Review: Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dream, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to anothe, one life to the next. This is the award winning novel.

The beauty of this book is that, the entire story is written in a form of poem, verses, which so much reminds me of Emily Dickenson's work. 

While i was reading, i found myself imagining as a child when i was in her situation, moving from  India to Canada leaving family and friends behind.

I'd like to quote some lines which, when i read i felt like its my own story. I believe, books don't change people, sometimes paragraphs do or sometimes even sentences. 

"Our lives

will twist and twist,

intermingling the old and the new

untill it doesn't matter 
which is which.

Eternal Peace:

Mother wears
her brown a'o da'i
brought from home.

Each of my brothers
wears a suit,
too small or too big.

I wear a pink dress
of ruffles and lace,
which i hate,
but at least
it's definitely a dress.

Each of us faces that altar,
holding a lit incense stick
between palms in prayer.

Father's portrait
stares back.

Mothers says,
We'll chant
for Father's safe passage
toward eternal peace,
where his parents await him.

She pauses,
voice choked.

Father won't leave
if we hold on to him.
If you feel like crying,
think
.....
....." 


If you're not accostom to reading novel in verse this is the right choice.

Video Link: 

Inside Out & Back Again - Book Trailor 


This is novel is to millions of refugees in the world, may you all find home. 

Happy Reading !!