Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again

By Thanhha Lai

118 ratings 154 reviews 183 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 5U4.814925

Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award!

Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee—fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama—this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child's-eye view of family and immigration.

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

This moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny." An author's note explains how and why Thanhha Lai translated her personal experiences into Hà's story.

Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 9780061962783
ISBN-10: 0061962783
Published on 2/22/2011
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pages: 272

Book Reviews (147)

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THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!

This is a good book when I firs read this it I was so excited

This is such a good book about a girl who has to get used to a new home who gets bullied

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. It is about this little girl named Ha, and her life. First, it talks about her life in Vietnam. The book is in poem form, and the poems are beautiful. They really get all of the details, even in the most vivid scenes. Next, it talks about her life on sea, after the place where she lived got bombed. Then it talks about her life in the U.S., and all of the bad, and good things that happened. This book was beautiful, and even a little bit educational. But I would recommend it for 9+ for sensitive content. It is DEFINITELY a must read.

This is a marvelous book! A wonderful historical fiction about Kim Hà, who moves to Alabama after the collapse of her town, Saigon, as she rides an unpredictable rollercoaster of life. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai is one of my favorite books, and a worthwhile one to read.

I read this book, thinking it would be a good book. Boy, was I wrong. This book isn't "good", it's incredible! You will love this if you enjoy historical fiction, or just want to dip your toes into the genre.

I really enjoyed the book, I especially liked the fact the story was written in poetic form. This story is about a girl who needs to leave her home country because of war and goes to another country but not out of choice. She goes through a lot of things during the time when they were leaving Vietnam that is crazy to think about.

Inside out and Back again by Thanhha Lai was really a very, very good book. It was filled with courage, dreams, compassion and tru family love and loyalty. This is a story about a young girl who's family is forced to move to the United States of AMerica because the Vietnam War is trashing and throwing their homeland into chaos and it is no longer safe. This book tells of how this family makes their way in the U.S, far away from the place they call home.

NJ NJ

I think it was a very good book. It was a sad story, but also very, very good book. I would give it a 5 out of 5 percent rating. I would say the interest level is 4-6grade. Also, I would say the A-Z reading level is U.

Maybe Maybe

It’s an amazing book

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