Vietnamerica: A Family's Journey

Choose a splash (one panel that takes up an entire page) or a spread (a panel that takes up two pages). Analyze GB’s style of illustration and the content of the image. What theme(s) does the image address, and how effective are his choices in rendering the scene? Some elements to consider are color, composition, the style and expression of figures and faces, the relationship between the foreground and background, and any accompanying text.

The beginning of the memoir focuses on the role of GB’s grandmothers during the First Indochina War. How are Thi Mot’s and Le Nhi’s experiences similar? How are they different? What role do these women play in Dzung Chung and Tri Huu’s upbringing and subsequent development as adults?

GB interrupts his illustrations with a collage of actual photographs of his family (136). What effect does this medium of realism have on the graphic memoir? What is the significance of the following chapter, which opens with the parents arguing?

GB describes his family’s life both in Vietnam and in America. How does he characterize his parents’ experiences in each country? Do Tri Huu and Dzung Chung have similar experiences? In what ways do traditional gender roles and expectations provide a lens to contextualize their experiences and attitudes?

GB uses a nonlinear narrative, with multiple voices and intersecting settings, that is often difficult to clearly navigate. What is the purpose of this structure? How does it differ from historical accounts that follow specific dates and timelines? What does the book say about beginnings and endings?

GB highlights the story of Huu Nghiep and the tension between nationalism and filial piety. In what ways are the nation and family at odds with each other? In what ways is the family a metaphor for the nation?

Many of GB’s family members whose pasts are traumatic choose to remain silent rather than openly discuss and revisit their experiences. How does GB respect their silence? In what ways is their retelling of events crucial to remembering history and preserving one’s heritage?

A unique aspect of GB’s memoir is the attention he gives to portraying the multiple perspectives of Vietnamese nationals. How do they differ from one another? How do their perspectives differ from or reflect the viewpoints of Vietnamese people overseas? A possible relationship to analyze is Do’s perspective of Tri Huu’s life in America and Tri Huu’s impression of Do’s life in Vietnam.