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

5.0

I'm embarrassed to say I've never read a graphic novel before! I'm so glad this is my first because it's a really good story, beautifully illustrated, and with a lovely readable text. Bui's story is about her family, first the birth of her son, and then she reaches back to give her parents' origin stories in Vietnam. She shows how it felt to be Vietnamese during the French occupation, the liberation of Hanoi, America's involvement with the war, and finally the fall of Saigon. She tells of being a young girl in a Malaysian refugee camp, about resettlement in the US--Indiana then Calfornia--and about growing as a family of immigrants. Throughout Bui ponders the legacy of her parents' stories leave in her own family's story, including the harrowing birth of her son. I'm sure there are techniques that graphic novelists employ that can be found in this one, but because it's my first, I can only identify what leaps out at me: the rhythm and pacing of the story spreads. The use of first person, and how effectively text works when illustrated. It's a fast read if you are reading it like a novel--just to get to the story. Far better to savor each chapter, gaze at the illustrations. These are done in a hues of orange with various textures overlaid. The drawings are really beautiful. What a great way to learn about history (Bui is an educator and really knows how to make history come alive.)

I'm so glad I finally read a graphic novel. I'm so glad it was this one!