Anne Panning: In his debut collection, The Melting Season, Sukrungruang writes with compassion, humor and tenderness about the sting of cultural exclusion and isolation. His underdog characters make you root for them every step of the way, thanks to Sukrungruang's honest portrayal of their deep loneliness and family heartbreak. To sweeten the deal, the book simmers with food so delicious it will make you hungry for more.