Chou's Struggle In The Lucky Child By Loung Ung

Dylan Loftin Mrs. Geere 1/2A 4/10/24 Chou’s Life on Edge. People struggle to thrive after war, but many don’t see it. In the book The Lucky Child by Loung Ung, Loung describes her and Chou's life during the Khmer Rouge takeover and all the separated realities, like losing family and how it felt to be in different settings. Chou had been separated from her family and was stuck in Cambodia after the Cambodian-Vietnam War. Despite being in difficult times, Chou overcame the obstacles of being in constant danger from Khmer Rouge soldiers, not being allowed to make her own decisions, and being in poverty. First, Chou had to hide from Khmer Rouge soldiers. People still weren’t safe from the remaining Khmer Rouge soldiers, who still had some form of power left after the military was destroyed. In the book, Aunt Keang says, “‘Good

Our husbands and sons have to travel very far to sell our vegetables and crops. They are not here’” (1988). This shows that even though the Khmer Rouge was overthrown, people still weren’t safe from the rogue Khmer Rouge soldiers. Second, she had to go through seeing her family die. This one instance in the book also said “‘At least we can say our goodbyes.’ Chouse speaks the words they both don’t want to hear. They never had the chance to say their goodbyes to Ma, Keav, and Geak, Pa was the only one they got to hold and send off with their love” (89). When the Khmer Rouge killed almost all the doctors and military officials, people couldn’t fight back. This example explains that Chou still had the strength to live even after the horrors and tribulations she suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, she still went on to take care of her family, which shows that even in times of danger, there is always a reason to stay strong. Next, Chou was not allowed to make her own choices. For instance, “My aunt is busy with work every day and there’s no one else but me to look after the baby. I want very much to go to school’”