Despite trials of language and culture on her own part, the author actually manages to weave a bridge between the Hmong culture and the western medical culture--something i would have assumed impossible. Though possibly nothing could have truly brought the two cultures to a place of understanding together, she portrays both to the reader so solidly that one cannot walk away from the book without being changed by it. It is not just a book about the characters themselves, but an exploration of historical precursors and influences, deeply embedded cultural traits, and the basic needs of human being when they are hurting. Moving, powerful, transending.