Thanhha Lai

Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

Inside Out & Back Again

Inside out and back again

Wes Michaud

i loved this book at first i though i might not like it because it was a class book but i loved it there are some very sad parts but it was still really good

Sarah Sammis

Honestly I don’t like poetry and don’t know wtf I was expecting here so don’t take this into account

Kat 

Trever

Writing sentences
that are so big
and so long
strung out like this
doesn't make them
deep.

I feel bad criticizing this, especially because Thanhha Lai lived through Vietnam; not only that, she seems like a fine person from the afterword and the interview with her. Plus, it's a kids' book. I never really understood the "verse novel" concept, and that seems to be popular with middle grade books. See:  Out of the Dust.

Anyway, I didn't really care for and I'm kinda sorry.

I really love the way language was used in this book. They way Hà basically translates the names of the people around her into something more familiar to her is so sweet and funny. And her annoyance with the fact that the rules of English are only sometimes followed is so relatable; English truly is the absolute worst and anyone who learns English as a second language deserves a medal honestly. This book also did an amazing job of conveying multiple distinct locations in only a few words. As a verse novel it's not exhaustively descriptive, but Lai used her sparse phrases so well and Hà's home in Vietnam feels distinct from the ship which feels distinct from the camp in Florida which feels distinct from their final destination in Alabama. The same can be said for the description of emotions and body language throughout the book. I felt like I knew so much about Hà's mother just from Hà's sparse descriptions of her expressions and actions. It takes a lot of skill to convey so much with so few words.

allison moler

Nadine 

Just lovely. Seldom I give 5 stars but this gets it. A beautiful verse novel of a young girl fleeing Saigon as it falls and her experiences as she tries to settle into Alabama. And yet somehow she manages to alternate the anguish with humour and wry observations of being an outcast and bullied and finally accepted into the neighbourhood and school. 

Interestingly enough I was reading "Revolution is not a dinner party" by Ying Chang Compestine as well today and the parallels between the two stories were quite striking. This story is a bit more uplifting, and perhaps that is because she was not an only child and could share experiences with siblings.

laura

This was a super important read. I have never read a book in verse before. This book stood out not only about the refugee experience but also so many other topics like racism, growing up, adjusting and learning a new language It was a harder read. It made me cry but also put a smile on my face. I really enjoyed how the voice of this character changed throughout this novel. I also liked the differences the narrator stressed about Saigon and also Alabama. I also was struck how much this boom focused on learning english and how hard that process was. It was a standout read to me, as educator it gave me pause, and made me think about how i could adjust my teaching. Such a good read.

Tiffanie Dang

This book blew me away! I read it in one sitting for VCFA and loved that the author chose to write the story in free verse. It really reflected the voice authenticity and emotions of a ten-year-old girl adjusting to a new life in a different country. I felt so sad for Hà and wanted to cry on every page. My dad’s family were refugees from Vietnam (although they are full Chinese) during the same time and I’ve heard horrific stories about it. I definitely experienced a deep connection with Hà partly because of this, and also because I too was bullied in elementary school. I’m really glad I found this book because it had such an impact on me and I recommend it to everybody!

 Bruna Acioly Leão

This is a really interesting and deeply moving book.
The story is engaging, both sad and hopeful in a some points.
I didn't know anything about vietnamese culture before going into this, and now I'm very interested in it. I think the author really did her job in opening eyes to a different point of view on what happened during that war.
Normally the idea of war book or history depresses me, but this was middle grade, written in verse so it was very easy to read and enjoy.

Stefie 

I wish I loved this book as much as others. But, it was an okay read for me.

Guinevere Filiaggi

Erin O’Donnell

Riley Young

Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee—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. Hà has only ever 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—toward America. 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. This updated digital edition also includes an interview with the author, an activity you can do with your family, tips on writing poetry, and discussion questions.

Inside Out and Back Again

lily k

lauren

Stephanie Denton

Ness Rainier

Anahitaa

Safa Jabbar 

Cat Josephson

For all the ten years of her life, Ha has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by...and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Ha and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Ha discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape...and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.
--back cover

Inside Out & Back Again

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