The Best We Could Do

Opening with the birth of her first child, the author ponders what attitudes she, a first-generation American born to refugee Vietnamese parents, will pass on to her child. Her story explores her parents’ experiences as they survived the Vietnamese War, escaped as refugees, faced poverty and discrimination in the US, had to start over with their education, and the mental health issues they faced from the trauma they suffered. This graphic memoir explores intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, discrimination, family relationships, the violence and realities of war, and personal and social awareness. Social considerations noted; sensitive topics may require pre-teaching to prepare students.