Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Inside Out & Back Again

I’ve owned this book for at least 6 years and each year I’ve meant to read it. I’ve always struggled to pick up poetry, but almost always find myself enjoying them as an adult and learning a lot. Finally picked it up this year and I’m so glad I did. It’s a wonderful middle grade free verse poem describing how a Vietnamese family fled Saigon before it fell in 1975 and eventually ending up in Alabama. Based on experiences from the author’s own life, this book was enlightening and heartbreaking. It made me realize just how much I DON’T know about Vietnam and the Vietnam War. I was beyond pissed as I read about how the family was treated before converting to Christianity and more pissed that it took them converting for most people to treat them like people. I hated reading about how our MC, Hà, was treated at school by both her peers and her teacher; how she felt so dumb despite knowing she’s smart, because she trying to prove herself in a language she doesn’t know and to people who already think she’s less. Not only that, but the grieving Hà and her family experiences as they mourn the country they were forced to flee and the father who went missing is truly heartbreaking. The fact that the white, Christian Americans tried to make the family feel grateful for the little bit of so-called compassion they doled out when it suited them when all they wanted to do was be back in their home was absolutely infuriating. This book grabbed hold of my heart and held on tight. Highly recommend reading!

Content Warnings

rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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hedyharper's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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princessdana36's review against another edition

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adventurous informative 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

5.0

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whitne_ey's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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orchidlilly's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this when it first came out, and it went completely over my head. I was just too young to get any of the messages, but I've read it again recently, and god, it truly is a wonderful book. It's such a tragic and touching human experience that you can't help but empathize with the main character. Beautifully written and easy to read, the book is a truly impactful read.

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tasha_is_dreaming's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

kibbles15's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This is a heartbreaking book in verse about a young girl who is forced to flee Vietnam after the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam war. It is well written, but it felt a bit unfinished for me. I realize it was a children's book and the author was trying to present the difficulty of adjusting as a foreign refugee in the United States, but it felt like the author only focused on the bad aspects of the move. It would have been nice to see a balance where things started to get better, but the book ended at that point. Even so, it was still a good book and I feel that children could learn a lot by reading it.

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