KHIEM: Our Journey Through the Motherlands

Gr 10 Up–This graphic novel weaves together stories from multiple generations of a Vietnamese family to create understanding and illuminate the journey they took in order to end up where they are in the present. This book includes certain topics that may not be suitable for younger readers, and it may be a good choice for a group looking to have deep discussions surrounding ancestry, race, poverty, refugees, and the choices that people may have to make when faced with impossible situations. The sibling duo behind the book handle these difficult topics with grace through thoughtful dialogue and beautiful black-and-white illustrations. However, it can be confusing to know which character is narrating and to whom they are speaking, which may be helped by such a group discussion. Offering an authentic retelling of true events experienced by generations of a Vietnamese family, this would be a good choice for readers who enjoyed Thien Pham’s Family Style, Kiku Hughes’s Displacement, and Keum Suk Gendry-Kim’s The Waiting.