Inside Out and Back Again is a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author’s childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child’s-eye view of family and immigration.
For all the ten years of her … all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food… and the strength of her very own family.
This moving story of one girl’s year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it “enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny.” An author’s note explains how and why Thanhha Lai translated her personal experiences into Hà’s story.
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I absolutely loved this book! I read it with my 13 year old nephew and it was definitely an eye-opener! The author uses her own experience as a refugee fleeing Vietnam in the heart of the Vietnam War and writes the story of Ha, a ten year old girl going through the motions of war in Saigon. The story is told in first-person point of view in a poem …
A middle grade story that follows a ten year old and their family through leaving Vietnam and arriving in Alabama. The story was told in diary entries and verse which helped keep the storyline in order. The story was raw and real, I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and continue to now. I enjoyed hearing and learning …
Such an eye opening novel. Prior to reading this one, I’d never paid any mind to refugees fleeing from Vietnam to the USA in hopes of a better life. The story is a sad one in which the MC was made to believe anything and everything was ‘better than being in Vietnam.
Here, we see Há’s perspective on what life is like being ‘different’.
What a beautiful little book! I loved this whole story. I loved that it is written in verse. I loved that it’s from the point of view of a 10-year-old during the Vietnam War. It was so interesting to see everything from her perspective. So good!
It’s honestly touching and very inspiring. Watching her go through so many struggles and other stuff. This book is a slice of life.
V
I always love the books that tell a personal life story that is unlike any I’ve read before. Beautiful writing.
First I want to say I am glad I listened to the audiobook version of this. I think this would have been a hard book to read otherwise.
I am surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book. It is a very interesting, and uniquely told story about a young vietnamese girl who escapes Siagon right before the fall, and journeys to the United States. …
I really enjoyed the book too. It was very poignant and hit on things I’d never considered immigrants suffered though. It brought tears to my eyes when the mother reached out to the neighbors again and again only to be turned away. But then Mrs. Washington what an amazing woman after all she’d been through to show such love to the family. I …
I like it I am just answering the eassay the teacher got for us
It is very good. at first i thought it was a book with poems but it isn’t and that’s why i like it.because there like …
A great read but left you feeling like it ended very abruptly.
love it so much.
best book ever