The Voyage of the Lucky Dragon

Jack Bennet (author)

Prentice Hall, Australia: 1982; 149pp

ISBN: 0207142874

Genres: adventure, realistic fiction

Issues: cultural differences, family, grief/loss, migration, refugee, war

The emotional adventures of Quan and his family as they seek to escape the persecution that comes to those who didn't support the winning side in the Vietnam War.

All they want is a place to be safe, where they can live together and have enough to eat. Instead they are going to be separated, sent to "re-education" classes, the children sent in one direction, their parents in another, perhaps never to see each other again.

In desperation, Quan encourages his father to steal The Lucky Dragon, his grandfather's boat that was taken by the new commune. They set out with nothing but a little gold, a little rice and some fuel. An unexpected stowaway thankfully knows more about boats than they do, but Quan's determination to survive is what keeps the family going. Using a school atlas they set out for Australia.

Very well written and an absorbing read, The Voyage of the Lucky Dragon, gives a strong reminder of the hardships our refugees have left behind. Although it tends to skip a little detail at the end, avoiding the process of going through the immigration procedures, the novel is still worth reading.

Warning: several characters die; some events could worry sensitive readers.

Same Author: The Lieutenant, Mister Fisherman, The Hawk Alone, Ocean Road, Dragon, Gallipoli, The Butcher Bird