This compelling novel in verse begins in Vietnam during the war in 1975. Ten-year-old Ha and her older brothers and mother are living in Saigon, waiting for the return of the children’s father. Even as the war draws ever closer, the normal issues of family life take place, sometimes providing some much-needed laughter. Finally the family decides together to flee, escaping first by boat and spending time in a displaced person’s camp. On a whim, the mother indicates America as a country that the family might seek refuge in. Chance brings them to Alabama, where the entire family learns to cope with differences in culture and the difficulties of becoming proficient in English. (Readers who speak English as their first language will start to recognize these difficulties as well.) The sparse and evocative language delivers the story in a manner that makes for a very enjoyable read. Just as the Vietnamese family deals with culture shock, so will young readers as they experience America through the eyes of Ha and her family. There are many reasons why this won the National Book Award and you will enjoy discovering them in this special book.
middle readers
Review by Amanda Crafts