The book has a thoughtful pace that follows the family through seasons of life welcoming twin baby boys, their neighbor Ruth passing away, and caring for their neighbor Bob as he navigates the heartbreaking loss of his wife. Upon moving into a new neighborhood, they meet an older couple, Bob and Ruth, who live across the street. It is nothing short of incredible.Ī Map into the World is a heartwarming story inspired by Kao Kalia Yang’s family and young daughter.

And now… IT IS HERE! And I finally got my hands on a copy. I have been looking forward to it ever since. I was captivated by her journey as a writer and the stories behind her books The Song Poet and What God Is Honored Here? She also gave us a sneak peek of her upcoming (at the time) debut picture book A Map into the World. Kao Kalia Yang lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota and she visited the University of Minnesota campus this past April. I absolutely LOVED that book, I was moved by her exceptional writing, and I learned a lot about the experiences and histories of her Hmong American family. This memoir shares her family’s powerful and poignant journey from war-torn Laos to refugee camps in Thailand and finally to the United States. Four years ago, I read her memoir The Latehomecomer. She visited campus to share her stories and writing journey.

A Map into the World is a beautiful picture book that I have been eagerly awaiting ever since I met author Kao Kalia Yang last spring.

A map into the world by kao kalia yang