Panel by Panel Graphic Novel Book Club

Join us to discuss Family Style by Thien Pham:

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.

Registration is required, and books will be provided for participants. If you don't need a physical copy, just note when you sign up that you won't need the library to provide one. If you have any questions, please contact Sophia McKissick at smckissick@tcpl.org.