The Dream of an Education

Key Selling Points

• This SEL title introduces young readers to Phymean Noun, who built a school for Cambodian children living and working in a garbage dump. She became an education activist because as a young girl growing up under the Khmer Rouge government, going to school was illegal and Phymean didn’t think she would ever learn to read and write.
• This book deals with topical issues including inequity, accessibility and poverty. Phymean’s advocacy and activism meets several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including: quality education, good health and well-being, no poverty, zero hunger, reduced inequalities and decent work (and economic growth).
• Phymean’s nonprofit the People Improvement Organization (PIO) helps 1,500 kids in Cambodia every year with education, healthcare and food.
• The author interviewed Phymean and members of her family for this book. She has also traveled to Cambodia to meet Phymean and was able to tour one of her schools.
• This manuscript was reviewed by Dr. Theara Thun, a Cambodian and Southeast Asian specialist at the University of Hong Kong. Susan Hughes writes both fiction and nonfiction books for kids and teens.
• This book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.