Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam | Review

Family Style: memories of an American from Vietnam
Thien Pham
First Second, 2023
Grades 8 and up (YA)

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam is a poignant graphic memoir that delves into the author’s personal history as a Vietnamese immigrant boy finding his place in America. The story opens as Thien and his family make the harrowing trip by boat to the refugee camp. Immediately, Pham uses the artwork to convey the terror of pirates, the desperation of thirst and hunger, and eventually the joy of the taste of food.

As the Pham family settles in the United States, readers see their struggle to build a new life in a strange country. At this juncture of the story is when young readers can begin to appreciate the sacrifice people make when they uproot themselves and start life in a new place. Pham conveys this throughout the story using visuals, such as panels that zoom in and out so that the exact mood is conveyed.

Pham recounts his story through the lens of food. The first taste of food after the pirate attack. The sweetness of berries after the family picks berries for money, and the saltiness of potato chips, when his mother proclaims, “Now we are American.” Food, in this book, is a sort of “memory keeper.”

On many levels, Family Style is artistically told, but the sparse narration and dialogue is very accessible. With immigration being a hot-button topic, this story will give readers new insight to the struggles of coming to a new country. I highly recommend the title to classroom teachers, book clubs, and anyone wanting to look at immigration through a new lens.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews, Young Adult