I read this book a week or two ago and since then I have been wondering how I was going to do it justice. So far on my blogging journey I have been posting short reviews/premises of picture books on my Instagram and Pintrest account (follow along if you aren’t already!) and haven’t attempted to share a children’s chapter book yet. However, when I read this book I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to share it. Its just that a short blurb on Instagram just didn’t seem enough. This book has depth, explores real emotions, conveys beautiful morals, and put simply: deserves so much more.
When I started this book all I knew was that it was a historical fiction novel geared toward children 8-12 years old, it was written in free-verse poetry, and it relates a child’s experience fleeing Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and immigrating to America. What I didn’t know was that it would change me and touch my heart the way it did.
The main character’s journey is told from the perspective of a young girl still trying to find her place not only in her family, but in the world around her. She is the type of protagonist that you fall in love with almost instantly. She is eager to accept and make the best of every situation, however she does not hold herself back from feeling the entire spectrum of emotions that she can to the fullest. She embraces life, but she questions that which peaks her curiosity or does not seem quite right.
Although a lot of her experiences, such as life in a former Vietnam, immigration, and racism are ones that I have not experienced personally, I still found myself connecting with her and empathizing. That is because I feel everyone feels like an outsider at some point in their life, everyone has their own journey of discovering who they are and what they stand for, and everyone must search and strive to find peace with themselves.
I think part of the reason this book holds so much depth and credibility is because the author (Thanhha Lai) based the story on her own personal experiences immigrating to America at the end of the Vietnam War. This personal touch makes all the difference as she shares her emotions through unrestrained free-verse that is woven into beautiful memoirs.
Also, because it is written in free-verse this book is fast paced yet has many layers to it’s message. It is simple enough for a child to understand yet provokes pondering and discussion for any age. It is fascinating for children and adults alike. It makes sense that this book is a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award.
A selection of text from one of my favorite segments where she is observing her new American classmates for the first time:
Rainbow
“Fire hair on skin dotted with spots.
Fuzzy dark hair on skin shiny as lacquer.
Hair the color of root on milky skin.
Lots of braids on milk chocolate.
White hair on a pink boy.
Honey hair with orange ribbons on see-through skin.
Hair with barrettes in all colors on bronze bread.
I’m the only
straight black hair
on olive skin.”
Ash Das says
This book is very interesting and heart touching!!