Inside Out & Back Again

Ha's mother says that it's luckier for a boy to be the first one to walk around the house on New Year's Day so that honor always goes to one of her brothers. Still, she can't resist secretly waking up just after midnight to touch one toe to the ground. Perhaps she shouldn't have, because this year everything has gone wrong. The war is spreading and Ha's family is fleeing to America for safety. Ha was happy with her family in Vietnam but now everything seems inside-out. She wonders if things will ever go back to the way they were or if her family will be cursed forever.

This novel is written in verse that is sparse and beautiful, yet says so much. The plot moves along and the reader gets to know Ha and everyone around her through her poems. Each poem has a clear subject and could stand on its own, but together they form a bigger picture. The novel is based on the author’s life, so it felt very authentic. Fans of poetry will enjoy this book, but those aren't the only ones. The book reads very similarly to a regular novel so anyone interested in learning about other cultures, and Vietnam in particular will be able to enjoy this book. Anyone who has ever felt like a fish out of water or who has had to deal with older brothers will be able to relate to Ha.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th Grade
Tags: Family Life, Historical Fiction, Novels in Verse, People of Color, Poetry

---