Review: Inside Out & Back Again

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  ISBN 978-0-06-196278-3

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of Ha, a ten year old  girl who loves her home in Saigon, but is forced to leave when the Vietnam War reaches her home. With her family, Ha travels to America in hopes of a safer life, but has a difficult time adjusting. 

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Thanhha Lai's novel in verse has a touching story told through the eyes of a ten year old girl named Ha, using short poems, short lines, short stanzas and simple vocabulary. Lai's protagonist, Ha, is an innocent girl who cherishes her home, everyday life and the simplicity of watching her papaya tree grow. As readers follow Ha's journey, through what seems to be her personal and carefully dated journal entries, reader's are given an insight into war, loss, change, hardship and hard work from an easy to read perspective that flows beautifully. Though there is no rhyme pattern present, each word in carefully chosen to help the metaphors, similes and personification jump right out of the pages.  

The author is able to capture a sweet, ten year old girl's voice of humor and hope, and meticulously describe the way she would see the world and the things in it. A good example is when Ha is describing her American, cowboy sponsor, "I love him immediately and imagine him to be good-hearted and loud and the owner of a horse" or when she calls her teacher "MiSSS SScott" to emphasize her S's after a few short lessons in the English language. Through her words and use of imagery, Lai is capable to making readers feel what Ha is feeling, and imagine what Ha is talking about as if they were there with her. 

In this heart warming story for 9-12 year olds, readers see people they can relate to, like the mother who pushes their kids to be their best, siblings who argue and irritate one another, and a little girl who finds joy in the little things, but also struggles with bullying at school. Ha's experiences and the message of hope and finding humor amidst the storm is enlightening. 

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2012 John Newbery Medal

2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

New York Times Bestseller
From Publishers Weekly: “The taut portrayal of Hà’s emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. An incisive portrait of human resilience.”

From Booklist: “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.”

From School Library Journal: “Ha’s voice is full of humor and hope.”

From The Horn Book: “Lai’s spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee’s complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties.”


5.     CONNECTIONS

Read other poetry books about wars:

•                    From Both Sides Now: The Poetry of the Vietnam War and Its Aftermath. ISBN 978-0684849478

•                    Unaccustomed Mercy: Soldier-Poets of the Vietnam War. ISBN 0896721906
•                    Carrying the Darkness: The Poetry of the Vietnam War. ISBN 0896721884

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Lesson Ideas:

•           Study on the Vietnam War through poetry
•           Compare and contrast the different points of views, perspectives and experiences of the war
•            Learn about different styles of poetry
•            Have students write a poem about a difficult time in their lives