Book Review: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Her father is missing. Her world is crumbling. Now she is moving to a new country where everything is so different from back home. How will Ha and her family tackle the changes of this new place and the people who do not understand them?

A story of challenges such as fitting in, immigrating to a new country, and learning a new language but told with a touch of good humor. Lai does a beautiful job of building the reader's understanding of the culture and how it plays into the lives of Ha and her family from statements such as "only male feet can bring luck" when it comes to blessing the house to how she got her name and the meaning behind it. The representation in this text feels real; like you could go into the world and find this diverse character. While there are no illustrations, you get a sense that the characters are representative of the culture and its varying features.

"An enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny novel in verse is rooted in the author's childhood experiences. In her not-to-be-missed debut, Lai evokes a distinct time and place and presents a complex, realistic heroine whom readers will recognize, even if they haven’t found themselves in a strange new country." -Kirkus Review

Book Information:

Lai, T. (2011). INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780061962783