Title: Family Style
Author: Thien Pham
Publisher: First Second
Publication date: June 20, 2023
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Summary
Thien’s memories of moving from Vietnam to America all center around food. His memories of the dangerous boat ride? The saltiness of fish and the sweetness of watermelon. Not the sights or the the sounds, but the foods. The foods that kept his family alive as they were adrift at sea.
Once Thien’s family arrives in a refugee camp in Thailand, things don’t get much easier. They struggle to make ends meet. They believe that making it to California will change things, but it isn’t as easy to make it in America as they thought. In each stage of Thien’s life, food takes on new meaning. New indulgences and new means for survival. And possibly bringing with it new ways to belong.
Review: Family Style
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Family Style by Thien Pham to review! There have been a slew of graphic novel memoirs being published recently, and so far, they have all been phenomenal. I especially enjoyed that this one was so centered around food, with each stage of Pham’s life tied to an important food or dish from that moment. It’s a unique way to structure a memoir!
Pham captures his family’s journey from Vietnam to America through his food journey, focusing on details that I think a lot of people won’t necessarily know. The illustration style felt sort of printmaking-esque to me, with so much detail. It also helps in emphasizing the food throughout, showing how they impacted Pham and his family.
The little comics included at the end, where Pham asks his family about making this book, are such a great addition to the story. I love when authors include personal little details like that, so definitely don’t skip it! It gives even more characterization to his family as well.
All in all, this is a strongly written, wonderfully illustrated graphic novel memoir that you should definitely pick up when it comes out in June!
4/5 stars