Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam
Remarkable
Delightful
Expressive

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam

Thien Pham2023
A moving young adult graphic memoir about a Vietnamese immigrant boy's search for belonging in America, perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and The Best We Could Do! Thien's first memory isn't a sight or a sound. It's the sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It's the taste of the foods he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam. After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to survive. Things don't get much easier once they resettle in California. And through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries come to signify struggle as Thien's mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity. Behind every cut of steak and inside every croissant lies a story. And for Thien Pham, that story is about a search-- for belonging, for happiness, for the American dream.
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Reviews

Photo of Minh Ngo
Minh Ngo@minhjngo
3 stars
Mar 28, 2024
Photo of Joycelyn Ghansah
Joycelyn Ghansah@jghansah
4.5 stars
Aug 19, 2023
Creative
Remarkable
Delightful
Expressive
Insightful
Photo of Danielle Raymond
Danielle Raymond @idkmydude
4 stars
Sep 19, 2023