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"Kali Kneading" - poem
2008 National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (Poetry Society of Texas)
"Soft Soles" - short story
2007 NLAPW National Letters Contest (Dallas, Texas)
"The Raping of the Congo" - poem
2007 NLAPW National Poetry Award (Missouri State Association)
"Anymore" - poem
2007 NLAPW National Poetry Competition (St. Johns River, Florida)
"Fallen" - poem
2001 NLAPW Poetry Award
"Amada Mia" - poem
2000 Prometheus Award
"Yellow Fruit Bowl" - poem
1998 James D. Phelan Literary Awards (San Jose, California)
"My Father's Son" - poem
1998 James D. Phelan Literary Awards (San Jose, California)
"Mary Jane" - poem
1998 James D. Phelan Literary Awards (San Jose, California)
"Fallen" - poem
1998 James D. Phelan Literary Awards (San Jose, California)
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Carolyn Frenzel, Letters Chairs, NLAPW (Dallas, Texas)
"Soft Soles" is "poignant and touching."
Mary Harwell Sayler, Contest Chair, NLAPW (St. Johns River, Florida)
Congratulations especially go to: Samantha Lê of San Jose, CA, whose concise, fresh, and rhythmic free verse poem, "Anymore," won First Place Prize. Other "winning" attributes include an excellent opening line, strong reader appeal, and exquisite writing from start to finish. Brevity also aided the lyrical quality of this flawless piece.
Professor Carlos Sanchez
Little Sister Left Behind is a beautiful book. It's reminiscent of Raymond Carver in its difficult simplicity. This is the first work of prose I've ever encountered (in English) centered on the Vietnamese-American experience, from fleeing Vietnam to finding a home in America. Ms. Le does a marvelous job of making room for the reader--of bringing the reader in--as she travels from Vietnam as an infant to San Francisco and San Jose as an adolescent, encountering obstacles along the way that anyone who's ever moved from one place to another will either find familiar or disturbing. You will not be disappointed.
Allreaders.com
This novel describes the tense existence of Communist Vietnam after the American withdrawal, where a family's life became complicated after the father was put into a concentration camp. The family bond was quickly weakened by the political atmosphere. They attempted to adapt to everyday life, but the family hierarchy, with Father at the top, Mother on the margins and the main character, Summer, left neglected and feeling invisible, caused resentment and hidden hatred that was apparent in the silence of their daily life. As the family overcame the ridicule of neighbors, peeping-toms, near drownings, and marital infidelities, they knew each other a little less.
Nora Villagran, MERCURY NEWS - 1, 2, 3 GO!
Samantha Lê will read from her debut collection of poetry and prose, ''Corridors'' (Chusma House, $11.95) at Evergreen College in San Jose. Lê, who was born in Vietnam, discovered her passion for poetry at 12. The San Jose State University graduate has won several James D. Phelan Literary Awards, the National League of American PEN Women's Poetry Award and the Prometheus Muse of Fire award.
In his introduction to the book, Carlos Alberto Sanchez writes: "Walk through the 'Corridors,' which Samantha Lê has littered with visions, memories and sometimes optimistic, other times melancholic, musings on life's everyday foibles."
Even a few lines from Lê's "On His Blue Futon" prose makes you want to hear more: "Your are a seasoned traveler on this crooked road called love, every mistake and hearbreak were recorded dutifully in your archive of bad choices."
Moses Peraza, SPARTAN DAILY - "Poet Uses Experience in Work"
...Lê said her poetry reflects her own experiences and those that happen to other people with whom she can relate. Charley Trujillo, author of "Soldados, Chicanos in Vietnam," and publisher for Chusma House Publication, has known Le for three years.
Trujillo said Lê was talented.
"Samantha has a great future as a writer," Trujillo said. "The only thing that is going to stop her is if she decides not to do it."
Le said her book was a collection of poems that span eight years of her life.
Crystal De La Cruz, an undeclared freshman, said she was in Professor Charla Ogaz's women's studies class, and she was there for extra credit.
She said Lê's poetry was interesting, and she was glad she attended the event.
Mark Weiss, a San Jose resident, said he heard about the meeting.
Weiss said he first heard of Le from a story that ran in the Mercury News, and he went to a reading she did at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose.
"I like to hear writers and poets doing their readings," Weiss said. "You get a lot more out of it."
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