Moon in Full: A Modern Day Coming-of-Age Story

by Marpheen Chann

In his memoir, Moon in Full, Marpheen Chan recounts an emotional and modern day coming-of-age story that has roots in the Cambodian genocide and weaves through troubled familial relationships, housing projects, foster homes, churches, and college life, as well as rural Maine where he struggles to reconcile his fears and beliefs as a young gay man of color adopted into a white Evangelical family. He has continually struggled with his lost identity as a Cambodian and homophobia as a young gay man of color. As PTSD, poverty, abuse, and addiction took their toll on his mother, Chann and his siblings were removed and placed into foster care. And that is where his journey into adulthood truly begins.

With compassion and honesty, Chann recalls what he has learned, what he has found and what he has lost in his evolution from rebel boy to holy-roller youth to advocate for equality and civil rights, all in one of the nation's oldest and least diverse states; but a state that he proudly calls home. Chann's story shines a spotlight on the search for truth, compassion, and the struggles of our complicated era.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, LGBT

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2022

About the author

Marpheen Chann is a Maine politician, activist, writer, speaker, community organizer, and gay man of color. He helped found the Cambodian Community Association of Maine in 2018, and serves as its president. In 2014, Chann became the first of his biological or adoptive families to graduate college, studying political science, philosophy, and economics at the University of Southern Maine, where he helped start the University of Southern Maine’s Queer Straight Alliance. He later earned a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. Chann has devoted his career to civil rights and advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in education, politics, and municipal government. His service to Portland and the Cambodian community is his way of giving back and connecting to his roots. Marpheen lives in Portland and he hopes to someday foster and adopt his own children. Until then, he’s content being an uncle to upwards of ten nieces and nephews (including dogs and cats). Moon in Full is his first book.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir covers so many topics. Coming from a Cambodian refugee family that has suffered the trauma of genocide, Marpheen Chann explains his life. First with his birth family, then going through foster care, and being adopted into a white evangelical family, and his self knowledge that he is gay but he “knows” it is a sin. This book is excellent for learning about this conflicted life and how he is able to come out. I am definitely recommending this to high school students and above. And all people who need to understand more about what all of these intersections are like for people.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a great coming of age story and if you're familiar with Maine it's an especially great read. Marpheen discusses the difficulties growing up as a second gen Asian-American in the whitest state in the US, as well as discovering he's gay while living with a super Christian family.

This book feels very personal and we get a lot of Marpheen's internal thoughts and guilt and struggles growing up. I liked it a lot, my only real complaint is that I would have liked more information at times. For example, he discusses the harm evangelical beliefs have on lgbtq+ youth, and while I know this is true I would have liked maybe a cited source to things he's read on the subject.

Also, I gleaned that Marpheen does a lot of civil rights work, but we don't really get any information about his work in that field or how his progress has been. It feels very briefly mentioned and I would have liked to hear more.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly brave and sad story, but also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This was a gem of a book, and I was so grateful to receive a copy from Islandport Press as part of Librarything's June early reviewers batch! Marpheen Chann's excellent memoir is rich with experience. Chann is the son of Cambodian refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge. He grew up in the foster care system, and during his teen years stifled his sexuality for fear of going against his adoptive parent's evangelical Christian beliefs.

This book explores so many things- identity formation during and after a tumultuous childhood, looking beyond the nuclear family as the ideal, coming out, exvangelicalism, and human connection, even with those who have harmed us or with whom we disagree. A lovely, insightful debut memoir, and one I'd highly recommend!

[Emma To · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marpheen is an amazing storyteller. I grew up Southern Baptist and I am a child of Vietnamese refugees. I have always been pro-LGBTQ and the love is love movement but struggled with my Christian upbringing that preached against it. I love Jesus and love my neighbors. I am so glad I finished this memoir.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moon in Full: A Modern-Day Coming-of-Age Story
By Marpheen Chann
2022

A LibraryThing Early Reviewers book.
Marpheen's memoir is many things, including: a love song of Maine; the cautionary tale of how the foster care system works, for better or worse; a story of inter-generational trauma; a study of right-wing evangelical thought and their views on family and homosexuality; and a pamphlet on how Marpheen's life has influenced his political and social views. But most of all, Moon in Full is the story of a child of a Cambodian immigrant, who through abuse and neglect, foster homes, and being adopted into a white, evangelical family, learns to come to terms with who he is, a proud, gay, intelligent, and compassionate Cambodian-American who is active in local politics.

While I felt that the author too often sounds like he is recycling parts of college psychology papers around his memories, I was happy to read this book. His writing style is a bit awkward in the beginning when he is talking about his early childhood, but becomes more authentic when he is talking about his late teens and early adulthood. Being closer to those memories, I'm sure helped a lot. It would be interesting to see how the author would write this same story 10 years from now, as a 40 year old, instead of a 30 year old.

3 1/2 stars.

[Ruth Garcia-Corrales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moon if Full by Mapheen Chann brings the story of children on housing projects and foster homes. It’s a powerful story of reality. Born from on a single mom home, a mom with refugee trauma who immigrated from Cambodia. Even with so many difficulties of culture identity, family trauma, and homosexuality Mapheen in his memoir shows that is possible to succeed and find a place in society to give back and feel fulfilled Lots of discussion topics for reading groups.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One could read the blurb for this book and think it will take the reader on a depressing journey of loss and heartache as it moves toward its destination. And Chann admittedly faced some hardships throughout his life. But there is an open, honest, and conversational style to his writing that I personally found refreshing. He does not gloss over the challenges, but he just as equally celebrates the successes and wins--as well as those who helped him along in his journey. An engaging and accessible read, Chann's reflection on his life experiences leaves one with hope and inspiration.

(Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.)

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible act of generosity this is! A thoughtful, hopeful memoir.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for the MPBN Book Club. Another Maine author. Looks interesting. I understand the refugee resettlement a little more, the foster care system in Maine a bit more and I don't think I'm so impressed with it. I believe changes need to be made to make it better. I think the refugee resettlement program takes way too long for these people who have gone through so much pain and tragedy. Their lives have been uprooted and being in a refugee camp for 10 years is WAY TOO Long. The sacrifices these refugees make to get to America is truly amazing.
I thought Mr. Chann did a wonderful job explaining religion and politics and how the conservatives and evangelicals think about LGBTQs, abortion, and everything else they think is wrong with the liberals.
I loved how the author explained July 4th when he was in California with his family. It was so heartwarming. I honestly feel immigrants love this country and work hard here and do want a better life for themselves and their families. I believe that immigrants do share our values and probably better than we do sometimes. We all want the American dream.
Mr. Chann is correct when he wrote that we need to seek a religion in its truest form where it will fulfill our longing to connection with our true selves and each other and definitely with the world around us.
Mr. Chann is a extremely kind man and I give him a ton of credit for his forgiveness to his mother. She did go through a lot but so didn't he and his siblings because of her choices. I also loved the title of his book.

[Goose · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does one review a memoir in which your extended family plays a prominent role? Tracy Berry, Marpheen's adoptive mother, is my cousin. I have never met the author and haven't seen Tracy in person since she adopted Marpheen and his siblings. I really liked the memoir parts of the book and I was very interested in Marpheen's journey. I did find some of the more general discussions about the psychology of trauma and the plight of immigrants to be a tad repetitive and overlong. Recommended to anyone interested in what immigrants go thru in America, people interested in how religion can be a controlling force, and most of all for people interested in a unique coming out of the closet story of a young gay man.

[Anita Lichman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a college essay. There is a simple structured approach and research quotes are embedded to back up points made. At first I worried this simple presentation was a sign of a simple story. And yet, I fell in love with the author’s vulnerability, sweetness, and openness about growing up. I was inspired by the author’s willingness to be open to those who disagree with elements of who the author is or those who are different. This approach is the opposite of cancel culture and breeds compassion and connection amongst humanity. It’s not a sophisticated story presented in a polished way and yet it holds a lot of weight and worth in being told. Thank you Marpheen for putting your experiences into the world and sharing them with all of us.

[Sue Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marpheen Chann is an immigrant child, separated from his family and culture, growing up in a white Maine household, exploring his authentic self. His coming out story shows grace, kindness and empathy for the evangelical culture that condemns him. And he poses philosophical questions about the blame and shame society and the church cast on homosexuals. This short portrait of a culturally complicated childhood will hopefully lead to more writings by this promising young man.

[Judy Whiting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marpheen Chann's memoir traces his years from young childhood through adolescence as an ethnic Cambodian living in Maine. His life begins in an immigrant family traumatized by political strife and war, including genocide, in Cambodia, whose trauma manifested in various difficulties living in the United States. Chann was placed in foster care with families steeped in evangelical Christianity, making it difficult for Chann to embrace his sexuality. The book resonates with wit and compassion.

[Katie Draeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chann's story is unique and tangled, and does not necessarily become untangled as you read it. But again, what is life if not a continuously unfolding set of challenges and rewards, and challenges with what once was rewarded. What does happen is a growing of trust and love and honesty. The self that Chann ages into is so bright, and he beautifully demonstrates how that warmth, tamped down by years of challenging upbringing, was unquestionably present all along.

[jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a lot of movements in this book that stuck with me, but the most important thing is that I found myself relating to many of the statements revolving religion and identity. His story is an incredible journey and to find myself having similar thoughts and opinions to a successful and resilient individual as Chann brings me a sense of comfort. Thank you for sharing your story!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I picked it up to just read a chapter and read 78 pages. Needless to say, even when I had to take a break here or there to process heavy sections because of my own experiences, the book is well written, and offers such a intimate ant thoughtful look at Marpheen’s life.

I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to better understand themselves or others who have intersecting identities.

As an fellow brown Maine adoptee, this book was incredibly validating and inspiring.

[Sue Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a required book for a summer reading program at my local library. It was a book that I probably would have never checked out on my own. It was very eye opening. I’m very glad I read it! I encourage everyone to read it!

[Karen Sofarin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for book club and enjoyed it more in the second half. It was a very interesting portrait of coping with trauma, culture clashes and finding authenticity. Very interesting read from a new Maine author.

[Kartika · Rating 3 out of 5]

MHC ReadME choice 2024. Decent read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed hearing Marpheen's story and how he got to where he is today, as an activist in Maine.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marpheen Chann's memoir is written with great honestry and deep thought. His mother's childhood was taken from her during Pol Pot's reign. Teachers, doctors and anyone who wore glasses, two million people Cambodians perished during April 1975 through Jamuary 1970. His mother's choldhood was during this time of terror.

His mother did not know how to be a mother, pregnant in Californa after being a refugee, Marpheen and a sister were taken from her. The memoir details his life of as foster child. He lost his laguage, his family, the culture and customs of Cambodia. He had loving foster parents but there was an outcry in Maine. A cambodian in a white family. He was extracted from that and later put under the care of an evangelical, pentecostal family. He wanted to fit in, but he had to struggle with being gay. He wanted his parents and the people in the church's approval.

It was really tough for him. I felt that he would be alright if he had been left the family gave so love at the beginning. He had very difficult times being hungry so much. He reminded me of the kids that I brought to our famuly dinnet table, both of them never having enough food. Later on, he had more food but his did not know how to take care of him emotionally. He had to learn that for himself. He had go from following hus church no matter how difficult it was to self acceptance as young gay Cambodian American.

[KJ Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable and inspiring memoir by a Cambodian man, raised in the foster care system in small-town Maine, awakening to his shared identities and life purpose. Marpheen is a true leader with a bright future, as someone whose lived experience has cultivated in him a deep well of compassion and motivation to be a beacon for social justice.