how did ha change over the course of the book inside out and back again

by Dawson Torp 9 min read

Ha’s life is turning back again, such as her going back to school, living in a house and, eating really good food. Ha’s life turned inside out and back again. It was dangerous but she survived and made it through with the help of her brothers; her mother and her sponsor in Alabama.

Ha is becoming mean again because she wants to pull out pink boys hairs. In the beginning of the book Ha was a stubborn girl but then she got a little nicer and calmer but now she is back to her stubborn self.

Full Answer

How does ha’s Life Change Inside Out and back again?

Nov 30, 2016 · Ha changed very much since the beginning of the book. She matured and changed a lot in the middle of the book then at the end she went back to her bratty self. This all makes Ha a dynamic character "Mother asks What's a pancake? Tears gush because I can't make myself explain a pancake is very very flat." Show full text

What is the book Inside Out and back again about?

Aug 20, 2021 · 1 educator answer. Inside Out and Back Again. Describe Ha's new house and furniture in Inside Out and Back Again. In Inside Out and Back Again, Ha's new home has two bedrooms. Ha and her mother ...

Who is ha in Inside Out and back again?

Jan 18, 2018 · It's an essay about how her life changes inside out and then back again. In the novel Inside Out, and Back Again by In the novel Inside Out, and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, expresses how Ha’s life changed inside out and back again. Ha and her family had to leave their country because of the war that was going on, eventually Saigon is gone and no longer existed …

What happened in 1975 in Inside Out and back again?

Father has been missing for nine years after leaving for a navy mission. Mother works several jobs to support the family and fights to keep them together. She still grieves for her missing husband. President Thiệu cries and pretends to be sympathetic as he addresses military families, but his insincerity is evident.

What kind of character is Ha from Inside Out and Back Again?

Ha is a very curious person because she desires to learn and obtain new knowledge. Ha wants to distinguish what particular things look like and wants new experiences in life, “who knows what he will notice before me?... rise first every morning”(Lai, pg. 9).

How is Ha from Inside Out and Back Again a dynamic character?

In conclusion, Ha is a dynamic character because she encounters so many different challenges that changed her thoughts on herself and her new life in a new world. This new life will be filled with many more new challenges, and adventures . These challenge will keep on changing Ha, into a developed young person.

What is Ha in the story Inside Out and Back Again?

Ha. Kim-Ha, or Ha, is the ten year-old narrator and main character of the novel “Inside Out & Back Again” by Thanhha Lai. Ha is the daughter of Mother and Father, and is the younger sister of Quang, Vu, and Khoi. Ha is named after Vietnam's Golden River, a place of fond memories for her parents.

Is Ha a girl in Inside Out and Back Again?

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai is about a young girl named Ha who lives in Vietnam with a father who is missing in action during the Vietnam War. Her mother, Ha, and her three brothers flee across the sea to Alabama after the fall of Saigon.

How did Ha change throughout the novel?

Ha is becoming mean again because she wants to pull out pink boys hairs. In the beginning of the book Ha was a stubborn girl but then she got a little nicer and calmer but now she is back to her stubborn self.

What does ha's doll symbolize?

The doll symbolizes childhood for Ha.

What happened to Ha's father?

Washington and the support of her family. In the beginning of the book, it mentions that Hà's father, a soldier in the Vietnam war, was captured by the North Vietnamese Army when she was only a year old. In the end, Hà's family figures out that unfortunately, her father had died while in North Vietnamese hands.

What does Ha leave behind?

What did Ha leave behind ? She had to cut down her papaya tree.

What does Ha do to occupy herself at sea?

What does Ha do to occupy herself while at sea? He is keeping his dead baby chick in his pocket. What is Brother Khoi's secret on the ship?

How old is Ha at the end of Inside Out and Back Again?

She might only be ten years old, but Hà sees a lot in the year this book covers, and it's safe to say that she's wise beyond her years.

Why does Ha pinch tram?

She likes to tease Tram because their parents are friends. She wants school to close soon and is mad because Ha wants it to stay open. In "Promises" (pg.

How is Ha rebellious?

Ha is rebellious because when Her brother was told to tap is toe on the floor in the morning Ha rebelled and beat him to it. She taped her big toe on the tile floor first because she believed that women could bring the family luck too.

What does Ha learn in Inside Out and Back Again?

In Inside Out and Back Again, Ha's life comes back when she learns the true meaning of how to live a life that is "not the same , but not bad at all." The premise of the question rightly presumes...

What does Há's brother do in the story?

Há's brother works on helping the children learn to speak English. About a third of the way into the story, in the section titled "Routine," we learn that Há and her family have been on the ship...

What section of the book does Brother Quang begin English lessons?

In the section of the book entitled “Routine,” we see Brother Quang begin English lessons after he and his family have been on board a ship for a week. His sister Ha wishes that he would restrict...

What is the I Ching Teller of Fate?

Each new year, regular as clockwork, Ha's mother goes to visit an I Ching Teller of Fate. The I Ching is an ancient Chinese divination text that is commonly used across East Asia by those who wish...

Where is Thanhha Lai now?

It took Lai 15 years to write Inside Out and Back Again, her semi-autobiographical novel. This was also her first novel. Many details in the story were inspired by her own memories. Lai currently lives in New York. She has a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an MFA in writing from New York University. She also teaches writing at Parsons School of Design. She started a non-profit organization called Viet for Kids Inc. with the goal of buying bicycles for students who are unable to afford them and have to walk two hours to and from school. A bike allows them to spend their energy in the classroom. Each year, Viet Kids has been able to give away 30 to 50 bikes, plus funding for tuition, uniforms, and rice—basics that every student needs.

Is Inside Out and Back Again a book?

Inside Out and Back Again is written as a verse novel. The author combines narrative poems, lyric poems and free verse poems to capture the honesty of Ha’s experience as a refugee.

What does Mother do on the anniversary of Father leaving?

On the anniversary of Father leaving, Mother prepares an altar and offers incense and fruit while chanting for his return. She chants for him at other times as well. Mother’s fortuneteller predicts their lives will be a tangle that year. Despite their being coerced into baptism, the family members do not change their beliefs (presumably Buddhist) or religious practices.

How long has Father been missing?

Father has been missing for nine years after leaving for a navy mission. Mother works several jobs to support the family and fights to keep them together. She still grieves for her missing husband. President Thiệu cries and pretends to be sympathetic as he addresses military families, but his insincerity is evident.

How old is Hà in Vietnam?

Ten-year-old Hà lives in Vietnam with her mother and three older brothers. Quang is 21 and studying to be an engineer. Vũ is 18, and Khôi is 14. Her father has been missing for nine years, after leaving on a navy mission. This semi-autobiographical account is told in short, nonrhyming poems.

How old is Kim Hà in Inside Out and Back Again?

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai tells the story of a 10 year old girl name Kim Hà who was forced to seek asylum in America with her family due to the Vietnam War in the form of free verse poems. Hà holds onto a stand of hope as her country is torn into two. Although she continuously wishes that the war will end, she understands the danger her and her family in. For this reason, her mother makes the decision to flee from their home in Vietnam to America to find asylum and the family struggles to deal with the sudden change in her life. Like the title, Hà’s life is turned inside out, but she manages to find her home again.…

What does "I pulled and she shook" mean in the book "The Wall Paper"?

I shook, and she pulled, and before morning we had peeled off yards of paper.” (217) This represents the internal struggle she had to remove herself from the veils of the paper and society. She spent her entire recovery time at the home trying to do exactly as she was told, but it was constricting her. She desperately wanted to be ‘well’ but she didn’t quite know how. During the removal of the wall paper she was releasing herself for the mental wall she was trapped in.…

What is refugee in the book?

Refugees are people that are forced to leave or flee their home countries because of the conditions there. (Brice) In the book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Ha and her family are all refugees that flee their country for a better life. Most refugees have such a challenging time transitioning into the U.S., due to the different lifestyle they will have to live, but they know it is worth it considering they are given an asylum in the country they are transitioning into. (Gevert) The distinct lifestyle that the refugees are coming into, in their new country is very different from their past habits. Many refugees never return to their home countries, over numerous reasons.…

What is the emotional bond between a mother and daughter?

The emotional bond that a mother and daughter share is unique. There are many factors that influence a strong parental bond and many other obstacles that interfere with the possibility to develop one. In Tillie Olsen’s story “I Stand Here Ironing”, the mother struggles to develop an emotional connection with her daughter Emily. The naïve 19 year old young mother often seeks help from an unnamed authority figure when deciding the best course of action for her daughter. Emily experiences a rough childhood, and subsequently her mother is forced to send her away because, she cannot provide for her financially.…

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Why Inside Out and Back Again?

  1. An inspiring story told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old immigrant girl who must flee her war-torn country with her family and journey to a place where few people understand or value her
  2. Exposes children to a narrative told in verse, giving them the opportunity to read a text in a form they may not have previously experienced
  1. An inspiring story told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old immigrant girl who must flee her war-torn country with her family and journey to a place where few people understand or value her
  2. Exposes children to a narrative told in verse, giving them the opportunity to read a text in a form they may not have previously experienced
  3. Examines the real-world issues of racism, war and its effects, and language barriers
  4. Use of  literary devices including similes, metaphors, symbolism, mood, and imagery that enable gifted students to develop strong analytical skills

About The Book

  • Imagine that a war forces you to leave the only home you’ve ever known. You must take a difficult journey to a place where no one speaks your language, eats the food you love or understands your culture. This is the experience of 4th grader Há, who immigrates with her family to Alabama after fleeing war-torn Vietnam. Há must adjust to a new life with an unfamiliar new language and bulli…
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About The Author

  • Thanhha Lai was born in Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. She immigrated to Alabama with her mother and brothers at a young age. The memories of her experiences inspired her to write the book Inside Out and Back Again. Before becoming a writer of juvenile and young adult fiction, she was a journalist for the Orange County Register and wrote fictional short stories for various …
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Sample Reading Journal Prompts and Discussion Questions

  • Thanhha Lai begins Há’s story with the celebration of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet. Há explains many of the traditions her family follows on this day each year. She describes the foods they e...
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Interdisciplinary Topics to Explore

  • The Vietnam War 1. An introduction to the Vietnam War and its causes and outcomes 2. An exploration of an interactive map of Vietnam 3. An overview of the life of Ho Chi Min. 4. An examination of how the Vietnam War affected refugees who immigrated to the United States. Figurative Language 1. An introduction to the differences between metaphors and similes 2. An …
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About The Author

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Thanhha Lai was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She immigrated to Montgomery, Alabama after the war in 1975. It took Lai 15 years to write Inside Out and Back Again, her semi-autobiographical novel. This was also her first novel. Many details in the story were inspired by her own memories. Lai currently lives in New York. S…
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Summary

  • The story begins in 1975 in Saigon, Vietnam. Ha is a ten year old spitfire who shows defiance in the face of cultural traditions that don’t allow her to be her true self. On the eve of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, Ha’s mother insists that one of Ha’s brothers must rise first to bless the house because only male’s feet bring good luck. Ha decides to get up earlier than her brothers a…
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Author’S Use of Language

  • Inside Out and Back Again is written as a verse novel. The author combines narrative poems, lyric poems and free verse poems to capture the honesty of Ha’s experience as a refugee. 1. Use of first person point of view in form of journal: By writing the story in the form of a journal, we see Ha in all her complexity and embrace her as a kindred spir...
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Lesson Ideas

  • I would use Inside Out and Back Again with adolescent students to analyze character. Ha is a complex character; one who has endured a remarkable journey. Through her journal writing, she shares every bit of herself with the reader in an effort to share her story with the world. I have shared the graphic organizer below previously, but I think it is incredibly effective in having stude…
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Mentor Text

  • I think this text would serve as a wonderful mentor text for students to analyze the interactions between individuals, events and ideas in a text. This is a challenging standard for middle school students because it is abstract and hard to conceptualize. There are many, many interactions for students to examine and discuss within Inside Out and Back Again that are familiar to students …
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Looking Beyond The Text

  • Ha is a strong example of someone who shows grit in the face of difficulty. Giving up was never an option for her. She persevered with the help of friends, family and traditions. I love characters like Ha that have “real” moments students can really connect with. After a terrible day at school, Ha goes to Mrs. Washington’s and has a screaming, crying tantrum to release her anger. Mrs. W…
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Before Reading

  • In the author’s note, Thanhha Lai extends this idea to us all: How much do we know about those around us? Before reading Inside Out and Back Again, I would share Amal Kassir’s Ted Talk called “The Muslim on the Airplane” with students to get them thinking about this question. For middle school students, this is a strong hook into the content of the book and prepares them to think cri…
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Q & A

  • 1. What information does the author assume the reader knows? Early on in the novel, the author talks about how North and South Vietnam were divided. Communism was a big part of this. The author assumes the reader is familiar with both the country of Vietnam and the concept of Communism. Readers need more background knowledge on the Vietnam war; what caused it, w…
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