HarperCollins, 2011
Publisher’s
Description:
No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime
in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama.
For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon:
the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her
friends close by . . . and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.
But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her
family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward
hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of
its strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape . .
. and the strength of her very own family.
This is the moving story of one girl's year of change,
dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one
life to the next.
As a writer, I admired the way the author could use so few
words to create compelling emotion and imagery.
How I discovered this
book:
I recently looked at the list of recent Newbery Medal andHonor books and decided I should read more of them, so I got this one at the
library.
Other info:
She was born in Vietnam in 1965—the year of the snake.
This is her first novel.
According to the Harper Collins website, she tries to read a
novel a night: “If I love the novel, I read every word until I finish it. If
not so much, I flip and get the essence of what the writer is doing.”
For more about the author, visit Thanhha Lai's author page at Harper Collins.
For more about the author, visit Thanhha Lai's author page at Harper Collins.
This sounds like a good book. And I'm warming to books in verse too. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about this book. I need to get a copy.
ReplyDeleteI, too, read this after it had won its awards but didn't know it was a novel in verse until I brought it home from the library. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've read so many good reviews of this, but my students are NOT fans of this one. Middle school students usually don't want to read books in verse.
ReplyDeleteSo true. My 16-year-old picked it up and enjoyed it but the 12-year-old didn't go for it.
DeleteI read this book twice and loved it! I think Ms. Lai is a very talented author and I look forward to her next book.
ReplyDeleteYay! So excited to find a book that's available at the library. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this (the first book in verse I have read) and also highlighted it for MMGM last week!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how Ms. Yingling said her students do go for books in verse...
I've heard mention of this book before, thanks for reminding me about it. I love books that teach about history, even though they are fiction. Definitely adding to the to-read list.
ReplyDeleteI have heard such great things about this book and I am very curious about it. The fact that it is written in verse is intriguing. I love the cover. Great review!
ReplyDelete~Jess
I've been dying to get my hands on this book. I think it's so good that we are getting more books on other cultures.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite reads this year. I agree on the power story she told in such a short space. I especially loved the relationships Ha developed over the course of her first year and loved how the author used New Year to bring the story full circle. Masterful storytelling. K--I am done a talking!
ReplyDelete