Inside Out and Back Again

Very moving. A lovely story that holds on to you.

I absolutely loved this story. The verse actually adds to a lot of the elements, pointing out things that I wouldn't have considered before and making me reread sections in order to get it through with the different possible rhythms.

It's such a gorgeous story that there's not much to say about it. I adored this so much, and I loved the inclusion of food as part of the changes. Food was always there, and that's a huge thing for people who migrate; it's always one of the few things that make us comfortable, that really remind us of home, that really make things better (even when situations feel hopeless).

This immigration story of a Vietnamese family that moves to Alabama to escape the war is told by their youngest daughter, who struggles to fit in and to learn English in her new home. Short and sweet, it is a good pick for struggling readers, students who need some empathy or students that like exotic settings or characters.