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leeeeeds's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful just beautiful. Am I still crying? I received the sequel to this book as a gift from my sister. Upon realizing it had a first part I ordered this book immediately. I love the idea of this being written in verse. The last time I read a children’s book in verse was Out of the Dust, a book I enjoyed very much. Something about verse makes feelings and emotions just jump right off the page. Now, I felt for Hà, I wasn’t bullied as much as a kid but I felt the struggles of learning English as a second language, and just being a child in a new country with new customs. I would have been elated to have read this book as a child. I hardly ever read stories about kids like me, let alone any Vietnamese ones. So important to keep circulating these kinds of stories and elevating BIPOC authors. I’m an adult and often I read kids books as I hope to one day write some of my own. This book was exemplary and truly deserving of its accolades.
kelanikay's review
funny
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
whatamidoing_rn's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
We read an excerpt of this for English so I decided to read the whole book since it’s a quick read and I’m in a slump. It was pretty good but the plot was kinda eh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and War
book_concierge's review
5.0
Audiobook performed by Doan Ly
Ha is the 10-year-old daughter of a Vietnamese Navy Officer who has gone missing while on a mission. As the Americans pull out of the war and Saigon is about to fall, Ha and her family escape the country via ship. Eventually they gain a sponsor, and the family tries to start over in the USA, a strange land, where the language, food, customs and religion are all different than what they are used to.
This middle-grade novel focusing on the immigrant experience is told entirely in verse, and I applaud Lai for how much she manages to convey in so few words. Ha is a strong little girl, focusing on becoming a star pupil at school (as she had done in Saigon), trying to make friends, to learn the customs and traditions of American celebrations like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, trying to NOT get beaten by bullies. Ha watches her mother work a menial job and slowly acknowledge that her husband is likely dead. In one heart-wrenching poem the child admits:
No one would believe me
but at times
I would choose
wartime in Saigon
over
peacetime in Alabama
Still the family perseveres, and makes their way in this new land, celebrating each accomplishment, and giving thanks for the opportunity to succeed. It’s a moving story and wonderfully told. It is at once complex and straightforward, nuanced, and simple.
The author note at the end of the work explains that much of what happens to Ha in the novel actually happened to the author.
The book won the National Book Award, and was also named a Newbery Honor Book.
The audiobook is performed by Doan Ly. She has a wonderful delivery for this book. Great pace and she’s believable as a young girl. I did read at least half the book in text format, however because I was anxious to finish it.
Ha is the 10-year-old daughter of a Vietnamese Navy Officer who has gone missing while on a mission. As the Americans pull out of the war and Saigon is about to fall, Ha and her family escape the country via ship. Eventually they gain a sponsor, and the family tries to start over in the USA, a strange land, where the language, food, customs and religion are all different than what they are used to.
This middle-grade novel focusing on the immigrant experience is told entirely in verse, and I applaud Lai for how much she manages to convey in so few words. Ha is a strong little girl, focusing on becoming a star pupil at school (as she had done in Saigon), trying to make friends, to learn the customs and traditions of American celebrations like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, trying to NOT get beaten by bullies. Ha watches her mother work a menial job and slowly acknowledge that her husband is likely dead. In one heart-wrenching poem the child admits:
No one would believe me
but at times
I would choose
wartime in Saigon
over
peacetime in Alabama
Still the family perseveres, and makes their way in this new land, celebrating each accomplishment, and giving thanks for the opportunity to succeed. It’s a moving story and wonderfully told. It is at once complex and straightforward, nuanced, and simple.
The author note at the end of the work explains that much of what happens to Ha in the novel actually happened to the author.
The book won the National Book Award, and was also named a Newbery Honor Book.
The audiobook is performed by Doan Ly. She has a wonderful delivery for this book. Great pace and she’s believable as a young girl. I did read at least half the book in text format, however because I was anxious to finish it.
mirror's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
gmamartha's review
3.0
Immigration from Vietnam with the emotions as well as the events. I applaud anyone who has ever "started over" in a new place, language, friends, family.
uzername's review
5.0
"I tell her father is at peace; I tell her I'd like to plant flowers from Vietnam in her backyard; I tell her Tết is coming and luck starts over every new year."
iceangel32's review
4.0
This was a great book. I love a book in prose and devoured this one in about 3 hours. It just brought you to Vietnam and in to Ha's life. You feel what she feels when she places her big toe on the floor, to the food she eats. You feel her heart ache in leaving Vietnam, and the horrible conditions her travels here. Then the struggles she encounters when she is here to make Alabama her home. Every young girl should read this book.
cathyreadsbooks33's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0