I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir

As another “whitewashed” Filipino American, who didn’t fit in with other Filipinos and the white people I thought were so cool, and who also went to Cerritos High School, Malaka Gharib’s graphic memoir I WAS THEIR AMERICAN DREAM really resonated with me. Things like: being called a Twinkie for being an Asian who liked “white people things” and struggling to identify with my family’s culture and somehow finding a way to make it feel like mine too. ⁣⁣Gharib shares her story in such a funny, heartfelt, and vibrant way with spunky and honest language and colorful cartoons too! Like when was even the last time I read a book with pictures? I’m so grateful for this book because it highlights a similar experience a lot of us go through—one that, at the time, we probably felt like was unique to only us. This book lets so many people know that they’re not alone. ⁣⁣Reading this book made me really happy. It gave me a sense of nostalgia but also a different perspective on how to look at my past. This book also made me a little sad because it made me realize I’ve spent a lot of time feeling othered and disconnected from my “Filipino-ness” and that as an adult I have yet to completely come to terms with it. This is the kinda book that after you finish it makes you call your grandma to thank her for everything, to tell her you love her and to you ask her to teach you how to cook her favorite recipe. Reading Gharib's family story left me curious to ask questions about my own and for that this book is probably my favorite thing I’ve read all year. ⁣

This is the first graphic novel I have ever read, but I found it to be the perfect vehicle for Malaka's memoir. The tone of her book is straight forward; she honestly describes both the joys and the difficulties of growing up in two very different cultures. Malaka sought acceptance in both communities--as well as in the "white" community where she was living/going to school. Clearly this was a struggle at times, but Malaka never portrays herself as an angry victim. Her resolution at the end--to be uniquely herself--is inspiring.Full disclosure: I was fortunate enough to be Malaka's first grade teacher at Our Lady of Fatima School in Artesia, California! Many of our students came from two different cultures, but Malaka was the only one of Egyptian-Filipino heritage. I am so proud of Malaka for finding her own way, and for writing a book that encourages others to do the same. This memoir would make an excellent textbook for junior high students who often struggle with feeling accepted.Congratulations, Malaka, and well done!

very relatable and interesting to read! very funny and and the artwork was very amazing and had a wonderful color palette! as a mixed mexican-filipina there were loads of "I've gotten that too!" or "I know that feel" moments and the comedy had me smiling and laughing. Great book to read about the struggles of being biracial in america and much much more!

I am a big fan of graphic novels (one of my favorite is Persepolis), and this book did not disappoint. Even if you are not the child of immigrant parents or come from a different background as the author, this book has deep yet entertaining themes relating to identity and what it means to be American. I bought the book not knowing a lot about it or sharing the author's background, yet it was a page-turning read, and brought forth many relatable moments. Definitely a great book for a Sunday afternoon.

Helpful for understanding people of multiple cultures and recommended for those with children or friends who span cultures, religions, and traditions. Gives an insight into what may be going on inside —what one doesn’t see from the outside.

A wonderful exploration; subtle and powerful. Highest recommendation; buy this book!

Have to admit, there seems something overly simplistic about this book, but its pages offer a rich vein of material to play with and appreciate further and further. Its playfulness in the face of prejudice and fighting for your own soul...this is the kind of simple complexity good writing offers.

My H.S. student chose this book as his independent reading book. I bought it to help him with the assignment and I found myself not being able to put it down! It was so interesting to learn about the difficulties the author faced identifying with her two cultures, but it was written in a humorous , self aware manner. I love the book and look forward to her next book!

I recomand this book not only for your children but also to you, 'cause this story can teach you a lot.You can empathize with the protagonist, understand the POV of someone whose life is divided between two (and more) different Countries and cultures and how this can affect your relationships, friendships and life in general.

I loved this graphic novel! Malaka takes the reader on a charmingly illustrated journey through her experience as the child of first generation immigrants in the USA - her father from Egypt and mother from the Philippines.She explains ways in which she loved the various aspects of both cultures but also how she sometimes struggled between honouring her heritage and growing up as an all American woman. The anecdotes are interesting (I knew very little about either culture going in!) and at times super relatable (Irish catholics and Filipino catholics are not so different haha). The illustrations are really cool, although at first I didn't like the style so much, it totally grew on me and I loved how all the characters were shown with so much love.It's also very insightful and poignant at times, discussing unique immigrant experiences surrounding your identity and how you interact with the majority culture of a country. As neither an American nor an immigrant in my own country, it was a totally new thing to learn about! Sometimes Malaka was accused of being too whitewashed by people in her own culture. Other times, she was told she identified too strongly as an immigrant and she shouldn't ask people what mix of ethnicity they were. Meanwhile, that was always the way she identified herself to others in order to connect with her community. It was a really interesting conflict. And it was beautiful, hopeful ending.The tone of the story is consistently uplifting and energetic. I'd really recommend it to anyone, although younger kids might struggle with the vocabulary.

A wonderful autobiography and memoir, Malaka Gharib the artist and writer talks about her life in America as an Egyptian-Filipino American in this graphic memoir. Her upbringing is a fascinating mix of two cultures, languages and religions: devout catholic philipino mother and her egyptian muslim father both immigrants to US. Her parents divorced when she was a child. But she spent time with both of them growing up and thus her family on both sides is large, loving and protective consisting of grandparents, uncles, aunts, half sisters and brothers and a loving stepmother. 'Making it' in America by emulating the 'white people' is what she has been taught and grown up with. But life and work and moving away from her immigrant town Cerritos for studies to NYC and work in DC opens up Malaka's world. Does she fulfill her parents desire of living the American dream and doing better than them? In her own unique way yes.Yet another wonderful discovery with its quirky illustrations and dollops of humor atop a poignant reminiscence

Loved it

Beautiful book. Beautiful illustrations. Paper quality is amazing too.