Inside Out & Back Again
A Review by Amanda Kendall
Bibliography:
Lai, Thanhha. 2011. Inside Out & Back Again. New York: Scholastic Inc. 0061962791
Plot Summary:
Based on author Thanhha Lai's own experiences as a refugee fleeing Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, Inside Out & Back Again is the story of ten-year-old Kim Ha leaving her home in search of hope. For the first ten years of her life, Vietnam is all Ha has ever known - the lush foliage of the jungle, the explosive and beautiful taste of papaya in her mouth, and her family's traditions and love. However, when the war arrives just outside her door, her family is forced to board a ship and leave the only home she has ever known. Ha's family immigrates to Alabama and begins the daunting task of rebuilding their lives in a foreign land where life is so different. The new food, the people, and the language barrier all make settling into this new community more difficult. In a moving story of loss, change, and hope Ha and her family find strength in each other on their journey to find a new beginning.
Analysis:
Lai has expertly woven the truth of her own experiences with the fictional voice of her lovable and memorable Ha. Ha’s voice is fresh and fierce throughout the novel, filled with raw sentiment that captures the emotion of her journey. The reader feels Ha's love of her home and family, her fear of leaving everything behind, and her anger and frustration of being in world that she does not understand. Her emotions feel so personal and true throughout the novel that the reader can’t help but feel as though they have found a friend and confidant in Ha. Regardless of the readers own experiences, Ha is an honest, funny, and relatable character.
Written in free verse with poems of only two or three pages in length, this story gives the reader a moving account of what it is like to be a refugee and immigrate to a new country filled with the unknown. The poetic structure of the novel enhances the emotional appeal of the story as each poem captures Ha’s mood and memories through all the ups and downs. You feel her joy, her frustration, and her triumphs. Her memories of beautiful Saigon and her beloved papaya are enhanced by the descriptive and figurative language. Her experiences at school with bullies and other children are honestly and heartbreakingly expressed in Lai’s careful word choice and text design. Each poem is crafted in a style and structure to evoke emotion and imagery for the reader. The repetition of poetic devices throughout the novel brings continuity to the story while the pacing of each poem highlights the emotions of the characters.
Through all the heartache, Lai sprinkles in plenty of humor along the way. She frequently mentioning the many wonky spelling and grammar rules in English language, showing Ha’s frustration at learning a new language in a playful and humorous way. This lightens the mood of the novel and creates a balance within truth found amongst these pages. Finally, the strength of family and love is also very strongly conveyed in this novel through Ha’s relationship with her brothers, the loss of her father, and her unwavering love and respect for her mother.
Lai expertly leads the middle grade reader through a harrowing experience with honesty, grace, and heart. Ha’s voice allows the reader to see the similarities far more than the differences between Ha and themselves, building empathy and understanding along the way. It’s an expertly crafted story filled with honesty and truth, carefully wrapped up in a lot of humor and love.
Lai has expertly woven the truth of her own experiences with the fictional voice of her lovable and memorable Ha. Ha’s voice is fresh and fierce throughout the novel, filled with raw sentiment that captures the emotion of her journey. The reader feels Ha's love of her home and family, her fear of leaving everything behind, and her anger and frustration of being in world that she does not understand. Her emotions feel so personal and true throughout the novel that the reader can’t help but feel as though they have found a friend and confidant in Ha. Regardless of the readers own experiences, Ha is an honest, funny, and relatable character.
Written in free verse with poems of only two or three pages in length, this story gives the reader a moving account of what it is like to be a refugee and immigrate to a new country filled with the unknown. The poetic structure of the novel enhances the emotional appeal of the story as each poem captures Ha’s mood and memories through all the ups and downs. You feel her joy, her frustration, and her triumphs. Her memories of beautiful Saigon and her beloved papaya are enhanced by the descriptive and figurative language. Her experiences at school with bullies and other children are honestly and heartbreakingly expressed in Lai’s careful word choice and text design. Each poem is crafted in a style and structure to evoke emotion and imagery for the reader. The repetition of poetic devices throughout the novel brings continuity to the story while the pacing of each poem highlights the emotions of the characters.
Through all the heartache, Lai sprinkles in plenty of humor along the way. She frequently mentioning the many wonky spelling and grammar rules in English language, showing Ha’s frustration at learning a new language in a playful and humorous way. This lightens the mood of the novel and creates a balance within truth found amongst these pages. Finally, the strength of family and love is also very strongly conveyed in this novel through Ha’s relationship with her brothers, the loss of her father, and her unwavering love and respect for her mother.
Lai expertly leads the middle grade reader through a harrowing experience with honesty, grace, and heart. Ha’s voice allows the reader to see the similarities far more than the differences between Ha and themselves, building empathy and understanding along the way. It’s an expertly crafted story filled with honesty and truth, carefully wrapped up in a lot of humor and love.
Awards & Reviews:
- 2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
- 2011 Newbery Honor Book
From Kirkus: "An enlightening, poignant and unexpectedly funny novel in verse...In her not-to-be-missed debut, Lai evokes a distinct time and place and presents a complex, realistic heroine whom readers will recognize, even if they haven’t found themselves in a strange new country."
From School Library Journal: "All told, Inside Out and Back Again has the brevity of a verse novel packed with a punch many times its size."
Connections:
More Novels About Immigration and Refugees:
More Novels About Immigration and Refugees:
- Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. 0312535635
- Gratz, Alan. Refugee. 0545880831
- Park, Linda S. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story. 0547577311
- Pinkney, Andrea D. The Red Pencil. 0316247820
- Ryan, Pam M. Esperanza Rising. 9780439120425
- Alexander, Kwame. The Crossover. 0544107713
- Alexander, Kwame. Booked. 0544570987
- Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. 0061992275
- Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. 0312535635
- Creech, Sharon. Love That Dog. 0064409597
- Creech, Sharon. Moo. 006241526
- Engle, Margarita. Mountain Dog.1250044243
- Pinkney, Andrea D. The Red Pencil. 0316247820
- Explore the many exotic fruits of the Vietnam including papayas, jack-fruit, and mango, and pomelo. Include a tasting opportunity for children.
- Read in conjunction with other refugee novels in literature circles to compare the experiences, challenges, and perseverance of the characters.
- Research the country of Vietnam to learn more about the country's landscape and culture.
- Discuss and brainstorm ways to make people feel welcome and valued when they are new to a school, a community, or a country.
- Get involved with a local refugee center to find out how you can help others.
- For more suggested activities, download the reader's guide here.
