Write a Fictionalized Memoir

Learn how V.T. Bidania fictionalized the riveting story of her family's escape from Laos in 1975. Starred reviews from PW, SLJ, Booklist.

Presenter: V.T. Bidania
Middle Grade Writers Group
Monday, May 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m. CT. Free

When Laos fell to the communists in 1975, those who fought alongside the Americans were being hunted, like V.T. Bidania’s father who was a captain in the Noble Lao Army. After a harrowing escape, their family spent a year in a refugee camp before settling in Minnesota as Hmong refugees.

Bidania’s middle grade novel in verse, A YEAR WITHOUT HOME, is a fictionalized memoir about her family’s experiences. It received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. At our May meeting, she’ll talk about writing something so personal and fictionalizing it. She will explain how she did research and interviewed family members. And she’ll tell us about her writing process and how she decided to write her novel in verse.

About V.T. Bidania

Bidania studied journalism at St. Catherine University, attended NYU's Summer Publishing Institute, and received her MFA in creative writing from the New School. She worked in children's book publishing before returning to Minnesota.

She is a McKnight Writing Fellow and the author of the ASTRID AND APOLLO chapter books (the first children’s book series to feature Hmong American characters), and its spin-off series, EXTRAORDINARY ELIANA.

A YEAR WITHOUT HOME by V.T. Bidania

"This edifying novel … narrated in evocative verse… makes for a powerful story of personal growth as well as an affecting historical narrative."

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An emotional exploration of the realities of displacement... Readers will find strength within Gao Sheng’s story while learning about the struggles of Hmong Laotian peoples during this turbulent time in history. This beautiful novel will inspire readers who love poetry and historical feminist fiction; a triumph to add to any collection."

—School Library Journal, starred review

"This riveting account, based on the real experience of the author’s family, is told through evocative, urgent prose, equally adept at capturing moments of stillness and beauty as well as those of suspense and horror. The book is many remarkable things: a harrowing history lesson on an often-overlooked war, an incredible account of the love and tension held in a family, a coming-of-age story about a girl bursting with questions and passions, and a sympathetic spotlight on the plight of refugees. It all comes together as a transfixing tale, sure to stay with readers long after they’ve finished its final page."

—Booklist, starred review​

"As gripping as it is informative and as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, A Year Without Home does what all great books do: spark curiosity, ignite compassion, and leave its readers changed for the better. The young people who read V.T. Bidania's story will feel energized and empowered to make their future kinder, more peaceful, and more just than either the past or our present."

—Jarrett Lerner, award-winning author-illustrator of A Work in Progress

"A page-turning, heart-thumping, emotionally gripping story of one family’s escape from Laos during the Vietnam War and their harrowing journey across the globe. An important glimpse into the lives of Hmong refugees, their often-untold stories, and their impact on American history. Perfect for fans of Inside Out and Back Again. A Year Without Home is a much-needed addition to any classroom library."

—Colby Cedar Smith, award-winning author of Call Me Athena and The Siren and the Star​

"Bidania’s prose sings, and her gorgeous, carefully-threaded images will stay with you long after you finish the novel. A Year Without Home is a deeply-researched novel about Hmong people escaping from Laos after the Secret War; and at the same time, a universally appealing, heart-expanding story of a loving family that stands together through adversity. You will love Gao Sheng and root for her, every step of her journey."

—H.M. Bouwman, author of Scattergood and A Crack in the Sea​​