About

Immigrants make up 40 million of America’s population who come in search of the American Dream. Chuong Lee found her American dream through donuts. Before arriving penniless in America, she recalls the atrocities that she witnessed in her home country of Cambodia during the 1970s and what her family had to go through to come to America. Upon arriving in America, Chuong found herself a part of donut royalty as she married into the family of the Donut King, Ted Ngoy, who opened up hundreds of donut shops for Khmer refugees. Mayly Tao, her daughter, not only created this book to tell the success story of their family bakery, but to highlight the viewpoint of the Asian American perspective through the eyes of a “donut kid.” Many donut kids during this era who helped their parents with their donut shops and never returned. Mayly returns to her family’s shop and uses social media and creativity to bring the donut shop to the next level. This book explores several levels of generational differences and cultural importance, including the role of the Asian American woman in her family. Be prepared for a roller coaster of hard-hitting stories of survival prevailing against all odds.

The book is about a mom and daughter immigrant success story. Part one is about Chuong Lee, the mother who at a young age, survives the Khmer Rouge genocide that occurs in Cambodia in the 1970s and makes it to America. She tells her experience of homelessness, malnutrition, and slavery in her own country all in the search of freedom. When she arrives in America, she dedicates her life to building a donut shop to support her family. Mayly Tao tells her experience of growing up as a donut kid and returns to the family business to not only support her family but to create her business as an institution and worldwide brand.