Module 3
Poetry
Novel in Verse

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lai, Thanhha. 2011.INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN. NewYork: NY.  Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780061962783

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
In this novel in verse, Lai is a 10 year old girl telling her story beginning in 1975.  The book is divided into parts.  The parts are each a different part of her journey starting in her homeland, Saigon to her final home in Alabama.  It begin is Saigon and the Vietnam war with their escape in the middle of the night boarding a ship for her journey at sea.  They landed on an island in Guam, lived in tents with minimal food and water that they rationed with her family of five.  When no one decided to sponsor them they flew to Florida and continued to live their life in a tent.  One day a caring man from Alabama needed a mechanic to train, so he took the family with him back home.  He saw potential in the oldest brother, Quang.  The story describes the mother as the strongest member of the family.  She is the glue that holds everybody together.  Hà’s three brothers seem to adjust wherever they are and are very supportive.  The sponsor enrolled her in school where she was bullied and treated as an outsider that didn’t belong.  She tried to adjust and fit in with her peers, but her journey continued with pain and not being accepted by others.  Hà’s brothers stepped in and teach her to stand up for herself.  Finally, she starts being accepted and her friends start including her.  She starts accepting her own life, seeing that it is not the same, but it is not bad.      

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As Hà tells her story, the dynamic language draws the readers into her world of poverty and an uncertain future.  Inside Out & Back Again was a confusing title until you finish the book.  You understand how Hà is torn from one life and thrown into another.   She couldn’t see that she was leaving behind a worse life then what was to come.  The title describes her journey perfectly.

The language draws the readers in to see Hà’s journey through her eyes.  She describes her surroundings vividly to the readers; her emotions are understood as she describes leaving behind her papaya tree she planted with a seed.
“Brother Khôi spotted
the first white blossom.
Four years older,
He can see higher.”  (p.8)
In this poem she describes how each brother can see a different part of the tree.  They all make different comments because one is taller than the other.  Point being, they were all apart of this tree she had to leave behind.  Along with pictures of their family that had to be burned and all of their possessions.  She writes her poems in such detail that you can really see a picture in your head.  

The four different parts of the story carry the reader smoothly from beginning to end.   This book if very heartfelt and moving as the words helps the readers feel her frightening journey and experiences as a young child that is torn from one life and forced into another.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Harper Collins: “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.”
From The Christian Science Monitor: “In this remarkably told story for ages 9-12, Ha’s family reminds us of people we know, of families whose brothers irritate and whose mothers struggle and push their children to succeed. The beauty of this debut novel is that it’s the exotic made familiar.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*You could read this book and then have your students write their journey through poems.  You could have them talk to their parents to help them create their book with poems.
*You could also relate this book with students that have moved from other places and are having a difficult time adjusting to their new home.