Inside Out & Back Again is a beautiful and poignant novel about the transition ten-year-old Hà must make when forced to flee Vietnam
with her mother and three older brothers at the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Though
they have been suffering the deep sadness and confusion of her father missing
in action for nine years in the war, Hà relishes her
life in Saigon, with lively markets, good friends, and happy traditions. That
all changes with their escape to a tent city on Guam, then to Florida and
finally to Alabama, where as refugees they are connected with a sponsor. Hà’s
experiences are based closely on a pivotal year in the life of author Thanhha
Lai. She uses concise but affecting free verse to tell Hà’s story; it captures
Hà’s voice and feelings perfectly. Lai tells readers in an author’s note that
she sought to convey the emotional heart of her experience as well as the
facts: “What was it like to live where bombs exploded every night yet where
sweet snacks popped up at every corner? What was it like to sit on a ship
heading toward hope? What was it like to go from knowing you’re smart to
feeling dumb all the time?” Readers will feel the frustration of learning to
speak the confusing language of English, of being teased at every turn for your
mistakes in a new culture, of trying to hold on to the best in yourself as you
gain strength in a new home. Non-immigrant readers will surely consider what a
welcoming generosity could mean to a newcomer. Hà’s first-person narrative is
heartbreakingly honest and at turns even humorous; characters are drawn with
affecting clarity. A review in The Horn
Book Magazine says it well: “Lai’s spare language captures the sensory
disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee’s complex emotions and
kaleidoscopic loyalties.” By the end of the book, readers will feel that maybe,
just maybe, Hà and her family will find a true home despite the extreme
struggles they have been through. Ages 8-12.
