Pham, Thien. Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam. Thien Pham, Illus. First Second, 06/2023. 240pp. Graphic. Trade $25.99. 978-1-2508-0971-1. Paper $17.99. 978-1-2508-0972-8. GRADES 7–Adult. OUTSTANDING.
Family Style, the award-winning graphic memoir by East Bay artist and author Thien Pham, recounts his family’s journey fleeing Vietnam by boat then spending months in a Thai refugee camp before relocating to San Jose, California. Pham anchors the story in memories of foods from each time period from his childhood journey, including the Banh Cuon that his mom cooked in the refugee camp, the steak they were fed on their first day in San Jose, and his first tastes of strawberries, potato chips, and school lunches. The memoir itself is a masterful example of graphics being used in storytelling. Pham’s pacing and use of page turns and layout enhance the drama of the stories he tells. Even the b&w question and answer addendum at the end is amazing. Multifaceted and layered with meaning, the book begs to be read and reread, offering more detail each time. Pham’s work can be used to teach students about memoir writing, empathy for the immigrant experience, as well as graphic novel structure and style. Includes California-specific content.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K-8 / Oakland Unified School District