A review by librarianryan
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

 

This graphic novel is both heartbreaking and contemplative. Its the story of a modern family both past and present, and the difference in life between two mothers. A turbulent mother daughter relationship is hard enough but add to it immigration, war, poverty, and death and it becomes a tough mountain to climb.  Eventually the other side found. This is a look at a family that most people won’t recognize but some will. The author gives us the true accounts of her, her mom, her dad, brother sisters, and how it correlates to the life that she lives now. This graphic memoir has been chosen as an NEA big read book for this year, and after reading it, I understand why. This isn’t any graphic novel, but an in-depth tale of longing for a place to belong and longing for the family you think you should have. This book both breaks your heart, but helps find a way to mend those pieces as time marches forward.