The Best We Could Do: an Illustrated Memoir

This is a graphic novel memoir about a family's escape from Vietnam in the 70s after the fall of Saigon. That in itself is a compelling story, and told from a perspective we don't always hear. Beyond that, it is a story about learning what it means to be a mother, as the storyteller becomes one. From her perspective as a new mother, she examines her now divorced parents immigration story. The book goes back and forth between present day (about 10 years ago when this was written) and the past around the Vietnam War. Bui's mother is just amazing. It is a unique story with beautiful art. There is important history being remembered here, but also universally relatable relationships among family, looking at her parents' experiences through new eyes.

This was a great memoir. It taught me a lot about the Vietnam War from a variety of perspectives. Some of it was a little hard to follow but that could just be because I don't know very much about the war to begin with. I did enjoy reading Thi's account of her parent's stories and how they impacted her deeply, especially as she goes in to labor with her own child. The illustration is beautiful and I am glad that she decided to tell her story in this format. I would definitely recommend for many reasons: the art, the history, the struggles and triumphs and of course the memoir itself.