Winner of the 2025 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book

At first, no one noticed when I stopped talking at school. In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a young Hmong refugee navigating life at home and at school. Having seen the poor treatment her parents received when making their best efforts at speaking English, she no longer speaks at school. Kalia feels as though a rock has become lodged in her throat, and it grows heavier each day. Although the narrative is somber, it is also infused with moments of beauty, love, and hope. This is a story for anyone who has ever struggled to find their voice

Read by Kao Kalia Yang

Mode of access: World Wide Web