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The Girl in the Picture (By Denise Chong)

<< September | August 2005 | July >>

The Story of Kim Phuc, the Photograph, and the Vietnam War

[Book Cover Page: The Girl in the Picture]

“It was the fire of bombs that burned my body. It was the skill of doctors that mended my skin. But it took the power of God's love to heal my heart.”

- Kim Phuc, the girl depicted in the picture

Among the most recognizable images of the Vietnam War is Nick Ut's photograph depicting villagers fleeing an errant bomb outside the South Vietnamese village of Trang Bang. The primary subject of the famous photograph was nine-year-old Kim Phuc, captured running down the road in terror after being severely burned by napalm. Phuc was rushed to the hospital (with help from photographer Ut) and miraculously survived. The Girl in the Picture, written by Denise Chong, recounts the incident and moving story that followed.

In addition to Kim Phuc's story, The Girl in the Picture is interesting for its analysis of the photograph's impact both during and after the war. Nick Ut is a primary player in the book; Chong describes his story and the important role played by photojournalists in Vietnam. Never before had it been possible to share still and video images with people across the globe in near real-time. Never before had the public been privy to the horrific events of war as they occurred.

Following a gut-wrenching and uneven recovery involving no fewer than seventeen operations, Kim Phuc returned to what remained of her life in Vietnam. The Vietnamese government quickly put her story to use for propaganda purposes, placing additional strain on the life of an already vulnerable young woman. After an education stint in Cuba (a period critical to her personal development), Phuc fled to Canada where she lives today with her husband and two sons. She volunteers for UNESCO and runs a foundation for children victimized by war. Clearly, The Girl in the Picture belongs in this collection of favorites for its exploration of the complexities of war, an iconic photograph, and the challenges faced and overcome by a scarred but resilient woman.

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