Thien's first memory isn't a sight or a sound. It's the
sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It's the taste of the foods
he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam.
After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to
survive. Things don't get much easier once they resettle in California. And
through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries
come to signify struggle as Thien's mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are
an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity.
Behind every cut of steak and inside every croissant lies a story. And for
Thien Pham, that story is about a search—for belonging, for happiness, for the
American dream.
Pham, Thien. (2023). Family Style. New York: First Second.
No comments:
Post a Comment