The dreamers a Hmong us

Chia Gounza Vang came to Appleton as an illiterate 15-year old refugee. That journey inspired her to write a two-book series that is both captivating and educational.

I have read The Illiterate Daughter and, now, Dreamer’s Dream, and I loved them both. The fictional stories are based on the actual Hmong experience.

“Dreamer’s Dream is drawn from personal experiences such as school, language barrier, the desire the learn and my perspective on the people who have helped me to where I am today, but mostly it’s fiction based on my research with the first wave of Hmong refugees in America,” Chia said.

Dreamer’s Dream takes place in Appleton and follows the story of Noua, a gutsy 17-year old, her mother and her three-year old nephew.

Traumatized by war and the loss of so many of their relatives, the little family relies heavily on their host family, especially oldest son Peter.

Eventually, thanks to her own determination and Peter’s tutoring, Noua assimilates well enough to give a speech at a school-wide assembly telling the story of her family and introducing most of her classmates to the Hmong culture.

“I came to Appleton when I was fifteen and was illiterate,” Chia said “I studied hard like Nou and with the help of my teachers, my dream to be a teacher came true. I hope people like my books, so I can continue to write. That’s a dream.”

Like her character, Chia also relied on mentors, including author Leykn Schmatz.

“We were both members of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI),” Chia said “Each year, SCBWI offers a mentorship program pairing a published author with an aspiring writer for one-on-one guidance. In 2017, Leykn volunteered to mentor in the YA category, and I applied for the contest. I did not win, but Leykn generously offered to assist me. She dedicated time to reading The Illiterate Daughter and providing valuable feedback, supporting me until my book reached the publisher. Without her help, my book might not have made it to publication. Leykn was not only a champion but also my hero. I am grateful to her, my teachers, friends, and colleagues who have contributed to my journey. The theme of heroism in Dreamer’s Dream reflects my gratitude towards those who have aided and stood by me.”

I read both books quickly and was particularly fascinated with Dreamer’s Dream because I recognized so many places and neighborhoods in the book. My mom was an ESL tutor back in the late 1970’s, so some of the situations Chia described also seemed familiar to me.

You can purchase Chia’s books on Amazon, and you can find more information about her here: https://chiagounzavang.com/.

I’d recommend these books to anyone, and particularly to my friends who live or have lived in Appleton.

March is national Reading Month and these books are a great way to celebrate it.