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carryb3yanprincess's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’ve owned this book for at least 6 years and each year I’ve meant to read it. I’ve always struggled to pick up poetry, but almost always find myself enjoying them as an adult and learning a lot. Finally picked it up this year and I’m so glad I did. It’s a wonderful middle grade free verse poem describing how a Vietnamese family fled Saigon before it fell in 1975 and eventually ending up in Alabama. Based on experiences from the author’s own life, this book was enlightening and heartbreaking. It made me realize just how much I DON’T know about Vietnam and the Vietnam War. I was beyond pissed as I read about how the family was treated before converting to Christianity and more pissed that it took them converting for most people to treat them like people. I hated reading about how our MC, Hà, was treated at school by both her peers and her teacher; how she felt so dumb despite knowing she’s smart, because she trying to prove herself in a language she doesn’t know and to people who already think she’s less. Not only that, but the grieving Hà and her family experiences as they mourn the country they were forced to flee and the father who went missing is truly heartbreaking. The fact that the white, Christian Americans tried to make the family feel grateful for the little bit of so-called compassion they doled out when it suited them when all they wanted to do was be back in their home was absolutely infuriating. This book grabbed hold of my heart and held on tight. Highly recommend reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and War
rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Bullying
Moderate: War
hedyharper's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Bullying, Animal death, Religious bigotry, War, and Xenophobia
princessdana36's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: War, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
whitne_ey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Bullying, Racism, and War
orchidlilly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this when it first came out, and it went completely over my head. I was just too young to get any of the messages, but I've read it again recently, and god, it truly is a wonderful book. It's such a tragic and touching human experience that you can't help but empathize with the main character. Beautifully written and easy to read, the book is a truly impactful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Racism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Body shaming, Colonisation, Death of parent, Classism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Animal death, and War
tasha_is_dreaming's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, War, and Xenophobia
kibbles15's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is a heartbreaking book in verse about a young girl who is forced to flee Vietnam after the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam war. It is well written, but it felt a bit unfinished for me. I realize it was a children's book and the author was trying to present the difficulty of adjusting as a foreign refugee in the United States, but it felt like the author only focused on the bad aspects of the move. It would have been nice to see a balance where things started to get better, but the book ended at that point. Even so, it was still a good book and I feel that children could learn a lot by reading it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: War
tahsintries's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Bullying, Racism, Religious bigotry, and War
Minor: Hate crime