'Inside Out And Back Again' By Isabella Mills

Isabella Mills

February 26, 2018

Literature

“Inside out and back again”

Have you ever heard the tale about a brave young girl names Ha? Well recently I had the chance to hear the tale. Her life was changed drastically by the war and now she must change too, to get even a little bit of her life back. Ha is a strong independent girl who does not like to be told what to do. She’s very headstrong and she uses that to help her through the hardships in her life. The author of this book uses Ha and her family as a example to show people how hard it is to be a refugee. Having to leave everything they know in there life behind and start over completing. She uses a more personal front to reach anyone who will listen, to try to change the way people

When refugees leave their homes there are many complications, like having to leave most of their personal belongings, some or all of their family. Some have to learn new languages and traditions, some people don't understand the difficulty of this and aggernecntily cause refugees more pain, even when they are already are in pain. “ Mother chooses ten and burns the rest.”(p. 58) Ha’s mother choose ten pictures to bring with her and burned the rest in fear of someone else finding them. Her family could only bring a bag of their personal belongings each. “I’m hiding during lunch in the bathroom, eating hard rolls saved from dinner”(p. 160) Because people don't understand what she has gone through and can only focus on how she looks different, they treat her badly. She feels cast out and doesn’t get the help she needs with adapting to the new environment she’s in.“ Would it be simpler if English and life were logical.”(p. 135) Ha’s life is a mess and she has to learn a new language along with everything else. English is a difficult language for Ha to understand and her life is difficult, so she can’t help but compare them and wish for something to make sense in her

Even by one of them reading a book like this to feel so not alone and remember their are others out their who may have gone through worse than them. Others never get used to it and go back to their country when things have settled down, others have to do things in their new community to feel welcomed. “ I’ve seen the church name on a sign where blaring yellow sun rays spell GOD”(p.169) Ha and her family had to get baptized in there communities church before they were accepted by them. “ Two students run into class giggling”(p.184) Ha’s teacher introduces Ha to two other students who are treated differently because of the way they like too. Helping Ha make friends and feel more welcomed. “ she volunteers to tutor us all”(p.165) Miss. Washington was the first person who really opened up to Ha and her family and helped them get used to the people and culture. She even gave Ha dried papaya to help her feel a little more at home. Without people helping them like there sponsors and Miss.Washington, they would have had a harder time getting used to the new country and the