Children of the River 

 

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. 
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Khmer Rouge army soldier
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Soka's baby
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Willamette, Oregon- Sundara's new home
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Sundara's house in Willamette Grove
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Sailing with Jonathan and his parents.
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Death of a Cambodian teenager (Chameroun)
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