Inside Out & Back Again: Part III and Part IV

I recently finished the rest of the book Inside Out & Back Again. The last two parts of this book took me on an emotional roller coaster. Thanhha Lai does an excellent job of using descriptive language to create a picture of what Hà is experiencing.

In Part III, my heart broke for Hà several times as I read about the mistreatment she and her family face. These Vietnamese refugees are taken to Alabama, and they immediately are treated like unwelcome guests. Hà begins school, and I nearly cried when I read how her classmates, and even her teacher, tease her and say incredibly rude comments. It takes a while for the family to fully adjust to American life, but for Hà, it never seems to get easier.

She does find some hope for happiness along the way, as she begins to be tutored by a retired school teacher. Hà also makes friends who allow her days at school to be more bearable. At the end of Part III, Hà and her family find out troubling news, but they can all rely on each other to help get through the difficult times.

While Part IV is short, it is able to bring the whole book to an end. While it may not be the ending I expected, I was not disappointed.  I loved reading this book! It is an excellent book that gave me a sense of what life was like for Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam war. I think everyone should read this book and go on Hà's journey to new places and new experiences.