I Am Both : A Vietnamese Refugee Story

A picture book inspired by the author's family's journey on the last flight out of Saigon, I Am Both is a compelling exploration of identity, immigration, and family.

We zip through the city listening to the music of the street.

I hear the swish swoosh of the baskets and the clink clanks of the passing bikes.

For Huong, life in Saigon, Vietnam, is mostly normal—at least, as normal as it can be while a war is going on. But when her family decides to take the last flight out of the country to build a new life in America, Huong worries about missing her home. Through new friends and old traditions, she learns that no matter where we go, the smell of home and the taste of love can happen anywhere, as long as we have our family.

In this timely and hopeful story of immigration, author/illustrator Kerisa Greene captures the vibrancy of life in both Vietnam and America with wonderfully textured illustrations and descriptions of the sights and sounds of each country.

Kerisa Greene is a mixed Asian American author/illustrator who loves to eat giant bowls of pho, especially when her grandmother makes them. When she’s not drawing or crafting stories you can find Kerisa munching on chocolate chip cookies, exploring new places, and petting every dog that walks by. Originally from sunny Southern California, Kerisa now resides near the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC, with her family.

"Greene methodically blends warm hues to create subtle shadows and textures that add to the gentle tone and emotional arc of the narrative . . . A gentle tale outlining the loss and growth of a refugee." —Kirkus