76 pages • 2 hours read
Inside Out And Back Again
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Book Brief
Inside Out And Back Again
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Middle Grade | Published in 2011288
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
Vietnam • 1970s
2011
Middle grade
8-12 years
Super Short Summary
Thanhha Lai's Inside Out and Back Again follows 10-year-old Hà and her family as they flee war-torn Saigon in 1975, endure hardships on a refugee ship, and resettle in Alabama, facing challenges of bullying, cultural adjustment, and loss while finding new beginnings and community support. The story includes themes of war and family separation.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Hopeful
Emotional
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
89 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai is praised for its poignant, heartfelt verse that effectively captures the struggles of a young Vietnamese refugee adapting to life in America. Reviewers commend Lai's evocative, minimalist prose and relatable protagonist. However, some critics note that the poetic format may deter readers seeking a more conventional narrative. Overall, it is lauded for its emotional depth and cultural insights.
Who Should Read Inside Out And Back Again?
Readers who appreciate heartfelt, free-verse narratives about resilience and cultural identity will enjoy Inside Out And Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Fans of Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson or The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney will find this story similarly compelling.
89 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
288
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
Vietnam • 1970s
2011
Middle grade
8-12 years
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