Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam

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.

Author: Thien Pham
Publisher: First Second
Published: 06/20/2023
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.20h x 6.20w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781250809728

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2023
School Library Journal 06/01/2023 pg. 95
Booklist 06/01/2023 pg. 55
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2023
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2023 pg. 144
Shelf Awareness 07/20/2023

About the Author
Thien Pham is a graphic novelist, comic artist, and educator based in Oakland, CA. He is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel Sumo and did the art for the middle-grade graphic novel Level Up, written by Gene Luen Yang. He is an ongoing comic contributor to EaterSF and as such eats-- a lot.