A Different Pond
Bao Phi, Author & Poet
Thi Bui, Illustrator
Capstone Young Readers, Fiction, Aug. 1, 2017
Suitable for Ages: 6-8
Themes: Father and son, Fishing, Immigrants, Refugees, Vietnam
Opening: Dad wakes me quietly so Mom can keep sleeping. It will be hours before the sun comes up. In the kitchen the bare bulb is burning. Dad has been up for a while, making sandwiches and packing the car. “Can I help?” I ask “Sure,” my dad whispers and hands me the tackle box.
Publisher Synopsis: Acclaimed poet Bao Phi delivers a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son―and between cultures, old and new. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event―a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father’s long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao’s father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.
The New York Times has said that Bao Phi’s poetry “rhymes with the truth.” Together with graphic novelist Thi Bui’s striking, evocative art, Phi’s expertly crafted prose reflects an immigrant family making its way in a new home while honoring its bonds to the past.
Why I like this book:
Phi first wrote the book as a poem. I enjoyed the spare and poetic language throughout this inspiring autobiographical story about his first-generation family who immigrated from Vietnam to a new life in Minnesota. Graphic novelist Thi Bui’s stunning and expressive illustrations capture the mood of this remarkable story.
It’s so important for the younger generation to know the family cultural background. Recently I took my 7-year-old great granddaughter to see my great great grandmother’s grave. I explained about her travelling across the ocean to find a new life in Canada. I said, “She is the reason you and I are here.” She understood and was moved.This looks like a wonderful book.
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Oh, such a touching story. It is so important for kids to know their family roots. Our daughter is adopted and she finally found out her birth mother’s name, and searched for her sibling. They’ve met and she has so many answers to question and a lot of pictures. She new through Ancestry.com DNA test that she was 3 percent Native American. Turns out her grandmother, who is now deceased, was Cherokee. We saw pictures and she looked like she stepped out of a movie. So our daughter is in the discovery phase and thrilled.
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How wonderful for your daughter. Knowing your cultural background can make a huge difference.
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Yes, I agree. It is such a surprise for her.
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A book like this is MUCH needed right now!
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Yes, it is a timely book because we all are immigrants. I’ve been trying to review as many refugee and immigrant stories as possible with the state of the world.
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Thank you – it’s a great thing to do. xo
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I love that phrase: “rhymes with the truth.” Looks like a beautiful book.
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It is such a lovely book about a father and son relationship.
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This book looks wonderful. This book also looks like it belongs in my PB library.
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It’s a great father-son story that involves the father’s memories of Vietnam.
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This sounds like the sort of story that will linger with you a longer time after reading it.
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Yes, I think you are right. It has it’s own heartbeat.
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This seems like a real treasure. I will have to find it. Thanks for sharing it, Patricia.
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I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. I hope you read a copy.
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I’m sold. There are echoes of Yolen’s Owl Moon, maybe, with an added layer pertaining to an immigrant journey? My TBR pile is growing!
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I know what you mean. Interesting, hadn’t thought about the echoes of Yolen’s book. But there is.
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How beautiful. I recently read Thi Bui’s adult memoir and it was amazing, so I’m glad you shared this example of her other work.
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That is the top of my list. I want to read his adult memoir. He’s so poetic.
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Another great mentor text one. Love stories reflecting on places I have been. Thanks for sharing Pat and I love your review.
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Yes, you would enjoy this story because of your travels and charitable work there.
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This sounds like a lovely and poignant book for classrooms and families talking about immigration.
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I’m trying to share as many refugee and immigration stories right now. So timely for kids.
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This sounds perfectly lovely. Thanks for the post. I will check it out.
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I hope you have an opportunity to read Phi’s book. I want to read his adult memoir.
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This sounds like a lovely story, Patricia, and a great one to add to the collection of books about diversity. Thanks for sharing.
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I was very moved by Bao Phi’s story and want to read his adult memoir.
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I’m sure that would be interesting too. Perhaps I should check to see if it’s an audio book.
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