With a new afterword by the author and an interview with Chanel Miller.
An Instant New York Times Bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Natalie Portman's Book Club Pick for March.
"Amanda's story--innovatively told by versions of herself at different ages--underscores the lasting power of speaking your truth, building a movement, and never losing sight of your dreams." --Melinda French Gates
"In Saving Five, Amanda Nguyen shows us how to reclaim the full spectrum of our lives, replete with pain, fury, creativity, and recovered dreams." --Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name
In 2013, the trajectory of Amanda Nguyen's life was changed forever when she was raped at Harvard University.
Determined not to let her assault derail her goal of joining NASA after graduation, Nguyen opted for her rape kit to be filed under "Jane Doe." But she was shocked to learn her choice to stay anonymous gave her only six months to press charges before the state destroyed her kit, rendering any future legal action impossible. Nguyen knew then that she had two options: surrender to a law that effectively denied her justice, or fight for a change--not only for herself but for survivors everywhere.
A heart-wrenching memoir of survival and hope, Saving Five boldly braids the story of Nguyen's activism--which resulted in Congress's unanimous passage of the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act in 2016--with a second, beautifully imagined adventure, of Nguyen's younger selves as they, at the ages of five, fifteen, twenty-two, and thirty, navigate the emotional stages of her path toward healing, not only from her rape but from the violent turmoil of her childhood. The result is a groundbreaking work that seamlessly blends memoir with a moving recounting of her journey toward acceptance and hope, forging a path ahead that is as inspiring as it is instructive.
From one of the most influential activists (and now astronauts) of our time, Saving Five is at once a tribute to resilience, a celebration of healing through action, and a resounding cry to change the world.
About the Author :
Amanda Nguyen is an activist and astronaut. Nguyen ignited the Stop Asian Hate movement and passed groundbreaking legislation that protects sexual assault survivor rights in the United States and the United Nations through Rise, her civil rights accelerator. She was nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize and was named a 2022 Time Woman of the Year.
Review :
"Poignant and imaginative . . . It is sobering to realize that the rape survival memoir has become its own genre . . . But as with accounts of grief, each writer's story is vivid and necessary. Nguyen's original contribution will, as its title promises, give both survivors and non-survivors some sense of hope for justice--and, now more than ever, such hope is essential." --Sylvia Brownrigg, The New York Times Book Review
"This intimate, grit-infused true story is a testament to the power of honesty in the face of great challenges . . . In a time where disenfranchisement and suffering may feel increasingly inevitable, it's vital to witness and embrace the possibility of a better world. With Saving Five, Nguyen insists you join her in doing so." --BookPage
"Saving Five is an account of trauma, rage and activism, and also a kind of guide through grief, which shows how every stage propelled Nguyen and served a purpose. More than this, though, the memoir goes further back to reveal how Nguyen became the person she is." --Anna Moore, The Guardian
"An introspective journey written with cinematic prose . . . This book is a testament to the resilience of survivors, showing that survivors can still shoot for the stars while giving themselves grace to process their trauma." --Katherine Ouellette, WBUR
"Affecting, informative . . . poetic . . . The rational and emotional sides of the story combine for a nuanced view of [Nguyen's] experience." --Booklist
"Saving Five is an extraordinarily moving account of Amanda Nguyen's pursuit of justice and healing for herself and for millions of survivors around the world. Amanda's story--innovatively told by versions of herself at different ages--underscores the lasting power of speaking your truth, building a movement, and never losing sight of your dreams." --Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder, Pivotal
"Brilliant. Amanda Nguyen is a compassionate, clear-eyed guiding force. Not only does she fight for survivors' basic rights, but in Saving Five she also shows us how to reclaim the full spectrum of our lives, replete with pain, fury, creativity, and recovered dreams." --Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name
"Amanda Nguyen's journey from survivor to global advocate inspires and empowers us all to stand up and fight for what is right. Saving Five is truly a beacon of hope for anyone who has faced adversity, and Amanda's voice is one that the world needs to hear." --Paris Hilton
"It takes a special kind of bravery to suffer what Amanda Nguyen has endured and not only survive, but become stronger through every slight, indignity, and betrayal by every power that you can imagine, be it governmental, administrative, institutional, or familial. I am in awe of her persistence, determination, and fortitude to fight for and win rights we as American citizens have mistakenly assumed were ours by birthright. Saving Five describes why she is my hero." --Terry Crews
"I am in awe of Amanda Nguyen's courage in sharing her story and her fight to support survivors. As a survivor, I know how painful it is to revisit and recount the horror of rape and sexual abuse, along with the shame, stigma, and doubt that comes with it. Today, Amanda is more than just that story--she's an astronaut, an author, an activist, and a champion for all." --Nadia Murad, recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
