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.

Author: Thien Pham
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: First Second
Published: 06/20/2023
Pages: 240
Weight: 1.1lbs
Size: 8.20h x 6.20w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781250809728

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.8
Point Value: 1
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 520945 / Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam


Award: 2024 Yalsa Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults Finalist - Young Adult Nonfiction