Refugees In Inside Out And Back Again

Refugees have to flee their countries for many reasons but will usually have to face the same (and often terrifying) experiences. The novel Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai and articles “Children of War” by Arthur Brice and “Children in Canada” all show the complex feelings many refugees have during and after their escape. The fictional experience Ha goes through reflect the very real challenges and experiences many real refugees have.

When refugees flee their home, they may feel as if their life has fallen apart beyond repair, or feel turned “inside out.” An example of this is in the article “Children of War” (25, Brice) where is states, “One minute we had everything, then we had nothing.” Having to flee the place you grew up
Some may adapt more quickly, others may struggle for a long time. In the article “Children of War” (page 26, Brice) it states, “It’s good now. It’s not as good as it was in Bosnia, but better than Croatia.” What this shows is how even when life is admittedly better than living in war, they still would prefer the life they had before tragedy hit. Refugees adjustment to their new home can be hard and requires the support of the community. In the article Children In Canada it states, “One key factor in determining success is the reception of newcomers by the host society.” What this implies is if their new community is accepting towards them, they will be able to easier adapt and find pieces of their old life inside the new. In Inside Out and Back Again, Ha too does find home. In the poem “Most Relieved Day” (stanza 18, page 185) Ha states, “I will write in my journal October 14th is Most Relieved Day-” In this poem, she is relieved because the two children, Pam and Steven, do not laugh and tease her like other children have. She is finding friends, which is a part of finding home. Another example in Inside Out and Back Again is in the poem “Smart Again” (page 188, final stanza) Ha says, “I know Pink Boy will get me, but right now I feel smart.” Earlier in the book, Ha is upset because in South Vietnam she was smart and reading high level books, but in America she doesn’t feel smart anymore. In this poem, she feels as if she has regained some of her smartness. It may be hard for a refugee to find home, but when they do they finally feel like their life is turning “back