From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Laura (booksnob)
Based on the author's own experiences, Thanhha Lai has created a book for young adults that tells the story of her escape during the fall of Saigon in the Vietnam war. Ha, is a brave 10 year old girl who has to leave behind her home, her beloved papaya tree and the hope that her father, who has been missing for 9 years, will find them. Her family escapes aboard a Navy ship in the harbor and float slowly down the river to the ocean. They float in darkness, with rationed food, crowded aboard a shi ...more
Astrid Lim
I usually don't really like verse novels. But this one is unexpectedly enjoyable, very beautiful writing and relatable characters. The story is about a family from Vietnam who migrated to US during the war between North and South Vietnam. I learned a lot about Vietnamese history and culture here, in a very sweet way- short verses about everyday happenings, but they're written in a very profound way. Love this book and will recommend it to anyone who wanted to know more about Vietnam through a sh ...more
Alyson Zikmund
Jan 26, 2013 rated it it was amazing
Reminded me of House on Mango Street.
Ching-In
Feb 26, 2012 marked it as to-read
Te-ge Bramhall
Mar 13, 2012 marked it as to-read
Kat
Mar 02, 2013 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-enjoyed, 2013
Christy
Apr 22, 2014 rated it liked it
Nikki Morse
Jul 03, 2018 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Carolyn
Jun 04, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Tiffany
Jul 02, 2015 marked it as to-read
Felicia follum
Sep 22, 2015 marked it as to-read
Jocelyn
Jan 18, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: award-newbery
Jen
Mar 19, 2017 rated it really liked it
Stephanie
Sep 09, 2016 marked it as to-read
Jessica
May 25, 2018 rated it really liked it
alana
Dec 06, 2016 marked it as to-read
Shelves: ebook, alabama
Celeste
Dec 14, 2017 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Ashley
Jan 16, 2018 marked it as to-read
m
Apr 05, 2018 rated it really liked it
Shelves: books-read-2018
Jody Rowan
Apr 13, 2018 rated it it was amazing
Grace
Sep 10, 2018 rated it really liked it
EmJay
Apr 16, 2019 marked it as to-read
Brenda
Apr 25, 2019 marked it as to-read
superawesomekt
Jul 16, 2020 rated it really liked it
Shelves: needs-tag
Wonderful
Annie
Aug 22, 2020 marked it as to-read
« previous 1