Reviews

An intriguing and challenging story about the author's desire to connect with her parents, especially seeing the humanity in her father. Because it was non-fiction, I think the author included some events because they were true, but might have been better off leaving them out for the sake of the story - sometimes these details seemed strange or random, rather than adding more nuance or depth to the story. However, I think she did a very good job of showing the reader the path her father tread to becoming who he is now, and instilled a lot of empathy in the reader without making him likable. The illustrations and color palette were dark and often fittingly ugly, and while not my favorite they seemed right for this story.

pranjuli's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

was good, but could have been SO much better. The beginning and the END had so much heart, so much reflection, such honesty - it blew me away. I just don't know what happened in the middle. It was just - this happened, then this happened, then this happened. Just info info info. Hardly any reflection.
Maybe I'm being too harsh, but I really didn't feel for Thi's father and mother while they went through possibly one of the most harrowing times people can go through.
The last chapter though. Made me emotional, made me cry, will make me return.

Content Warnings

woodiefrog's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

nikkifrances1979's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

miriamleann's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense

5.0

moshikami's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this for one of my college courses, and it was by far the book I enjoyed the most from that course. An autobiographical graphic novel about a Vietnamese immigrant and her family that effectively utilizes its medium to enhance its narrative in manners unattainable through traditional prose.

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