Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Book-mas!
In honor of the 12 days before Christmas, I am going to post lightning fast reviews/suggestions for all those book lovers in your life. The reviews will be lightning fast because, let’s face it, I don’t have a ton of time to write in depth reviews, and you probably don’t have time to read in-depth reviews. I’ll still be doing my mock Caldecott reviews on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, but on the other days I’ll post a little something extra.
Woo hoo!
Here’s the first recommendation:
Inside Out & Back Again
Inside Out & Back again
by Thanha Lai
Harper Collins
Ages: 8 & up
2011
First of all, this is the National Book Award winner for young people’s fiction. Second of all, wow.
I hesitated to read this book because I am not drawn to novels written in verse, mainly because I don’t feel like I know how to read them correctly. How does the rhythm go?? But Forrest coached me on it, and once I got into the groove of the story I was completely captivated.
The story is about a little girl named Ha (there should be an accent over the ‘a’ but I do not have that kind of power in WordPress), who immigrates from Saigon to America during the Vietnam War with her mother and three older brothers. The transition is a painful one, especially as the family continues to wonder if their missing in action father/husband is alive or not.
I loved being inside the head and heart of someone who is just learning English and desperate to fit in, all while missing the familiarity of home. This novel is breathtaking and eye-opening.
Buy it for the age group suggested (8 & up), or buy it for yourself. You won’t be sorry.
By the way, the highlighted book info by the picture takes you to the Amazon link for easy purchase; however, if you are going to buy it, won’t you consider buying it from your local independent book store? Thanks!
Filed under: Coming of age, Middle Grade
