Inside Out & Back Again

Author: Thanhhà Lai
Genre: Middle Grade • Historical Fiction • Verse Novel • Immigration
Recommended Age: 9–13 years

🌎 Ha and her family leave Vietnam during the fall of Saigon and begin a new life in Alabama. Told through Ha’s vivid, emotional poems, this award-winning story explores courage, family, friendship, belonging, and finding hope in an unfamiliar place.

Why readers will love it:

• Told in accessible, powerful free verse
• Inspired by the author’s childhood experiences
• Explores immigration, identity, and adapting to change
• Balances humor, heartbreak, and hope
• Encourages empathy and understanding of different experiences

Perfect for: Readers who enjoy historical fiction, realistic stories, poetry, and powerful coming-of-age journeys.