Family Style Memories of an American from Vietnam

This Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir follows Thien Pham's life from his earliest memory, the taste of food while adrift at sea fleeing Vietnam, through his family's struggles in a refugee camp and their eventual resettlement in California. Food serves as a poignant thread throughout the narrative, symbolizing their journey, their challenges, and their quest for the American dream and a sense of belonging. It's a moving and accessible story for young adults, perfect for sparking conversations about immigration, cultural identity, and resilience.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist Eisner Award Winner for Best Graphic Memoir An NPR Best Books of 2023 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.