5 stars
A powerful tale of a life lived and how quickly the world can change. Inside Out & Back Again tells the story of a year in the life of Hà, based on Thanhha Lai’s own childhood. In that year (1975), Hà experiences the Fall of Saigon, the treacherous journey by ship to America, and the struggle of fitting in to a new country (especially when some in that country don’t want you there at all).
Yet there is so much more in this book than the hardships Hà faces. There are friendships new and old, there are developing relationships with family members, there are new experiences and moments of growth, there is hope.
This isn’t just one of those books that makes the reader feel bad about a specific time in history (though it’s certainly justified to feel bad when terrible things have and do happen). Instead, this book provides a nicely rounded out world in which Hà experiences both joy and hardship, wonder and pain, and learns along the way. Yes, she is bullied and experiences racism, but also finds kindness, learns about a new culture, makes new friends, discovers her own strength, and finds ways to integrate herself and her culture into her new home. It’s about growing and changing while still hanging on to the pieces of yourself that make you you, holding on to a past life and home while figuring out how to live in a new one.
The simple style of the book makes it easy to read while also making the events hit harder. Lai really captures the complexity of a young girl experiencing the upheaval of her world, not always understanding what’s going on. That innocence and slow picking up of details is very powerful in connecting with readers and demonstrating the complex perspective of someone coming of age in a time of struggle.
A truly fantastic read that is beautiful and heartbreaking, hopeful and hard-hitting. A wonderful reminder to open our eyes and our hearts, and really listen to those around us. We don’t always know what they have been through and what they are going through. The least we can do is to take time to hear their stories.