What Happened in the Story? What are the most important events?
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THE BOOK AND DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS DO NOT READ ON.
-1775: Sundara leaves Phnom Penh to help take care of Soka's newborn baby
-April 17, 1975: Khmer Rouge army, Communist soldiers, are taking over Cambodia which forced the family of Tep Naro (Naro, Soka, Ravy, Pon) and Sundara to flee
-1975: Soka's baby dies of malnutrition. Sundara blames herself for being unable to keep her alive.
~~FOUR YEARS PASS~~
-1979: The family of Tep Naro and Sundara are seen living in America, going through a normal lifestyle of school, working at the Bonner's farm for money, and owning a house.
-1979: Sundara meets Jonathan McKinnon.
-1979: Sundara and Jonathan begin to eat lunch together everyday. They talk about the horrors that Sundara faced in Cambodia and compare that life to life in America.
-1979: Moni tells Sundara that she has found herself a husband.
-1979: Khmer people gather at Sundara's house to talk about their lives back in Cambodia and the family that they miss so dearly.
-1979: Jonathan asks Sundara out on a date. Sundara declines.
-1979: Cathy Gates confronts Sundara about Jonathan.
-1979: Sundara goes sailing with Jonathan and his family.
-1979: Jonathan visits Sundara’s house. Soka forbids Sundara to speak to Jonathan again.
-1979: Sundara finds out that Cameroeun has died.
-1979: Jonathan comforts Sundara about Cameroen's death. At this time she reveals to Jonathan that she has not cried in four years.
-1979: Sundara learns from Ravy that Jonathan got injured during a football game and is in the hospital.
-1979: Sundara rebels against Soka's wishes and goes to visit Jonathan in the hospital.
-1979: Jonathan tells Sundara that he loves her.
-1979: Jonathan quits the football team. Everyone is quick to blame Sundara.
-1979: Naro defends Sundara when Soka attacks her about have relations with Jonathan.
-1979: Sundara weeps uncontrollably for the baby she killed, the lives she lost, and the people she misses. Soka begins to treat Sundara with more respect and affection.
-1979: Sundara teaches Dr. McKinnon the Khmer language in preparation for his service trip to a refugee camp.
-1979: Soka and Sundara discuss Soka's baby's death. Soka assures Sundara that the baby's death was not Sundara's fault.
-1979: Jonathan kisses Sundara.
-1979: Valinn arrives in America and Sundara finds out that her sister, Mayoury, is safe in a refugee camp in Cambodia.
-1979: Sundara tells Jonathan that she loves him.
Khmer Rouge army soldier
Soka's baby
Willamette, Oregon- Sundara's new home
Sundara's house in Willamette Grove
Sailing with Jonathan and his parents.
Death of a Cambodian teenager (Chameroun)