Courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Focus Fox Valley had the honor of welcoming Pao Lor, author of Bamboo Son, a powerful memoir that tells the story of a Hmong refugee’s resilience, identity, and journey toward building a new life in Wisconsin.
Lor currently serves as Associate Dean of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and lives in Kimberly with his family.
Bamboo Son follows his first acclaimed memoir, Modern Jungles, which tells of his early life fleeing war in Laos, surviving refugee camps in Thailand, and adjusting to life in the United States.
In his follow-up, Bamboo Son: A Hmong Refugee’s Search for Identity and the American Dream, Lor continues his story as a teenager growing up in Green Bay, navigating the complexities of identity and coming of age in a new culture.
Throughout the memoir, Lor reflects on the many versions of himself — as a teenager, a young adult, and a husband — and the challenges that came with each stage. He shares the defining moments that shaped him, from school experiences to personal relationships, and the ways those moments helped guide his path forward.
Lor tells us a central theme of the book is the intersection of his identities as Hmong, American, and Wisconsinite. At times, those identities exist in harmony; at others, they come into conflict, creating challenges that many readers may find deeply relatable.
In 2022, Lor returned to Laos and Thailand with his wife Maya, revisiting the places tied to his earliest memories. Lor shared with us how the trip proved to be an emotional and transformative experience, offering reflection, perspective, and a deeper understanding of his journey.
Through Bamboo Son, Lor offers an important message to young people who may be struggling with identity or searching for a sense of belonging: their story matters, and growth often comes through embracing every part of who they are.
To learn more about Pao Lor and his work visit the Wisconsin Historical Society Press website.
