"A Laotian girl's life takes a cruel turn in this haunting yet hopeful tale based on the childhood of Laotian-American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao. Sunny watercolors with patterned borders illuminate the simple joys of Mali's early life, when the world was 'full of wonderful things.' . Landowne smoothly includes several Laotian words and phrases in this deeply felt and gently told story." -- Publishers Weekly "The focus remains tightly on Mali's experiences and feelings, keeping it accessible to young readers. An additional endnote by another Laotian artist provides historical context. Laotian vocabulary is incorporated in a natural way, and the illustrations include Laotian script. The watercolor illustrations, while naive in style, convey a real sense of place.

Intricate borders surround every spread, and the bright/dark color schemes reflect the emotions of each scene." -- School Library Journal "The small child's viewpoint will move young readers, and a final photo shows the real Mali, an artist and activist, today." -- Booklist Skipping Stones Book Awards 2011 - Skipping Stones Magazine.