--- title: "Book Notes: Bread Upon the Water" description: Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS reviews Bread Upon the Water, a story of perseverance that was written for the young adult audience but which will inspire adults as well. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/18/book-notes-bread-upon-the-water#) # Book Notes: Bread Upon the Water Feb 18, 2016 12:00:18 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png?width=702&height=336&name=Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png) This story of perseverance was written for the young-adult audience (middle school and up) but adults will find it inspiring as well. ***[Bread Upon the Water](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0977962857/catholicmom)*** is the true story of Father Tien Duong, and begins during his childhood in postwar Vietnam as the country is being taken over by Communists. The reader will learn about the persecution of Catholics by the Communist regime and of the risky attempts to escape to a safe place of freedom--which often cost people their lives. [![bread upon the water](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bread-upon-the-water.jpg?width=326&height=499&name=bread-upon-the-water.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bread-upon-the-water.jpg)Through it all, Tien Duong held to his faith, even when asking, "Where are you, God?" Asking that question is faith enough. And he learned, over and over, that God provides. Author Deanna K. Klingel's experience in writing historically-based books for young adults shines through in the wealth of useful background information that is provided at the beginning of the book. The historical timeline that sets the scene for this biography includes national events as well as personal milestones in Tien Duong's life. Readers will also benefit from a hand-drawn map of the area and information on pronunciation and family names; all of this helps set the scene for Tien Duong's life story. [***Bread Upon the Water***](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0977962857/catholicmom) would be an excellent supplement to a middle- or high-school student's lessons in contemporary American or world history. While not spiritual reading per se, Tien Duong's story is always focused on his pursuit of his priestly vocation and his trust in God even during difficult times. This spiritual biography focuses on a person struggling with faith and many trials and is not set in the remote past--in fact, Father Tien Duong is very much active and alive. What better book to give your older children to read during this season of Lent? **Buy this book through our [Amazon link](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0977962857/catholicmom) and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase!** **Be sure to check out [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** *Copyright 2016 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS*   ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fbook-notes-bread-upon-the-water%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fbook-notes-bread-upon-the-water%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fbook-notes-bread-upon-the-water%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Book%20Notes%3A%20Bread%20Upon%20the%20Water) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fbook-notes-bread-upon-the-water%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F02%2F18%2Fbook-notes-bread-upon-the-water%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Book Notes: Scriptural Rosary Books for the Whole Family Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/17/book-notes-scriptural-rosary-books-for-the-whole-family) [ Lenten Devotionals for You and Your Family Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/17/lenten-devotionals-for-you-and-your-family/) [ Book Notes: YOUCAT Bible: A Study Bible for Catholic Youth Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/06/29/book-notes-youcat-bible-study-bible-catholic-youth) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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