Choice Book #7 - Inside Out & Back Again

[Katie]

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai is a National Book Award Winner, a Newberry Honor book, and also a Scholastic book for young adolescents. This book follows the story of Hà, a ten year old girl from Saigon, Vietnam. Writing through her favorite medium, poetry, Hà tells her story of fleeing Vietnam during the Vietnam War, only to arrive in Alabama. Not only is Alabama far removed from her home geographically, it is one place she never expected to be.

“No one would believe me
but at times
I would choose
wartime in Saigon
over
peacetime in Alabama.”

This story of change and movement in Hà’s life not only demonstrates the trials of young refugee’s, but the difficulty in remaining true to yourself and your culture when everything around you changes. The narrative of this book perfectly captures the mindset, thoughts, and concerns of a young adolescent. I feel as though Thanhha Lai has done an excellent job in providing a unique story that is sure to engage many readers of many different backgrounds!
I would highly recommend this story to anyone who seeks a window into a different culture! This book is grounded in the fictional story of Hà during the Vietnam War and demonstrates a perspective into the war that is not typically viewed. This book, while unique in structure, offers readers an interesting and insightful read that is sure to broaden reader’s appreciation for literature.