Simone

Reviewed by Pat Corekin

Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen

Simone tells the story of a mother and child during an evacuation from a raging fire in California and the mother’s memories of fleeing a flood in Vietnam when she was a child.

As Simone’s mother recounts the story of the flood when she was Simone’s age, the memories evoke feelings of resilience and courage as both mother and daughter seek safety. Themes of community emerge as they settle into a temporary shelter. Simone shares her crayons and encourages other children to draw firefighters — both the ones dressed in traditional yellow and the ones in the orange uniforms of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

It’s rare to find a children’s book that documents the role of incarcerated people as firefighters, although it should be noted that the wording in the author’s note refers to this as “incarcerated people working” rather than the more accurate term of “forced prison labor.” Simone asks about these firefighters: “They did bad things?” and her mother replies, “Maybe, but now they’re doing good things.” It is good that she said  “maybe” instead of “yes,” since many innocent people are incarcerated. However, environmental crimes caused by corporations that lead to these types of fires and other catastrophes are usually only punished with fines. She could have said, “Maybe, but, many people are in prison who committed no crime at all. And now they have to risk their lives.”

That being said, Simone is a wonderful book for starting conversations on climate change, prison labor, and the healing — and activist — role of art.

For more information, see Democracy Now!’s coverage of incarcerated firefighters:

A New Form of Slavery? Meet Incarcerated Firefighters Battling California’s Wildfires for $1 an Hour

“A Human Tragedy”: Wildfires Reveal California’s Reliance on Incarcerated Firefighters

Pat Corekin is a Social Justice Books publications specialist at Teaching for Change.

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Find recommended titles on our Asian American, Incarceration, and Art booklists.

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Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Published by Astra Publishing House on May 7, 2024
Genres: Asian American, Incarceration
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9781662651205
Review Source: Teaching for Change

Publisher's Synopsis: From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrator Minnie Phan comes an unforgettable story of a Vietnamese American girl whose life is transformed by a wildfire.

When Simone is awakened by her mom as a wildfire threatens their home, it is the beginning of a life-changing journey. On their way to take shelter in a high school gym, the family passes firefighters from a prison unit battling the fire. Simone’s mom tells her that when she was a girl in Viet Nam, she was forced to evacuate her home after a flood. Joined by other children sheltering in the gym, Simone, a budding artist, encourages everyone to draw as a way to process their situation. After a few days, Simone and her mom are able to return to their home, which is fortunately still standing, and her outlook has changed. As Simone begins creating a piece of art with one of her new friends, she realizes that even though they are young, they can dream and work together for a more sustainable future. With a poetic, haunting family story by esteemed author Viet Thanh Nguyen and gorgeous art from illustrator Minnie Phan, this powerful tale introduces an unforgettable young heroine who awakens to a new role fighting for her community and for the future of the planet.