Inside Out & Back Again

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/
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Bibliography

Lai, Thanhha.  Inside Out & Back Again.  New York: Harper, 2011.  9780061962783

Summary

For ten-year old Hà, life is Saigon is pleasant.  Not perfect, she wishes that her father had not disappeared when she was an infant and that her mother did not have to work so hard, but she enjoys the treats she gets from the market and watching her papaya tree grow.  The occasional drills and bomb drops are an annoyance, but she loves her home.  When the war comes too close, her mother decides that it is time for the family to leave Saigon and head for the unknown, much to Hà’s displeasure.  After months in transition, from battleships to refugee camps, Hà finally reaches Alabama, where more challenges are waiting.

Analysis

Chronologically presented, each dated and titled poem gives a glimpse into Hà’s inner thoughts about the world around her.  As would be expected, her interests and concerns are those of a ten-year-old: school, friends, parents, and free time.  Even while living in war-torn Vietnam, her mind focuses on these aspects of life, rarely thinking about the larger problems that surround her.  And why should she?  The war is a problem for adults.  Her mother, older brothers and teachers tell her what she needs to know.  For a modern day American child, the similarities shared with Hà may come as a surprise.  They are likely to be amazed at how very similar they are to this girl from a different country and decade.   

The free verse poems do more than document Hà’s life; they beautifully capture her feelings about the events happening around her.  The writing is not fancy or complex; there is little use of figurative language and no rhyme or repetition.  These poems use capture intricate details and paint them into masterpieces in the mind of the reader.  The sensory descriptions of markets, papaya plants and bomb blasts allow the reader to feel the world as it unfolds around Hà, the amount of detail she presents being a gauge of how important it is to her. 

Awards and Reviews

*Newbery Honor Book 2012

*National Book Award Winner 2011

*ALA Notable Children’s Book 2012, Middle

*School Library Journal Best Books of 2011, Fiction

“All told, Inside Out and Back Again has the brevity of a verse novel packed with a punch many times its size. It’s one of the lovelier books I’ve read in a long time, and can make you think about and question the entire immigrant novel genre, so long a permanent part of the American children’s literary canon. Lai drew upon much of her own life to write this book. Now I’d like to see what she’s capable of when she looks at other subjects as well. Great new author. Great new book.” –School Library Journal

“Based in Lai’s personal experience, this first novel captures a child–refugee’s struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free–verse poems, Hà’s immediate narrative describes her mistakes—both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast.” -Booklist

Connections

Immigrating to America is a very different experience for every person.  Read another book about an immigrant coming to America.  Have students look for common themes between the characters and experiences.   Have students use these common themes to write their own immigration story.  If possible, have students research their own family history and write from the perspective of their ancestors. 

Research what immigrating to America and becoming an American citizen requires.  Have students take a citizenship test and see if they would be able to become a citizen.   Students then could write a persuasive letter to their state representatives explaining how they believe incoming immigrants should be evaluated.   

Research the current debate about immigration into America, making sure to read opinions from all sides. Have students orally debate about how America should handle new immigrants. 

Scholastic Reading Group Guide for Inside Out & Back Again

A note from Lai

Lai reads aloud from Inside Out & Back Again

Viet Kids is a not-for-profit started by Lai to provide bikes for children in Vietnam