Weeping Under This Same Moon

With a sense of heartbreak and hope, I was inspired by the spirit of Hannah. Hannah a struggling teen, and forward thinking young woman, saw through the blindfolds of racial injustice and chose to follow her heart. The story is written in such a way that I felt the pain of human suffering, yet I also felt the humor that made me laugh, and the warmth of the loving characters. The characters are courageous survivors, loving families quietly suffering in a foreign land connected to the altruistic spirit of one, Hannah. Hannah a "social misfit and outcast" in her high school yet a healer in the Bronx, was driven to make a difference in the lives of "Boat People". It is when Hannah reaches out to help-priceless gifts, stories and pains are exchanged. What evolves is the story of courage, healing, hope, compassion, friendship, trust, self worth, connections of humanity. After reading this, it reaffirms the truth that one person can truly make a difference in the lives of others. We only need to turn on the news as Hannah did, listen to our hearts and reach out. I am inspired now to find the Hannah and Mei in me.

The small decisions we make in our everyday life can have a huge impact upon the rest of our lives, and upon the lives of others as well. This is just one of the themes of this fascinating story of how both volition and chance conspire in a wonderful way to bring together two young women from opposite ends of the earth. The tale of how Hannah, a teen who feels herself an outsider, and Mei, a victim of ethnic and political persecution in Vietnam, come together in the Bronx is an engaging and compelling story. It was difficult to put this book down, as it doesn't take long for the reader to develop empathy for the two lead characters, who change each other's lives forever. The story is all the more poignant because it's an actual memoir of events that really unfolded years ago. The tale is uniquely structured, in that we alternate between the different perspectives of Hannah and Mei. Another theme of this book is that the one who volunteers to give gains at least as much from the experience as the one who is helped. Yet another theme is the common humanity of all of us, despite our very different cultural upbringing. As someone who has taught middle and high school for the last 26 years, I highly recommend this book to adolescents, to immigrants, and to teachers of both. Marian L. Steinberg

WEEPING UNDER THIS SAME MOON by Jana Laiz is a wonderfully moving story. The character of Hannah resonated with me, and I feel like there is a little bit of "Hannah" in everyone, or if not, there should be!! She not only stays true to herself and her convictions, she acts on them. She is an admirable protagonist and therefore, a wonderful role model for other teens (and even adults, like moi). Through Mei, the other heroine, I learned about the Vietnamese refugee experience, akin to reading the KITE RUNNER and learning about the Afghani experience. It makes me want to learn more. I recommend it highly to any teen or adult who is open to seeing how reaching out to others can profoundly benefit both sides. Read it and weep!! KP

I thought this was a lovely story and I got to know the characters so quickly that I wanted to spend the day with them, even after the book was finished. Clear and consise, touching and moving, and a special story about friendship, yearning, and growing; especially for younger girls.

I just finished reading Weeping Under This Same Moon, very reluctantly, because I did not want it to end. I wept my own tears in many parts, moved by Jana's honesty in writing about what very well could be her own teen-age years. Hannah's voice was very believable, authentic, it rang true. And Mei's voice, from far away in Vietnam, gently found its way in to my heart. I have given the book on to my mother to read and she is as enthusiastic as I am. My daughter lived in Vietnam for a number of months a few years ago and she is the next on my list. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Being given a glimpse and insight in to the Vietnamese soul is truly a gift, a gift that helps with healing our collective wounds and gives a sense for what can begin between two cultures, in the simplest of ways. A 17 year old,when following her heart, can literally change the world, one place and one step at a time. Get the book! You will want to pass it on! Ann-Elizabeth Barnes