Editorial Reviews
I was assigned by Hillsborough County Pubic Schools to be Queena’s homebound teacher from the Visually Impaired Program. As part of her therapy team I experienced first hand the strength and faith of both of these two strong women who will never give up. I feel fortunate to have met this determined family and know that readers will be equally inspired by their journey. This is the most motivated family I have ever met in my career.
In my prosecution career I have had the honor of speaking on behalf of many victims in court. During this time, I got to know Queena’s family and soon realized that Queena had the stron- gest voice of all her family. Vanna’s retelling of her life and her devotion to Queena is an emotional journey that continues to leave me in awe of her strength, perseverance, and devotion.
“Vanna Nguyen’s book is an amazing parallel account of two real-life stories of courage and survival. If you wonder how much a person can endure and still come out on top, wonder no more.This story of an inspiring mother-daughter relationship of relentless love will show you.”
“The Life She Once Knew is an inspiring account of heart-wrenching, compounded trauma and miraculous triumph over evil. Vanna Nguyen leads us through her victorious journey over crises which could destroy the strongest among us. As she shares her sacrificial love for her daughter and faith in her Savior, she motivates us all to rise as champions of life and forgiveness.”
“This family has endured tragedy and horrific events that most Americans would find inconceivable. The resilience and courage shown in the face of these events gives us an enormously inspiring story and will change your life for the better. What happened to Queena was unthinkable, but it happened. Her entire bright future was stolen in what seemed like moments. However, what happened after that, through the love of her sister Anna, her mom Vanna, her countless friends and more, will give you chills. If you need an example of the love, courage and determination people can show, even in unfathomable circumstances, read this book.”
“This powerful account of courage in response to evil chronicles the birth and maturing of faith in the wake of this world’s shocking malevolence. Vanna Nguyen’s haunting account of her innocent daughter’s attack, set against the backdrop of Vanna’s own struggle as a young Vietnamese “boat person” fleeing for her life, is gripping from the first to the very last word. My mom-heart was touched by this mother’s anguish and need to defend her beloved daughter. My cry for rigid justice was challenged by her extraordinary efforts to forgive the attacker, based on her submission to God’s Word. And my sense of hope was buoyed by the way God upheld this precious family through the process of redefining and finding joy in each moment. Profound, life-changing truths in every chapter. Truly a must-read.”
“Riveting! An emotional rollercoaster! Three women’s lives changed forever over a gruesome incident at a library. Hope, faith and love kept them together and their lights bright. A must read!”