The Bent Nail and the Dragonfly

By Seth Boutsaboualoy

In 1988 on San Diego's 40th Street, twelve-year-old Tee watches his Laotian refugee family fight to build a steady life from almost nothing. His mother, Mae, weaves traditional sinh and keeps their culture close; his father, Pa, grinds through exhausting work and night classes, determined to provide. But when Tee's older brother Tum is pulled toward Foo-a smooth, dangerous local figure promising fast money and respect-the family's fragile stability starts to crack. As threats close in and Tum's choices bring real consequences, Tee leans on friends Sing and Tou and the guidance of restaurant owner Mr. Chen, searching for a way to protect what matters without becoming what the street demands. Anchored by the symbols of a bent nail and a dragonfly, this coming-of-age story explores resilience, loyalty, and the courage it takes to choose integrity over fear.
The story is primarily fiction, shaped by and interwoven with elements drawn from the author's lived experience growing up in San Diego in the early 1980s after arriving as a refugee from Laos.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GZ5VQXCT
• ISBN13: 9798259305076
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"