I Am Both: A Vietnamese Refugee Story
by Kerisa Greene (Author)
A picture book inspired by the author's family's journey on the last flight out of Saigon, I Am Both is a compelling exploration of identity, immigration, and family.
We zip through the city listening to the music of the street.
I hear the swish swoosh of the baskets and the clink clank of the passing bikes.
For Hương, life in Saigon, Vietnam is mostly normal--at least, as normal as it can be while a war is going on. But when her family decides to take the last flight out of the country to build a new life in America, Hương worries about missing her home. Through new friends and old traditions, Hương learns that no matter where we go, the smell of home and the taste of love can be found anywhere, as long as we have our family.
In this timely and hopeful story of immigration, author/illustrator Kerisa Greene captures the vibrancy of life in both Vietnam and America with wonderfully textured illustrations and descriptions of the sights and sounds of each country.
Fun and educational extras include the true story behind Hương's journey and a glossary of Vietnamese terms.
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Publishers Weekly
Leaning into onomatopoeia and desaturated images of daily rhythms, Greene, per an author's note, bases this tale of a Vietnamese family escaping from Saigon on her family's 1975 experiences. H˘uo˘ng is one of 10 siblings growing up in a bustling unnamed city filled with street vendors selling bánh mì and durian. At school one day, bombs continually shake the earth, but eating a bowl of pho back at home results in "SIPPING SLURPING MUNCHING drown out the worries of the day." In the middle of the night, a sudden "SHAKE SHAKE" precipitates the family's flight via a plane headed to America, where the protagonist takes a new name and where sounds new and familiar recur throughout a life in which "I am both Vietnamese and American. I am proud to be me." Though the story lacks historical context for young readers, it effectively presents the constant sounds of war and home life as part of the everyday. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Praise for I Am Both:
Greene methodically blends warm hues to create subtle shadows and textures that add to the gentle tone and emotional arc of the narrative . . . A gentle tale outlining the loss and growth of a refugee. —Kirkus
Kerisa Greene is a mixed Asian American author and illustrator who loves to eat giant bowls of phở, especially when her grandmother makes them. When she's not drawing or crafting stories you can find Kerisa munching on chocolate chip cookies, exploring new places, and petting every dog that walks by.
Visit Kerisa at kerisagreene.comJUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV016000 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | General
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
