Inside Out & Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Verse novel · ages 8–12 · grades 3–7 · 680L · 288 pages · 2017
Why we'd hand it over
A masterpiece of voice and economy—the verse format makes Hà's alienation, humor, and grief feel immediate and unshielded, and kids recognize themselves in her outsider-ness even if their circumstances differ completely.