The Best We Could Do

Thi Bui’s critically acclaimed and beautifully illustrated story is of her family’s journey from their war-torn home in Vietnam to their new lives in America. Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and family, Bui documents the difficulties immigrants face as they build new lives for themselves. At the heart of Bui’s story is a universal struggle: adjusting to life as a first-time mother. With haunting, poetic writing and breathtaking art, The Best We Could Do examines the strength of family, the importance of identity, and the meaning of home, providing inspiration to all who search for a better future while longing for a simpler past.

Reader Fit: An excellent choice for readers interested in family history, immigration, and graphic memoirs that illuminate the lasting effects of war and displacement.

Why We Carry It: We carry The Best We Could Do because it explores the Vietnamese refugee experience through the lens of one family's history. By connecting personal memories with larger historical events, it helps readers understand the sacrifices, resilience, and complexities that shape immigrant families across generations.