Hmong: A Graphic History

Gr 7 Up–Self-taught artist Lyfoung’s graphic memoir weaves together the history of Hmong people and her own search for identity. Growing up Hmong in France, Lyfoung realized that she and others didn’t know much at all about the Hmong people. Lyfoung lays out an intricate historical context of the Hmong, an ethnic group dating back to 2000 BC China, who migrated south over many hundreds of years. In a beautifully detailed and rendered section, she explains 18th and 19th century Hmong life and traditions in the mountains of what is now Laos. Her own parents’ story is woven into a detailed history of French-colonized Laos and the conflicts that forced their escape, stays in Thai refugee camps, and eventual emigration to France. While the history is intricate and specific, the threads of family and Hmong identity come loose quickly without section descriptors or chapters, making the story flow uneven at times. A prologue by French journalist and documentarian Cyril Payen gives deep and ­personal context, while an annotated map of Hmong migration, conflict, refugee camps, and escape serve to ground the book. Black and white panels of varying sizes emphasize the depth and heft of Hmong history. Lyfoung’s charming manga-style drawing is expressive, dramatic, and unique—a sure draw for middle grade readers who are ­receptive to manga facial expressions, action scenes, and storytelling methods.