Family Style by Thien Pham is a graphic novel memoir about his life as a Vietnamese immigrant searching for his place in America. The Phams' journey to the United States starts with their escape by boat from Vietnam to a refugee camp in Thailand where they struggle to survive, to their eventual arrival in the Bay Area where they make a permanent home. The sections of the novel follow Pham’s memories of the taste of the foods he ate during formative moments of his life. Rice and fish are reminders of his journey on boat from Vietnam to Thailand, strawberries represent his early days in California picking fruit to survive, potato chips were a rare treat, and croissants remind him of his family's bakery in Saratoga. This moving story is about Thien’s coming of age, his search for belonging and for the American dream.  At MVMS we are excited to read this highly acclaimed graphic memoir and host local author Thien Pham in conversion on September 2024.