Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam

What a lovely graphic memoir that shares a piece of the immigrant experience, explores cultural identities, and shares the power and magic of food.

The artwork of this book beautifully supports the storytelling, and I love that each chapter is based around a specific food that sparks strong, impactful memories.

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readingsofaslinky's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

🍲Excellent story telling

🍲Chapters separated/themed by different food/meals

🍲Highly Recommend

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sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition

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4.0

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etoile75's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

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mattyb's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Thank you to MacKids Books and 01FirstSecond for the finished copy.

It's a graphic memoir that focuses on foods and memories/chapters in the author's life.

These chapters focused on immigration/refugee struggles without fixating on the trauma. Being new, fitting in, financial struggles, trying new things...

One of my favorite chapters/memories is the one on Salisbury Steak. My first, and only exposure to this dish was for school lunches in elementary school.

It's not a full memoir, as the subtitle suggests, it's select memories. And I did enjoy the post script/where are they now section.

Also be prepared to be hungry after reading. Or at least crave some of the foods mentioned.

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.0

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!

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