Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Genre: Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse Targeted Age Group: 8-12

Summary: Ha and her family are forced to flee as the Vietnam War has reached their home and Saigon has fallen. Soon Ha and her family are on a boat to the U.S. where they find themselves transplanted to Alabama taken in by a cowboy and adjusting to the American ways of life. Why I chose this book: I chose this book as I am a sucker for the novel in verse format. Another reason is because it has been a while since I've read a juvenile novel in verse. The National Book Award winner and Newberry Honor Book also gave me a chance to read a novel with an Asian lead. Review:

I experience Inside Out & Back Again as an audiobook through the Libby by Overdrive app. It was an interesting experience as I have not listened to a novel in verse as an audiobook. With books in the novel in verse format I tend to read them in their print version. The narration was wonderfully done by Doan Ly. Through the reading of Inside Out & Back Again I found myself reading a historical fiction which is not my usual cup of tea when it comes to reading. The novel does this wonderful job of giving heart to the history of the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon as history is more than dates it is also people and experiences. Lai is also giving us insight to the experience of those we tend to not hear from in our history books when discussing the Vietnam War and that is the Vietnamese experience. Ha and her family have to make the difficult decision to leave her home which is described with warmth and admiration through the eyes of Ha. She has to leave all that she knows and the possible chance of reuniting with her father (who is missing in action) at the hopes of a better life in the U.S.

Life in the U.S. is a major adjustment for Ha and her family as they adjust to the culture and deal with a language barrier as they learn English. Ha's interactions with the pink colored boy in a way is reflective of her relationship with her new home of Alabama. It is one that is at times tense as she has to not only deal with a language barrier but people who aren't so welcoming such as their host's wife. But unlike her relationship with the pink colored boy Ha is able to graudally adjust to her new life making new friends and gaining more of the English language with the help of neighbor Ms. Washington.

Lai, T. (2011). Inside Out & Back Again. HarperCollins.