64 pages • 2 hours read
Anh DoThe Happiest Refugee
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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BetaSymbols & Motifs
The Boat
The boat that gets the Do family out of Vietnam represents freedom. In Vietnam, boats are carefully guarded by the government, and only sold on the black market at high cost by dangerous criminals. The boat that Anh’s father purchases is not a particularly good one, suffering mechanical failure along the way—although the failure of one engine is their saving grace as the pirates leave the broken engine behind. Anh’s father is able to repair the engine, making their way to safety.
Reeboks
Reebok basketball shoes represent Anh’s fascination with western culture. Although many of his friends have them, he is never able to get a pair of his own due to how little money his family has. However, this turns out to be a blessing, as the thugs who rob him don’t beat him for his shoes as they do to another boy. In this incident, Anh sees that all things have a purpose.
The Duck Farm
This business venture of Anh’s father represents ambition and ingenuity. Anh’s father takes the modest business gains from their sewing business, and starts a new venture that could raise the family’s status to the next level. However, it ends in a spectacular failure. The farm is closely tied to Anh’s father’s own mental well-being, and when it fails, he turns to drink, losing his family life.
Dancing with the Stars
The chapter dealing heavily with Anh’s tenure on the popular reality show may seem like a diversion to readers, but it relies heavily on Anh’s personal themes of determination, ingenuity, and perseverance. Anh starts out completely out of his depth, and learns, one step at a time, with the help of his friends. Although he does not win in the final show, his performance is a personal victory.
Bus Crash
A bus hits Anh, and though his car is totaled, he is unharmed. This incident is one of the clearest indicators of his world-view. Although he has just been through a traumatic experience, his focus is immediately on how he is blessed. His siblings did not come with him that day, so both were unharmed. Although his car is totaled, the insurance settlement allows him to replace the car as well as buy a computer. Anh’s positive perspective shines through even amid an experience that would traumatize another person.
