My Documents

“As another Trump administration kicks into gear, there may be no better, or scarier, work to consider than Kevin Nguyen’s second novel, which sees the U.S. government set up internment camps for Vietnamese Americans. The four Nguyen cousins, Alvin, Ursula, Duncan and Jen, are young adults ready to take the next steps in their lives and careers. But when are some are imprisoned, and others not, the group is forced to contend with the cold realities of naked racism.”—Rolling Stone, “10 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2025” “With relatable characters and abundant wit, Nguyen draws us into his state-of-the-art labyrinth, the startling sum of our Asian American fears. You’ll never think of the acronym AAPI the same way again.”—Ed Park, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed, Different Dreams “In Nguyen’s second novel, four Vietnamese Americans’ lives are upended when violent attacks across America create a national panic . . . What follows is a near future that’s all-too-possible . . . this book promises to be both a timely read and reminiscent of this country’s not too distant past.”—Literary Hub, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025” “Mỹ Documents is a sharp, riveting story of a Vietnamese American detention camp set in an alternate future. Funny, powerful, and propulsive, the novel skewers capitalism and the hypocrisies of journalism that lull rather than activate our attention to the vulnerable. But ultimately, Mỹ Documents is a moving portrait of the kind of people we become when we are trying to survive.”—Cathy Park Hong, bestselling author of Minor Feelings “Drawing from the past to portray a reality that feels terrifyingly possible, Mỹ Documents enthralls and unsettles with every page. This was a relentlessly propulsive read, by turns wry and wise, barbed with dark humor. Through one family’s struggle to survive and speak truthfully about their experiences, the book lays bare how love, ambition, and ethics often muddle the story—and just how high the stakes are for getting it right.”—Jenny Xie, author of Holding Pattern and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree “[A]ll-too-plausible . . . it’s hard to argue with [Nguyen’s] pessimistic, and completely justified, view of the American government as a racist oligarchy deeply influenced by nefarious corporations. His narrative pacing is perfect . . . this is a compelling read. A disturbing page-turner and a powerful look at American racism.”—Kirkus Reviews “Kevin Nguyen is a journalist, and he brings a sharp sense of journalistic ethics to this tale.”—BookPage “Nguyen (New Waves) draws on the legacy of the U.S. government’s internment of Japanese Americans during WWII for this intelligent and chilling novel . . . Nguyen delivers deep character work, especially with Jen, who grapples with the relief she feels after letting go of the pressure she’d internalized to succeed at school; and Ursula, whose Faustian bargain has tragic repercussions. This poignant narrative is an emotional roller coaster.”—Publishers Weekly