World Literary Awards

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Thi Bui

ティ・ブイ

Thi Bui

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1975-01-01 （Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam）
Nationality
American
Languages
English, Vietnamese
Residence History
Vietnam (Saigon) → Malaysia (refugee camp) → United States (Oakland, California)

Career

Occupations
graphic novelist, illustrator, educator
Active Years
2000-
Affiliations
California College of the Arts, Oakland International High School

Awards

UCLA Common Book
2017
Work: The Best We Could Do
Organization: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Result: Selected
National Book Critics Circle (Finalist)
2017
Work: The Best We Could Do
Organization: National Book Critics Circle
Result: Finalist
American Book Award
2018
Work: The Best We Could Do
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: Winner
Eisner Award (Finalist)
2018
Work: The Best We Could Do
Category: Reality-based Comics
Organization: Eisner Awards
Result: Finalist
Caldecott Honor (illustration)
2017
Work: A Different Pond
Organization: Caldecott Committee / American Library Association
Result: Caldecott Honor

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Best We Could Do

2017 Graphic novel / Memoir 224 pages

An illustrated memoir chronicling the author's family history—from life in Vietnam during and after the war, to the family's refugee journey and resettlement in the United States—exploring immigration, war, and intergenerational trauma.

immigrationwarintergenerational traumafamily

A Different Pond

2017 Children's picture book 40 pages

A picture book illustrated by Thi Bui that gently portrays an immigrant family's early-morning fishing trip, touching on themes of poverty, family bonds, and memory.

immigrationfamilypoverty

Chicken of the Sea

2019 Children's picture book 32 pages

A picture book co-created with Viet Thanh Nguyen (and their sons), a family collaboration that touches on cultural and intergenerational themes.

familycultureintergenerational connection

We Are Oakland International (editor)

2012 Essays / Edited volume

An edited volume collecting immigration stories from students at Oakland International High School.

immigrationeducationcommunity

Refugee to Detainee: How the U.S. is Deporting Those Seeking a Safe Haven (short comic)

2018 Short comic / Social documentary

A short comic addressing U.S. deportation and detention policies affecting those seeking refuge.

immigration policyhuman rightssocial issues

Bibliography

  • We Are Oakland International (2012) (editor)
  • The Best We Could Do (2017) (author and illustrator)
  • A Different Pond (2017) (illustrator)
  • Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives (2018) (contributor)
  • Refugee to Detainee (2018) (short comic)
  • Chicken of the Sea (2019) (illustrator)
  • In/Vulnerable: Inequity in the time of pandemic (2020) (illustrator)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
illustration-heavy, reflective narrative styleblend of documentary elements and personal memory
Recurring Motifs
immigrant and refugee experiencefamily history and intergenerational relationshipswar and trauma

Legacy

Recognized for work portraying immigrant and refugee experiences, frequently adopted in educational settings and book programs. The Best We Could Do has received critical acclaim and awards, and is considered an important contemporary American graphic novel.

Trivia

  • The Best We Could Do received multiple award nominations and wins after its 2017 publication.
  • The book was included on Bill Gates's recommended reading list.
  • She helped found Oakland International High School and has worked as an educator.
  • She and her family migrated to the United States as refugees in 1978.