Synopsis
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. 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.- ★★★★☆
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- ★★★★☆
- Find Vietnam on a map. Discuss the Vietnam War and the refugee crisis that ensued.
- How did Miss Scott treat Hà? Contrast to Mrs. Washington’s treatment.
- Discuss the following description of an American neighborhood on p.122. How do you think this may have been different from her neighborhood in Vietnam?
Greet mats of grass
in front of every house.
Vast windows
in front of sealed curtains.
Cement lanes where
no one walks.
Big cars
pass not often.
Not a noise.
Clean, quiet
loneliness. - What difficulties did Hà face while trying to assimilate into the home she was given, the neighborhood and the school?
- What do you know about refugees or the global refugee crisis we now face?
- Do you know a refugee?
- Even at your age, what can be done to help refugees settling in your area?
Mindful Muslim Review
A touching refugee story which gives a glimpse of the emotions and struggles of a young girl who suddenly leaves her home in South Vietnam, during the Fall of Saigon (1975). Told in verse from the perspective of a ten year old, she poignantly describes how her family resiliently reacts to her father’s disappearance and a change in fortune during a time of war, escape, and assimilation. This story helps develop empathy at a young age and can be used to build a better understanding of our current global refugee crisis.
Teaching Tools
In addition to those provided at the end of the book:
