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.