Hà is a spirited and curious young girl. Her story begins in 1975: Year of the Cat. The day is Têt, which is the first day of the lunar calendar. Hà describes her family and each day of her life in Saigon, Vietnam. As we get not-that-much further into the story, we learn that, "The war is coming closer to home." The Vietnam war is encroaching on Hà's simple life, which will complicate things tremendously. Hà and her family must flee their home and everything they know. They will travel to the United States and eventually settle in Alabama, which is totally different from everything that Hà has ever known.
Thanhha Lai tells this story so beautifully in verse that each entry could stand alone as a poem. But on the page titled, Choice, Hà must decide what items to take along with her on this journey to the unknown. She chooses her doll, who was left outside and whose cheek was bitten by a mouse. Hà loves her doll more, "for her scars."
This is a poignant and moving story of refugees and what they must face, told through the words of a young girl. She and her family were crowded onto one mat below the deck of a boat that would carry them away from Saigon...knowing that the boat could sink. Things aren't much better when the boat finally arrives at its destination. Hà and her family travel from Guam, to Florida and then move to Alabama, where everything is foreign...food, people and the landscape. You will never forget this story, which is inspired by actual childhood events experienced by the author. And your students will love this book!