'The opening of Tek Heang Ya’s story expresses the fear and desperation that were ever-present in Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchea. Tek Heang lost both her sons, who starved to death at four and five years old.
The stories in Leaving Year Zero are compelling, vividly involving the reader in the experiences of six Khmer individuals and their unique responses to a society gone badly wrong.
All six now live highly constructive lives in Australia, bringing up families and contributing skills and understanding to the community.' (UWA Publishing)