This little picture book biography is about an extraordinary person. To read it is to discover a joy that has the power to overcome hardship.

Successful comedian Anh Do nearly didn't make it to Australia. His entire family came close to losing their lives as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat. Anh’s life in Australia also started off badly as he was a small boy who didn’t speak English. But he never stopped smiling and went on to achieve his dreams.

Anh's story shows how it is possible to hope against all odds, and that with the help of a loving family, good can be attained from any hardship. Adults too will not be able to read it without shedding a tear, but they must also read The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir to get the full story. What an incredible person.

Clare Cannon is the editor of www.GoodReadingGuide.com and the manager of Portico Books in Sydney.

If this book is not yet on Amazon, it is available at www.GoodReadingGuide.com

This article is published by Clare Cannon and MercatorNet under a Creative Commons licence. You may republish it or translate it free of charge with attribution for non-commercial purposes following these guidelines. If you teach at a university we ask that your department make a donation. Commercial media must contact us for permission and fees. Some articles on this site are published under different terms.