Nguyen portrays the trauma and displacement of fleeing his homeland, the challenges of assimilation in a new country, and the lingering effects of war. He contrasts the idealized American Dream with the systemic barriers and prejudices refugees face.

The memoir explores the complexities of holding dual identities, being caught between two worlds, and how Vietnamese heritage and American upbringing shape perspectives, art, and self-understanding.

Nguyen demonstrates how storytelling can bridge cultural divides and illuminate the human condition, weaving personal narrative with reflections on history, literature, and film, using writing as a form of reconciliation and self-discovery.