On Teaching Thi Bui's The Best We Could Do

Join us for this discussion guided by Duke Professors Marguerite Nguyen and Susan Thananopavarn about why they love to teach Thi Bui's graphic memoir The Best We Could Do. Thi Bui's beautiful graphic memoir tells her family's story in a way that takes us through war, colonialism, and a harrowing escape from Vietnam by boat. It also reckons with the complexity of families: what do we carry with us from our past, and what do we choose to pass onto our children? I love to teach this book because it grapples with questions we can all understand, while telling a history that often goes untaught in schools. - Prof. Susan Thananopavarn Free copies of the book WILL BE available at Letters Community Bookshop, 116 W Main St., Durham, for the first 15 people who request one. (Please take just one book!) Watch here for updates for book availability. Open to all. Come prepared to discuss why you love (or don't) this book. NOTE: WHILE THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN THE MAIN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ROOM AT THE DURHAM COUNTY MAIN LIBRARY, THE BOOK IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR OLDER TEENS AND ADULTS. Registration required at the DCL event page. The link will be provided here when available. Books We Love to Teach is co-

Last updated October 7, 2026