July Meeting: IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN

For July we'll be reading IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner. In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner is a semi-autobiographical novel set during the Cambodian genocide (1975–1979). It follows seven-year-old Raami, a member of the royal family, as she endures four years of forced exile, starvation, and grueling manual labor under the communist Khmer Rouge regime. Despite systematic violence meant to strip away her identity, Raami survives by clinging to the poetry, myths, and stories passed down by her father. Published in 2012, the book is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of resilience, loss, and the power of narrative amidst the brutality of war, becoming a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Please consider obtaining your copy from one of Madison's wonderful independent bookstores or from Bookshop.org! There are also used copies available from several online retailers.