The Best We Could Do - 4 stars

[forsanolim]

Thi Bui documents the stories of several generations of her family in this graphic-novel memoir. She focuses on the lives of her parents growing up in Vietnam and Cambodia against the backdrop of Vietnamese independence from France and the Vietnam War, exploring their lives, their starting a family, and the family's seeking refuge after the fall of South Vietnam in Indonesia (and then the US) as "boat people." The book also touches on Thi's adult life and her own experiences as a mother.

As far as I can remember, this is the first graphic novel I've ever read, so I don't have a great frame of reference for it. I'm definitely glad that I read it, though, as I definitely found it moving.

[Theresa]

This was only my second graphic nocel and I too found it moving and effective. I also thought the generational motherhood theme was unexpected but important one.