a poor village. The girl’s name is Binh and like her brother and friends, she is not able to go to school with other children her age because her family is too poor to afford the cost. Instead, she works on the side of a busy highway and sells fruit and soda from a cart to gain money for her family. One day, her grandmother tells everyone that her oldest daughter is going to visit from America, this is a shock because no one knew she had another daughter until she tells the story of meeting a man during the war. Binh is so excited about meeting her new aunt because she has seen American movies and thinks every American is rich and will bring a lot of gifts. After her new aunt arrives at the village. Binh realizes that American people are not as rich as they seem to be in movies and see that she is more plain than extravagant. However, Binh and her new aunt become very close and in the end, her aunt is able to surprise the entire family. This is a great book that brings up many cultural issues that students may come across with the increasing percentage of classroom diversity.
Marsden, C. (2007). Where Heaven Fell. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Marsden, C. (2007). Where Heaven Fell. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
April 22, 2020
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is a story about a young girl named Binh. Binh is nine years old and lives in Vietnam. She works at a fruit and soda stand and is unable to attend school due to her income. Her aunt is coming to visit from the U.S. and Binh is hoping that her aunt will take her back to the U.S. so that she can attend school. I think that this story is amazing, and I think the author did a great job at explaining all the things in the book. I think that students should read this book because I think it will help them to understand that not everyone has the privilege to go to school and get the education they deserve to have and I think that this is such an important message that students should really get to understand and learn from.
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April 17, 2020Rachel (10) checked this one out because one of her tasks for the summer reading program is to read a book set in another country. Of course she never actually read it. This one takes place in present day Viet Nam, and tells the story of a young girl whose life is shaken up with her long-lost aunt, a child who had been taken to America as a child, comes to visit. I got a great sense of place from this book, and how different Viet Nam is, but I have to admit I got confused as to who some of the characters were due to my unfamiliarity with the language and culture. The same character would be referred to in multiple ways depending on who was talking. It had a satisfying conclusion.
November 21, 2022
For someone who hadn't read any book about Vietnam and its culture, I found this book quite interesting as I learned more about how Vietnamese people lived their lives. When Heaven Fell talks about the different perspectives of a young girl living in poverty. It shows how she thinks about different types of people, from wealthier families to part of her own family living in America. Although Carolyn Marsden used much description to show how the characters felt and their emotions, the book didn't exactly hook me in. There wasn't much action during the book which disappointed me and which I would want more of in order to rate this book a 4.
June 24, 2017
A quick read along with, the Jade Dragon, though I liked this one more, as it incorporated some history of the Vietnam War, and even something I had never heard of, Operation Babylift. Other than that, it was an interesting middle-grade story surrounding expectations, briefly on stereotypes, and some cool aspects of Vietnamese culture.
May 7, 2020
This book was short and sweet— and a lovely form of insight into the world of a young Vietnamese girl and her views on America, most of which she has gotten from movies.
The characters were enjoyable, and the pace and tone was pleasant. A mostly feel-good read with good use of imagery.
The characters were enjoyable, and the pace and tone was pleasant. A mostly feel-good read with good use of imagery.
June 28, 2018
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I felt at times the young protagonist was a cipher than an actual character.
December 22, 2020
This book is very emotional and the girl really want to go to America with her Aunty, but Aunty her on a little trip to a restaurant and a beach.
May 2, 2015
This book is based in Vietnam and is about a little girl named Bihn. She lives with her family and they are very poor. She is unable to go to school and instead sales fruit and soda out of a little cart in the market. Bihn loves to hear stories about the war in Vietnam and has always wanted to travel .One day her Grandma had news for everyone that her other daughter, Thao, was coming to visit from America. The grandma had had a child with an American soldier during the war, during that time the Vietnamese did not like the “half Breeds” and wanted them all dead. So Bihn’s grandma sent her daughter Thao away to America for a better chance at life. Once Bihn’s aunt arrives things start to change. Before her aunt leaves to go back to America she takes Bihn on a trip to see the ocean and even pays for her and her best friend/cousin Cuc to go to school and get an education.
This book was great by showing the difficulties people in another culture have to deal with. Many students in the United States don't even want to get an education and this little girl is wishing she had a chance to get an education. So I would have my classroom read the book and then they could feel a little more appreciate of what they have. The book would also give the children more of a cultural awareness. This book would be for children around early elementary grades up to 6th grade. The reading level is low and so is the vocabulary, so the book would be suitable for the students. I would recommend this book to my future students if I were to teach in the lower grades.
Marsden, C. (2007). When Heaven Fell. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
This book was great by showing the difficulties people in another culture have to deal with. Many students in the United States don't even want to get an education and this little girl is wishing she had a chance to get an education. So I would have my classroom read the book and then they could feel a little more appreciate of what they have. The book would also give the children more of a cultural awareness. This book would be for children around early elementary grades up to 6th grade. The reading level is low and so is the vocabulary, so the book would be suitable for the students. I would recommend this book to my future students if I were to teach in the lower grades.
Marsden, C. (2007). When Heaven Fell. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
December 15, 2014
Marsden, C. (2007) When heaven fell. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick.
When Heaven Fell, is a realistic fiction book about a young adopted Vietnamese girl named Binh. In the story Binh finds herself living in poverty in Vietnam after the horrible events that took place during the war. In order to make money she decides to sell fruit and sodas to girls, whose families can afford to send them to school. Once she has made some money during the day, she then returns to her single room home and shares a meal with her family. Eventually, Binh receives great news that her aunt Di Hai is coming to visit and hopes that she will bring expensive gifts along with her. Unfortunately Binh’s expectations are not met and her prediction of her aunt turns out to be something complete opposite. This book is great for middle school readers interested in Vietnamese culture. Marsden’s book explores the themes of poverty, and struggles adoptees face as a result to war. I could use this book in my classroom to help my students learn about adoption. In order to do this I could have them read the book, look up information pertaining to adoption and then have them write a paper on the effects of adoption on children.
When Heaven Fell, is a realistic fiction book about a young adopted Vietnamese girl named Binh. In the story Binh finds herself living in poverty in Vietnam after the horrible events that took place during the war. In order to make money she decides to sell fruit and sodas to girls, whose families can afford to send them to school. Once she has made some money during the day, she then returns to her single room home and shares a meal with her family. Eventually, Binh receives great news that her aunt Di Hai is coming to visit and hopes that she will bring expensive gifts along with her. Unfortunately Binh’s expectations are not met and her prediction of her aunt turns out to be something complete opposite. This book is great for middle school readers interested in Vietnamese culture. Marsden’s book explores the themes of poverty, and struggles adoptees face as a result to war. I could use this book in my classroom to help my students learn about adoption. In order to do this I could have them read the book, look up information pertaining to adoption and then have them write a paper on the effects of adoption on children.
June 19, 2008
Nine-year-old Bihn and her family gets a surprise when her Ba Ngnoi (grandmother) tells her that she has an aunt who was sent to America at the end of the Vietnam War and was adopted by an American family. The new aunt is coming to visit, and Bihn's family prepares and talks about what the aunt will be like and what she may bring. It's pretty obvious that there is soon to be a major culture shock -- for both sides. When Di Hai comes, she isn't at all what Bihn and the others expect. The issues that come up, and this historical footnotes, are very enlightening. The writing in the story at times is a bit clunky (for example, the very opening sentence describes how Bihn is sheltered from the sun by three walls and umbrella, then the very next sentence it says the umbrella's canvas had all rotted away. My first thought was "gee, that's not much protection, and couldn't that have been better described?"), but the characters are very likeable.
April 8, 2013
When Heaven Fell is a spectacular story about a young girl named Binh living in Vietnam. She comes from a very poor family that can barely afford basic needs. She has always had the desire to go to school but school is not a luxury that her family can pay for. Binh and her family suddenly find out that Grandmother has a daughter who she gave up for adoption during the war and that she is going to be visiting. They believe that they are going to be saved because she must be rich since she lives in America. When she arrives, they are all disappointed. She seems to dress poorly and only has one suitcase for her whole trip. Binh realizes that things for her are not going to look up after all but as the trip with her new aunt Thao continues, she begins to realize more about the world around her and maybe Thao will save her after all. This is a great book for young readers to understand the world around them.
January 15, 2009
Binh is a nine year old Vietnamese fruit seller who learns that her grandmother gave away her first daughter during the "American War" so that the daughter could have a chance at a better life. Now this daughter, Di Hai (aunt) is coming to visit from America. All the family hopes Di Hai will bring the tools for a better life along with her (money, expensive gifts, etc.), or bring some of the family back to America so that they, too, can have a better life. No one, including Binh and Di Hai, get what they expect, but their lives do change.
A quick, interesting little story. Lots of information about modern life in a small Vietnamese village and some background on the war and Communism - but not so much that it overwhelms the story. Binh is a sympathetic, believable character to whom children can relate. Recommended for late 3rd - early 5th graders.
A quick, interesting little story. Lots of information about modern life in a small Vietnamese village and some background on the war and Communism - but not so much that it overwhelms the story. Binh is a sympathetic, believable character to whom children can relate. Recommended for late 3rd - early 5th graders.
September 6, 2014
When I first read the back of the book I was pretty interested. It had the whole ideas of a girl who lives in a country facing poverty and she dreams that in America everyone is rich and happy and then she ends up being let down when her aunt (who is from America) doesn't bring her all these extravengent gifts. I think the idea was there but just not the writing. I felt like the characters were a little one dimensional and that the writing got boring at times. I was unable to finish the book because I just lost interest in the story line when bins aunt came because the story seemed to just go nowhere.
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April 30, 2015This book is about a young girl who is living in Vietnam with her family when her grandmother tells her that her aunt from America is coming to visit. She finds out about her grandmothers past and why her aunt is in America. What i liked about his book is that it shows why other cultures think of America. It also was fun to read and learn about how the Vietnamese people live. This book would be great to use for teaching when talking about multicultural and the different places in the world. IT gives excellent examples of what people think of America and how people live completely different depending on where they are from.
July 3, 2016
Written for younger readers, this book gives an insight into the Vietnam War from the perspective of a struggling Vietnamese family. Binh, the main protagonist, discovers that she has an aunt who was sent to America as a five year old during Operation Babylift and now she is coming back to her birth mother in Vietnam. It looks at how Thao found it difficult to fit into American society as a child and now finds Vietnam and its culture alien to her. However, one thing I didn't like about this story was the emphasis on material wealth that permeated throughout and the distinction between the haves and have nots.
May 24, 2023
I love books that give an outside view of what people think of America, and if ever a book gave that, this one is it (we are so blessed in America, btw!!).
The story is about a family in Vietnam whose lives are shaken when they learn their grandmother had a baby she sent to America during the war. That daughter is coming home to meet her birth mother and family, and the very thought places dreams and expectations of riches into the minds of the poor family.
I like books that make you think soberly, and this is a book that does that.
The story is about a family in Vietnam whose lives are shaken when they learn their grandmother had a baby she sent to America during the war. That daughter is coming home to meet her birth mother and family, and the very thought places dreams and expectations of riches into the minds of the poor family.
I like books that make you think soberly, and this is a book that does that.
August 16, 2010
Beautiful childrens book, inspired by the PBS documentary Daughter From Danang. In the book, a young Vietnamese girl named Binh, learns that her grandmother had also another daughter, who was send to America after the war. Binh's 'di hai'' (vietnamese for aunt) comes to her house soon. Binh and her family think she is very rich and will bring her family lots of gifts money, or maybe she will take them to America! But ofcourse, the truth is a bit different..
June 9, 2016
An affirming story of a Vietnamese woman who was sent to America for adoption when she was five years old. She returns to her homeland 30 years later to reunite with her birth mother and meet her extended family for the first time. She finds the Vietnam customs strange and does not meet the expectations of her relatives. During her visit, she learns of her family's poverty and although she does not have a lot of money, she understands the ways she can help them to live a better life.
March 30, 2013
They say that this book is particularly fitted for children, but I believe it is made for us adults (especially for Filipino adults living in the province). It reflects our character as a Filipino (though it is completely Vietnamese in character and story). It is even worth reading in an Afro-Asian Literature Class. No spoiler here.
February 4, 2016
There's a sad sweetness about Binh and her family's hopes that her Ameriasian aunt visiting from America will be as rich and generous and beautiful as they imagine. You can feel the embarassing regret as the cultural divide widens between Di Thao and the family. Binh finds a way to make everything all right.
July 20, 2008
I found this book listed on the recently published "25 Notable Books for a Global Society" (http://www.tcnj.edu/~childlit/2008Not...)
Good childrens'/young adult fiction.
Good childrens'/young adult fiction.
September 9, 2008
This juvenile book is about a Vietnamese-American woman who, at the age of 5, was sent from Vietnam to America to escape being killed by the Communists. At age 35, she goes back to find her Vietnamese mother and family. Very interesting and bittersweet.
December 6, 2011
As I was reading the book it reminded me of the Movie "Daughter from Danang" And than at the end in the acknowledgements the movie. It was written as a children's (7-12) book and reads like one but it is a good book.
November 1, 2007
This book illustrates vividly the way two cultures can have completely different views on the same thing, and how misunderstandings can arise. Excellent read!
January 30, 2008
I really liked it. uhmm.... it depends on what type of books u like
June 6, 2008
Great story - I became very attached to the characters and thought it resolved in a very fitting way.
February 22, 2009
Great example for young readers of Vietnamese culture, specifically, and clashes between cultures in general.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews