A review by lingfish7
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lại

emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? No

4.0

📖This was a lovely and heartbreaking book detailing, in verse, what it was like for a ten year old Vietnamese girl to come to the U.S. as a refugee with her family. The poetry is beautiful and the story is based on the author’s real life. 

The book explores the racism her family experienced in a small southern town in the 70’s and the kindness from neighbors who cared for them. It’s a powerful book that gets at the feelings behind the tension of being in a new country that doesn’t want you and being unable to go back to your old life. 

I read this book in a day and it filled me with all the emotions. The author does an excellent job with imagery and using verse as a way to articulate what it was like for her ten year old self. Inside out and back again is heartfelt, humorous, and heartbreaking - all at once. I highly recommend it!