Reviews
Based in Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a childrefugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short freeverse poems, H 's immediate narrative describes her mistakes-both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by H 's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast., 'American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a ten'year'old girl'a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya.'(Mitali Perkins, author of Bamboo People), Lai's spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee's complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties., American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a ten-year-old girl--a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya., American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a tenyearold girl-a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya., An enlightening, poignant and unexpectedly funny novel in verse. In her not-to-be-missed debut, Lai evokes a distinct time and place and presents a complex, realistic heroine whom readers will recognize, even if they haven't found themselves in a strange new country., Open this book, read it slowly to savor the delicious language. This is a book that asks the reader to be careful, to pay attention, to sigh at the end., American and Vietnamese characters alike leap to life through the voice and eyes of a ten--year--old girl—a protagonist so strong, loving, and vivid I longed to hand her a wedge of freshly cut papaya., Based in Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a childrefugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short freeverse poems, Hà's immediate narrative describes her mistakes-both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast., The taut portrayal of H 's emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. An incisive portrait of human resilience., Based in Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a child--refugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free--verse poems, Hà's immediate narrative describes her mistakes—both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast., In this free-verse narrative, Lai is sparing in her details, painting big pictures with few words and evoking abundant visuals., Based in Lai's personal experience, this first novel captures a child-refugee's struggle with rare honesty. Written in accessible, short free-verse poems, Hà's immediate narrative describes her mistakes--both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà's sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast., The taut portrayal of Hà's emotional life is especially poignant as she cycles from feeling smart in Vietnam to struggling in the States, and finally regains academic and social confidence. An incisive portrait of human resilience.
