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September 2026 - A Day at the Beach
By Kristen · 5 posts · 55 views
By Kristen · 5 posts · 55 views
last updated Sep 07, 2025 06:50PM
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June Read- Inside Out and Back Again
By Kim · 15 posts · 137 views
By Kim · 15 posts · 137 views
last updated Dec 19, 2011 08:09AM
What Members Thought
The story is nicely evocative of all of the things Ha misses when her family leaves Vietnam. The free verse form heightens the emotions and lets the historical facts fade into the backdrop - while certain times, places and historical figures are mentioned, the emotions could translate to any refugee situation. The ending felt a little abrupt, but otherwise the book was strong.
There's a brief note from the author talking more about why she wrote the book than adding any historical facts - curiou ...more
There's a brief note from the author talking more about why she wrote the book than adding any historical facts - curiou ...more
A beautifully-written, delightful and moving autobiographical story about a young Vietnamese refuge at the end of the war. Well deserving of its National Book Award!
As usual, I am fascinated that books in poetry form, when done well, seem to be able to convey twice the emotional punch with less than half the text. The story of a young girl's experiences during the fall of Saigon, and her family's immigration to America has a lot of punch, even though she seems to be on the fringe of events. You may need to insert your own historical knowledge into the story, as the protagonist is sometimes unaware of what is happening. Still, the books brings a great perspe
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What would it be like to have to leave your home in Saigon and
come to this country and live in Alabama and eat different food and be teased at school because you are different. This was a touching
story of a young immigrant girl and the difficulties she faced when coming to the United States based on the author's experiences. ...more
come to this country and live in Alabama and eat different food and be teased at school because you are different. This was a touching
story of a young immigrant girl and the difficulties she faced when coming to the United States based on the author's experiences. ...more
Just reread this book as I was getting ready to do a blog post on it. It was as lovely this time as the first time I read it. I certainly understand why it's on so many mock Newbery lists!
That it is a novel in verse is just icing on the cake! ...more
That it is a novel in verse is just icing on the cake! ...more
My students who are refugees or who have had to learn English will be able to relate. I feel so bad that they are "stupid" in English, when I know very well that they are brilliant in their native language.
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Feb 23, 2012
Karen Gibson
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
poetry,
2012-112-book-project
Newbery Honor 2012
Love this book
It made me think of all the precious Vietnamese students I taught and the courage they and their parents had in making a life for themselves in America.
Love this book
It made me think of all the precious Vietnamese students I taught and the courage they and their parents had in making a life for themselves in America.
Apr 22, 2012
Beth Given
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
battle-of-the-books-2013-14
Written in verse, this is a short but powerful book about Vietnamese refugees who immigrate to America following the communist takeover of South Vietnam. I loved the story, the images, and the deep emotion packed into these few words. This is a short, well-crafted book, and it's easy to see why this was chosen as Newbery Honor book -- it's a gem.
REREAD IN JANUARY 2014: Just as beautiful the second time. Wonderful, rich characters. A couple of favorite lines:
"Other girls must be made of bamboo, b ...more
REREAD IN JANUARY 2014: Just as beautiful the second time. Wonderful, rich characters. A couple of favorite lines:
"Other girls must be made of bamboo, b ...more
Absolutely delightful. I am loving reading poetry as novels. This had everything just right to make a great read. The poetry was accessible, beautiful, and full of great messages. It was tear jerker, and funny ("Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion". . .name that movie!) while being true to the story. I didn't realize this was much of the author's own story.
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Short read (poetry form) historical fiction about a girl coming to Alabama from Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Excellent addition to the very few children's books on the immigration of Vietnamese after the war.
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All teachers of English language learners should read this book!
Told in the same style as Odette's Secrets, the author relates a story of displacement due to war in free verse which somehow lets the anger and confusion of youth come through more clearly.
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I loved the simplicity yet at times painful poignancy of the author's experiences as a vietnamese refugee in America. She handled the topic of prejudice and loss through a child's eyes and life. I highly recommend it.
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A gem! Pick it up and read it straight through.
Nov 17, 2012
Melinda Caldwell
added it
Apr 16, 2013
Debbie Jo
marked it as to-read
