Inside Out and Back Again
No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama.

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by ... and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

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, the strange shape of its landscape ... and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

“Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. Before closing it, go back to the beginning, this time to let the story of ten-year-old Hà and the year she escaped from South Vietnam, 1975, leaving behind the world she knew and loved, sink in. Don't close the covers yet. Read it again to notice how perfect the thin line of the prose itself mirrors the thin line that Hà walks during that year.

This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end.”-Kathi Appelt, bestselling author of the Newbery Honor Book THE UNDERNEATH
National Book Award
Newbery Honor Book
1100198085
Inside Out and Back Again
No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama.

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by ... and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

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, the strange shape of its landscape ... and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

“Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. Before closing it, go back to the beginning, this time to let the story of ten-year-old Hà and the year she escaped from South Vietnam, 1975, leaving behind the world she knew and loved, sink in. Don't close the covers yet. Read it again to notice how perfect the thin line of the prose itself mirrors the thin line that Hà walks during that year.

This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end.”-Kathi Appelt, bestselling author of the Newbery Honor Book THE UNDERNEATH
National Book Award
Newbery Honor Book
10.99 In Stock
Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again

by Thanhhà Lai

Narrated by Doan Ly

Unabridged — 2 hours, 31 minutes

Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again

by Thanhhà Lai

Narrated by Doan Ly

Unabridged — 2 hours, 31 minutes

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Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

When Hà and her family flee Saigon and immigrate to Alabama, their lives are irrevocably changed. Hà’s story is a moving depiction of immigration as seen through the eyes of a young girl, written in flowing verse. Inside Out and Back Again is a heartfelt and humorous debut based on the author’s own childhood experience.

No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama.

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by ... and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.

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, the strange shape of its landscape ... and the strength of her very own family.

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

“Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. Before closing it, go back to the beginning, this time to let the story of ten-year-old Hà and the year she escaped from South Vietnam, 1975, leaving behind the world she knew and loved, sink in. Don't close the covers yet. Read it again to notice how perfect the thin line of the prose itself mirrors the thin line that Hà walks during that year.

This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end.”-Kathi Appelt, bestselling author of the Newbery Honor Book THE UNDERNEATH
National Book Award
Newbery Honor Book

Editorial Reviews

Mary Quattlebaum

…Ha's voice feels wholly authentic…Lai's rhythmic free verse is rich with images both humorous …and poignant…These unforgettable poems offer a child's perspective on the fraught nature of starting anew.
—The Washington Post

From the Publisher

Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end.” — Kathi Appelt, bestselling author of Newbery Honor Book The Underneath

“Based in 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; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast.” — Booklist (starred review)

“The taut portrayal of Hà’s emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. An incisive portrait of human resilience.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An enlightening, poignant and unexpectedly funny novel in verse. 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 Reviews (starred review)

“American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a ten–year–old girl—a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya.” — Mitali Perkins, author of Bamboo People

“Lai’s spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee’s complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties.” — The Horn Book

“Ha’s voice is full of humor and hope.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“In this free-verse narrative, Lai is sparing in her details, painting big pictures with few words and evoking abundant visuals.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Told in compelling free verse.” — Brightly

Mitali Perkins

American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a ten–year–old girl—a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya.

Kathi Appelt

Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end.

Brightly

Told in compelling free verse.

Booklist (starred review)

Based in 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; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast.

The Horn Book

Lai’s spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee’s complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

In this free-verse narrative, Lai is sparing in her details, painting big pictures with few words and evoking abundant visuals.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

In this free-verse narrative, Lai is sparing in her details, painting big pictures with few words and evoking abundant visuals.

Brightly.com

Told in compelling free verse.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

“In this free-verse narrative, Lai is sparing in her details, painting big pictures with few words and evoking abundant visuals.

Booklist

"Based in 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; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast."

Product Details

BN ID: 2940170446421
Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date: 02/10/2012
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: 8 - 11 Years
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