Giang, Kristen Mai. Last Flight. Dow Phumiruk, Illus. Levine Querido, 04/2023. [46]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-64614-086-2. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. ADDITIONAL.
The author portrays a vivid, emotional telling of what her family’s journey out of Vietnam was like for an eight-year-old as Saigon fell in 1975. Pencil˗and˗digital˗watercolor˗illustrations show the worry and fear, the difficulties, and the hope of the last Pan Am flight out, crowded with hundreds of Vietnamese, to America. Simple, child-friendly text and illustrations show the family’s worry about what will happen if they cannot leave and the hardships experienced while waiting. An author’s note provides additional details and facts, and an included bibliography shows the research put into ensuring the pictures and text align with what happened.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library