READERS' COMMENTS

Upper Merion Township Library sent out to the individuals and organizations in the community and the surrounding areas to invite them to come to my “Meet the Author event” at Upper Merion Township Library on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Here is the Press Release that Marianne Hooper who works at the Library sent out to the community:

It is a vivid and poignant personal account of his survival of the Cambodian genocide under dictator Pol Pot.   Salt Seeker is an extraordinary story about a courageous young boy who journeyed through hell on earth and back from April 17, 1975 to January 7, 1979. Hope and strength of will kept him alive as he watched others including many relatives die or more often just "disappear."  

 Daravann's account of the extraordinary and inventive measures he took to ensure his own survival and that of many family members are portrayed with a realism that will have you both crying and cheering.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will support the Salt Seeker Foundation, Inc. Yi founded this nonprofit charitable organization to improve the quality of life and the future of the orphans in Cambodia.  This "Meet the Author" event is not to be missed.”

 

 

"The gripping tale of the triumph of a young boy forced to deal with the realities of war, displacement, rampant murder, and survival."
 
                              Robert Woish, Certified Professional Resume Writer
 

 

 

'An incredible and thought-provoking story of hardship and survival against overwhelming odds.'
  
Mark Hooper, Angel Editing

 

 

 

"Millions of Cambodians perished during the "Killing Fields" of 1975-1979. How Daravann Yi, as a young boy, survived this genocide is a tragic yet ultimately winning story which demonstrates that courage can be shown by anyone of any age.  An important book for public libraries."

 

                   Karl Helicher, Director, Upper Merion Township Library.

 

 

 

 

"Daravann Yi depicts the horrors of a young boy living under the harsh conditions of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.  His vivid descriptions tell of the hope and resiliency of a nation, of a family, 
and most of all, of a young boy who became a young man. I couldn't put 
it down."

         Bridget McFadden, Counselor, Community College of Philadelphia

 

 

 

"Salt Seeker adds another voice to the growing chorus of Khmer Rouge killing fields survivors.  Daravann Yi's heartfelt recounting of his survival after years of hunger, deprivation and the arbitrariness of fate, good and bad, reveals his compassion for our common humanity.  His subsequent odyssey seeking acceptance and success in Pennsylvania is a testament to the power of the human spirit."

 

              William L. Hewitt, Ph.D., History Professor, West Chester University

 

 

 

 

"A gut-wrenching, soul-stirring, captivating account of the extraordinary, profound will of the human spirit to survive. This book 
will inspire compassion for your fellow man with each chapter. A must-read.  
A growing experience you must indulge in." 

 

Gail Chinn M.S., Counselor, Community College of Philadelphia

 

 

 

 

I READ YOUR BOOK AND HERE ARE MY COMMENTS ABOUT IT:

 

 

 

 

It's unfortunate that this book had to be written since it is a memoir of how a child deals with the cruelties of genocide. However, it is a powerful account of a young boy's courage and survival in terrible times. Daravann Yi's "Salt Seeker" is a memoir of his childhood in Cambodia from 1975 to 1981 under the Khmer Rouge. Yi's memories of his pre-teen years are clear and graphic and he seems to have an almost photographic recall when telling his story. In the first few pages, he illustrates the small, secure world of a tight-knit family in Phnom Penh which is turned upside down as he and his family are forced to walk out of the city. When he is separated from his family and made to work long hours as a peasant farmer in youth brigades, Yi brings the reader with him to the rice paddies and jungle. With feet infected from dirty water and legs draped in leeches, Yi graphically describes his hardships. However, Yi's struggles are not just physical; he also has to adapt to the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge when he realizes that as one of the "New People" he is destined to be worked to death. The terror in this book is not the sudden brutality of the killing fields but the slow horror of starvation, abuse, and neglect. Yi's bleak childhood future does not break him, but seems to strengthen him as he confronts brutality, his anxieties, and risks his life for others. Even though over a quarter of a century has passed since Yi was in Cambodia, his memoir is still a compelling read. He is an excellent writer, and his story is a universal inspiration. We are fortunate to be able to read the "Salt Seeker."

 

                                                                  J. Howard

 

 

 

 

This book literally engulfs one right away. The author has a way of placing the reader in his world. As I read this book, I felt as if I was experiencing every aspect of what he was going through. Very visual. I felt happiness and pain. I did not want to put this book down. Every page led to more dramatic and heart-wrenching memories. Every now and then I had to think about what I was reading...a true-life story!!! I cheered for this kid every step of the way! A truly wonderful read. Thank you, Daravann, for sharing your story with us.

 

                                                           B-Ali "bserious"

 

 

Dear Daravann,

 

“I have just finished your book-your story-your personal journey, and I have been so moved.  I could not put the book down.  How little we know of the people we work with.  We pass each other in the halls and say hi and go on with our lives.  Your story is unique because of your honesty.  So many thousands have endured atrocities throughout the world, but few have been able to relate these horrors with such clarity.  Your strength, I believe, comes from such loving parents.  Your intelligence enabled you to survive.  I am glad you wrote it and so glad I read it.  Thank you.”

 

Judith Tomkins

English Department at Community College of Philadelphia

 

 

"Salt Seeker is a book that shows that patient perseverance can help a person get through and survive the worst situation imaginable. 
Daravann Yi became a man at the age of 10. His story will inspire anyone 
to get through the most difficult of life's challenges."

Raymond DiPrimio
ESL instructor

 

"What a remarkable story!   It is truly inspiring to see what a boy/young man can do with fierce determination, incredible courage, and an unwillingness to give up.  With all that was happening to Daravann’s family, it would have been so easy to give up hope, but he never did.  What great life lessons readers can learn by reading this book.  To have endured such hardship and still have such a positive attitude toward life is remarkable!  I could not put the book down."

 

Carol Whitney

 

Defying all odds, Daravann Yi survived the horrors of Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime and escaped to build a new life in America. Many of his relatives were not so lucky, succumbing to the violence, disease, and starvation that marked the genocidal reign of the infamous despot Pol Pot and his followers. Salt Seeker recounts Yi’s miraculous true story of perseverance and survival, beginning with the dark days of the Communist takeover, years of clandestine executions, forced labor, and widespread famine, and culminating in a daring barefoot dash across the heavily guarded Thai border to safety and freedom.

 

John Hurst