Inside Out And Back Again By Thanhha Lai

In the book “Inside Out and Back Again” the author Thanhha Lai talks about a 10 year old refugee named Ha, who goes through struggles and face challenges that show her dreams, grief and healing. In the book refugees went through a lot. For example, when refugees fled home, they had to live in very rough conditions. Also, when refugees found a new home, they had to restart their lives and try to fit in. Throughout all of this the refugees felt like they were inside out and then back again, because they were ripped from their homes and thrown into a new one. The book shows that Ha’s life was universal to the refugee experience because her life was ripped apart and then she had to restart a new life on the other side of the world. The title “Inside Out and Back Again” relates to refugees and Ha because it's how they felt.
This meant that many memorial items were left behind. When Ha fled her home, she left behind things that helped her think of her father. In the text it states “We cannot leave evidence of Father’s life that might hurt him.” (Pg 59). This is important because it shows the despair Ha felt when fleeing from her home. When refugees left their home they all felt sorrow and distraught about leaving everything behind and having to restart their lives somewhere new.
However, when refugees find a new home everything was divergent. Ha’s experience when finding a new home, she was bullied and made fun of. In the text it states, “I tap my own chest: Ha. She must have heard ha as in funny hahaha. She fakes a laugh.” (Pg.140). This is important because it shows the agony she had to go through. When finding a new home refugees often feel turned inside out and back again because they have are ending one part of their lives and then they had to restablish their new