Mike’s Comments (group member since Jun 23, 2019)

Mike’s comments from the Multicultural Library EDGTE 480 group.

Vietnamerica is a visually impressive depiction of GB Tran’s exploration of his family’s past in Vietnam. Tran uses this graphic memoir to uncover the hidden history of his parents and their immigration to The United States. Tran discovers the struggles his family endured and the motivations behind leaving Vietnam following the fallout of the Fall of Saigon. Through his search for more answers, Tran further begins to understand his family dynamics and how it relates to a time and place he has been removed from since childhood.

I feel that this is a great addition to any classroom that touches on many key themes that all students could appreciate. Tran slowly learns more about the previously vague history of his family’s past struggles and immigration from Vietnam. Throughout his childhood, he never fully questioned his parent’s past life and it wasn’t until adulthood that he began to explore these questions in greater detail. By providing this example, this memoir may encourage students to learn more about their parents’ lives and dive deeper into their family histories. I feel that graphic novels/memoirs are perfect ways to present information in a unique way. In a similar way, graphic novels such as Maus depict difficult topics such as the Holocaust through a different lens than traditional novels. Vietnamerica provides that experience in a way that readers can understand Tran’s family history in a vivid way. The alternating fonts may be a minor challenge for ELL students, but the content and visuals alongside make for a great reading experience.

5/5
Vietnamerica: A Family's Journey