Illustrated Memoir ‘The Best We Could Do’ Named Book in Common for 2022–23

In recent years, Book in Common selections have taken readers on journeys—from studying distracted driving on the roadways and piecing together a tragic plane crash to the wilds of Alaska and exploring what it means to be antiracist. This year, the journey will take readers from Vietnam to the United States by way of an illustrated memoir—the first time such a format has been chosen for this shared read.

The Book in Common for the 2022–23 academic year is Thi Bui’s “The Best We Could Do,” a 2017 illustrated memoir about the author’s family’s journey from Vietnam to the United States, their new life in the United States, and the universal struggles of connecting with family, culture and identity.  

Book in Common Committee Chair Laura Nice said among the reasons Bui’s book—the author’s debut—was selected was its relevance and timeliness.

“Butte County is home to several thousand refugees from the Vietnam War, primarily but not exclusively Hmong refugees,” she said. “This selection confirms the University’s commitment to learning about our communities and the wounds caused by the war and migration.”

At the heart of Bui’s story is an exploration of adjusting to life as a first-time mother and ultimately discovering what it means to be a parent—the endless sacrifices, the unnoticed gestures and the depths of unspoken love. Despite how impossible it seems to take on the simultaneous roles of both parent and child, Bui pushes through. With haunting, poetic writing and breathtaking art, she examines the strength of family, the importance of identity and the meaning of home.

“We believe that this book will be deeply engaging to students and to the wider campus and Butte County community,” Nice said. “In particular, the illustrated memoir format provides opportunities to interact in fresh ways, and Bui’s story of her family’s diaspora and immigration experience is both intensely specific and also relatable.”

“The Best We Could Do” has been recognized as a 2017 National Book Critics Circle Finalist, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Spring 2017 Selection and an ALA 2018 Notable Books Selection.

Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson notes that “The Best We Could Do” ties closely to the University mission, including relating directly to the Strategic Priority of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by centering Asian American experiences.

“In what will be the second full year of the Ethnic Studies requirement, this book will provide a rich anchor for important conversations on our campus,” she said. “In addition to the focus on Asian American history and experiences, this book gives us the opportunity to focus on immigration issues and stories more broadly, a very timely and important topic in California.”

The Book in Common is a shared community read designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues. It is chosen each year by a group of Chico State and Butte College faculty and staff, as well as members of the local community. As in past years, Butte College, Chico State, the City of Chico and Butte County will sponsor panel discussions, lectures and other public events to celebrate and promote the Book in Common.

For more information and details on events as they are scheduled, visit www.csuchico.edu/bic.