Lam creates and draws parallel stories in this wordless book. A fleeing Vietnamese family follows a colony of ants through tall grass and past terrifying soldiers to their hidden rescue boat. The ants, too, survive their perilous paper boat journey. The insects and human communities intersect again at the end, clearly in a place of safety. Shades of white, black, and gray, along with a few muted and repeated colors, depict a journey of courage and survival. The Author's Note, with autobiographical detail, provides helpful context.

2021 USBBY Outstanding International Book.

The author, a refugee from Vietnam, lives in Canada.

Canada. Originally published in English by Owlkids Books in 2020.