Inside Out & Back Again

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Inside-Out-Back-Again-Thanhha-Lai/

Lai, Thanhha. 2011. Inside Out & Back Again. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780061962783

Summary

Hà and her family are forced to flee war torn Saigon during the Vietnam War. They board a navy ship leaving behind the city that Hà loves- its markets and her beloved papaya tree. The journey's conditions are dangerous and grim, but it brings her family to safety and the opportunity of America. Hà settles in Alabama, where she and her family are met with both prejudice and kindness as they adjust to their new life. 

Critical Analysis

Inside Out & Back Again is a first-person, present tense narrative novel in verse, which tells the story of Hà's immigration to the United States. The story begins in 1975 at the start of Tết, or Vietnamese New Year, through the New Year of the family's new homeland in 1976. The book is organized into four parts: Saigon, At Sea, Alabama, and From Now On, which gives context to the changes for Hà and her family. The poetry, arranged chronologically,  reads as if an intimate journal or diary. Lai's poetry lines consist of short lines in short stanzas creating a fast-paced rhythm that flows the story along. The free verse poetry is broken by line breaks and white space on the page, which gives emphasis to meaning in Lai's stanzas. The language of the verse is simple and straight forward, and the story is accessible for young readers. However, the complexity of story and the poignancy of topics guarantee that the book will be appreciated by readers of all ages. 

Lai uses sensory words that create a visually vivid mental picture; her words allow the reader to experience Hà's favorite fruit, the papaya. The phrases are arrange for maximum impact on the reader; one can almost taste the fruit themselves. "/orange-yellow delights/smelling of summer/Middle sweet/.../Soft as a yam/gliding down/." The precise poems have an emotional impact on the reader, who feels what Hà is feeling in the moment. The themes of outsiderness, school bullies, and family values appeal on a universal level, and the free verse form and poignant themes make Inside Out & Back Again a beautiful read. 

Reviews

The March 01, 2011 issue of School Library Journal says, "Told in verse, each passage is given a date so readers can easily follow the progression of time. Sensory language describing the rich smells and tastes of Vietnam draws readers in and contrasts with Ha's perceptions of bland American food, and the immediacy of the narrative will appeal to those who do not usually enjoy historical fiction. Even through her frustration with her new life and the annoyances of her three older brothers, her voice is full of humor and hope."

A review in Booklist, January 01, 2011, has this praise for Inside Out & Back Again, "Based on 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 with grammar, customs, and dress (she wears a flannel nightgown to school, for example); and readers will be moved by Hà's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast who spends lunchtime hiding in the bathroom."

Awards

Inside Out & Back Again has won many awards, including the following: 

National Book Awards (2011), Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books (2011), School Library Journal Best Books of the Year (2011), and the American Library Association Notable Books for Children (2012). It was also nominated for a Newbery Medal (2012). 

Connections

Since Hà is from Saigon, the capital city of war torn South Vietnam, the book lends itself  to the discussion of the country, its location on a map, the fall of Saigon, and the effects of the Vietnam War on Vietnamese refugees. Children could also share if they have ever moved to a new place or a new school and compare their own experiences with Hà's experience in Alabama; the librarian could highlight the difficulties and challenges of not speaking the language of a new place. 

Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, plays a big role in the book. Children could be introduce to the customs and tradition of Tết, and they could view a slideshow of pictures from a Tết festival in the United States. 

References

Books In Print. Texas Woman's University. Accessed October 07, 2013