Who are refugees? Refugees are people who are forced to flee their homes. Almost, every refugee had a universal experience similar to Ha. For example, countless had to leave precious items behind. Majority of refugees wish to go back home, but cannot due to their homes being destroyed ‘Most refugees hope to return to their homes, some refugees cannot return home’ (Gevert 1-2).Ha hometown Saigon was also destroyed during ’The Vietnamese War’ ‘Then he adds what no one wants to hear Saigon is Gone'(Lai 69).
Refugees can also relate to Ha and her family because many are scared to leave their country and often have to make the decision to risk their lives on dangerously crude and overcrowd boats. This decision alone can turn them inside out emotionally ‘ When refugees make the decision to flee, they often have to take risk to get their families to a safer place, which can turn them inside out emotionally’.( Model Essay 76).
Inside out & Back Again is a historical fiction novel that revolves around a refugee named Ha and how her life flips inside out and back again .
Similar to the refugees , Ha was forced to leave her home, her friends, and everything she ever knew behind. When her mother decided to flee she knew that escaping was as dangerous as staying , if they would’ve stayed they risked being captured or worse killed. But , many would risk it if it means them being in a ’safer’ environment. In Ha’s and many others case their country were at war and they were faced with persecution and the devastation of their lands.
‘Since early times, large groups of people have been forced to leave their homelands because of persecution and the devastation of their lands’ (Gevert 2).
Since they’re moving to a brand new environment, their lives and everything in it is being changed around Ha’s mother tries to comfort her family by saying ‘At least the moon remains unchanged’ (Lai 89).
Refugees are often separated from their parents because of war, for instance Ha father was killed in battle, so Ha mother was left alone with four kids and struggling to provide for her kids. ‘Father left home on a navy mission on this day nine years ago when I was almost one. He was captured on Route 1 an hour south of the city by moped. That’s all we know’ (Lai 12). Also, in the ‘Children of War’ four refugees were separated from one of their parents. A refugee named Amela’s, father went to work one day but never returned home and she later found out he was killed.
‘Before the war, I really enjoyed life, but after I found out about my father’s death everything seemed so useless. I couldn’t see any future for myself’. (Brice 26) and I feel like Ha could somewhat relate to her because they both lost their father even though Ha barely knew her father she still had/ wanted a connection with him based of the things her mother told her. The majority of refugees says that their life was so much better before the war and they wish their life could go back to normal.
In conclusion, even though they don’t know each other they still share almost the same experiences and they all somewhat learned how to adapt to their new environment.. Their lives were turned inside out, but they made the best out of their situation , so they came to terms with what happened to them. Also, Ha’s life turned for the better after her and her family came to terms with her fathers death.