A Million Shades of Grey [Paperback]

A Million Shades of Grey is a million miles away from the type of books I usually pick up. Set during the Vietnam War, it's the coming of age story of a young boy from the Rhade tribe who also happens to be an elephant handler. I wasn't initially blown away by the premise but I was mildly intrigued by the prospect of reading about a life so different from my own. I'm British, and the Vietnam War is something that I've only really encountered in American movies or seen alluded to in reruns of The Wonder Years. Reading A Million Shades of Grey is the first time I've gotten to know a Vietnamese protagonist and seen how this war might have felt from the point of view of those who lived through it on their own soil.

Y'Tin's story starts slowly, as Kadohata gently introduces us to the boy's life, his family, and the way that they live. She gives us moving insights into how the presence of the US military affected the lives of the Rhade; the trust that Y'Tin's family have for the Americans, the bravery that his father shows in assisting on their missions, and the way that US slang creeps into Y'Tin's own speech. We also learn about Y'Tin's love for the village's elephants, and his determination to become an elephant handler. It's slow going in places, but this is the calm before the storm.

Though the novel starts slowly, it really packs a punch in its portrayal of the shattering of this tenuous safety; when the narrative shifts forward in time to what happens after the US military pull out of Vietnam and Y'Tin's village are left to face the Viet Cong alone. When the village is taken in an enemy attack, the Rhade men are taken captive and forced to dig a great pit in the village graveyard. Y'Tin realises what this means, and manages to flee with his best friend into the jungle, where he is reunited with his precious elephant, Lady, and embarks on a journey that sees him making heartbreaking decisions and ultimately becoming a man. It's a story of what it takes to survive, to love unconditionally, and to forgive.

In the UK this book is aimed at readers aged ten and upwards, and I think that A Million Shades of Grey has the potential to touch readers of all ages. Though readers much younger than ten might not be ready for the vocabulary and the themes of war, beyond that it's the type of book that defies age categorisation. The language is elegant, and Kadohata has incoporated the kind of unobtrusive symbolism that you can ponder as much or as little as you wish. Although set in such a different time and place from most of our own lives, Y'Tin's journey is a universal one. This story is moving, thought-provoking, and beautifully told.

Before reading A Million Shades of Grey, I didn't really know a lot about the Vietnam War. I didn't know the politics or reasoning behind it, or the extent of the horrors that people experienced. Kadohata ended up giving me a history lesson of sorts, and for that reason alone, I'm glad I read this book.

Y'Tin's tale is one of bravery and hope, and is as much a coming of age story as it is an adventure. Nothing makes a boy grow up like being in the middle of a war and, as horrific as it is, the whole experience undoubtedly makes Y'Tin become a man. His beloved elephant, Lady, is an important part of his life, and is a constant companion to him and his family. Their bond is strong and unwavering, and is the kind that you enviously read about or see depicted in films. I never knew elephants could be so close to humans, which again just shows how much I know about this way of life.

The pace of this book is quite slow and steady, with a lot of character building and scene setting. I wanted it to speed up and get going, and make me unable to put it down. It didn't do that, but it did hold my interest plot-wise. I was fascinated by the conflict between North and South Vietnam, and by the differences in the various tribes. I also now know a lot more about elephants, like the fact that their teeth grind down and they grow more!

If you like your books with historical elements, strong characters and an animal that you'll fall in love with, I'd recommend A Million Shades of Grey. As well as being good for educational purposes, it's also a lesson in humanity, and what it means to survive.

The story of Ytin, a member of the Dega tribe of the highlands of Vietnam, whose only aim in life is to be an elephant herder for his village. It starts in 1973 when the Americans are still involved in the Vietnam War, but are pulling out, leaving the North Vietnamese and the VietCong to fight it out. In 1975 the war comes back to Yting's village and they're forced to flee, taking the elephants with him, but when they meet up with a wild herd, Lady, his elephant wants to join them and he lets her go. Eventually being re-unite with his family in a new village, he realises he doesn't want to fight, but he doesn't see how his old life can be sustained and the book ends with him deciding to go to Thailand to continue to be a herder. Somehow the book never reached its potential. It tells alot about the struggles of the boys, but doesn't really go anywhere with it. Not sure what the title means, as it's mentioned as a phrase one, and that's it. Suitable for 10+. I can't see many finding it exciting enough.