How to Pronounce Knife By Souvankham Thammavongsa

Random House, 2020. 192 pages. $24 (e-book $12, hardcover $24, audiobook $29)

AUTHOR SOUVANKHAM THAMMAVONGSA was merely a year old when she arrived in Canada with her parents from Laos, a country entrenched in war, after surviving a refugee camp. She bears witness to the struggles she observed and experienced in this short story collection. The brevity and starkness of her stories capture vivid glimpses of the vast challenges newcomers confront.

She portrays characters learning English by watching soap operas, listening to country and western music or accepting a church invitation. Their struggle with English makes them feel inadequate. Her protagonists work long hours with low wages since their credentials are not recognized, under the supervision of people much younger than they are.

Children quickly become latch key kids as their parents work long, hard hours at factories or farms. Because of the different foods they bring to school for lunch, they are teased by classmates.

This collection of deceptively simple short stories can benefit Canadians of all backgrounds, both to appreciate our shared humanity and better understand our differences. Anyone whose family has come to this country from somewhere else or who has empathy for their neighbours will appreciate the struggles and joys portrayed here.

This debut collection was awarded the Scotiabank Giller prize. The author has also published four poetry books and taught writing at Wilfrid Laurier University.