Part II – At Sea

“Floating”, “Slowly” and “Rations” – page 73-78

  1. Describe the difficulties ofsurviving on the boat. Cite direct evidence to support your claim.

“Routine” – page 79

  1. Explain, “Mother cannot allow idle children” Page 79
  2. What are each child’s duties?
  3. Why is Quang upset? Explain whether you agree or disagree with him.

“Once Knew” – page 82

  1. Why is “laughing for no reason” something that Ha once knew?

“Brother Khoi’s Secret” – page 83

  1. Why is Khoi upset? Go beyond the literal.

“Last Respects” – page 85

  1. Explain the distraught nature of some of the passengers on board.
  2. Identify and analyze the simile used in stanza four.
  3. What does Ha get rid of? Why does she do this? Explain her regret.

“One Engine” – page 88

  1. What is the tone of this poem? Refer to your tone sheet and cite evidence to support your claim of tone.

“The Moon” – page 89

  1. What does Ha feel guilty about? Should she? Explain your thinking.

“A Kiss” – page 91

1. Why is Ha so mesmerized by the navy commander?

2. Identify and analyze two examples of figurative language.

3. “Shouldn’t people share because there is hunger? (93)” This tough question implies…

“Golden Fuzz” – page 94

  1. Analyze the metaphor “Golden Fuzz.” Use insight. Impress me.

“Tent City” – page 96

  1. Where is tent city? Describe the living conditions there.

“Life in Waiting” – page 98

1. Reread “Life in Waiting”. Describe the mood or atmosphere of the setting. How does the mood/atmosphere of this poem differ from being at sea? Cite direct evidence to support your claim.

2. Why is Ha happier about the food while at tent city?

“Nuoc Mam” – page 100

  1. What is “Nuoc Mam?” What is the metaphor used to describe it. Analyze.
  2. Identify a piece of figurative language and analyze it.

“Amethyst Ring” – page 103

  1. What is Mother’s most prized possession? What does this item symbolize?

“Choose” – page 105

  1. Why doesn’t Mother follow Uncle Son’s plan to Canada? Where does Mother choose to go and how does she base her decision?

“Another Tent City: - page 107

  1. How does a family leave “tent city?” How does Mother ensure this happens for her family?
  2. Reread the last stanza on page 108. What does this reveal about Mother?

“Alabama” – page 109

  1. Who sponsors the family? What influences the sponsor’s decision?

Part III - Alabama

“Pack and Unpack” – page 115

1. How does the cowboy’s wife feel about Ha and her family coming to live with them? Cite direct evidence that supports your thinking.

2. How does Ha’s mother feel about their new living situation? Cite direct evidence then analyze the evidence.

“American Chicken” – page 119

1. How does Ha’s family feel about the chicken dinner? Why do you think they feel this way?

4. What assumption does Ha make about the “cowboy”? Why might she think this?

“Out the Too-High Window” – page 122

  1. Based on Ha’s description, what is the mood/atmosphere of their new neighborhood? Cite direct evidence to support your thinking.

“American Address” – page 124

  1. What amazes Mother about the American government? What angers Quang about the same? Explain Mother’s response to him.

“Letter Home” – page 127

  1. Explain the contradiction in the last stanza of the poem.

“Neigh Not Hee” – page 131

1. Explain what Ha means when she talks about pity.

2. Identify, identify and analyze TWO EXAMPLES of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE from this section.

“The Outside” – page 136

  1. What is significant about the one word mother says?

“Sadder Laugh” – page 139

  1. Identify, explain and analyze the figurative language in the following example: “I wake up with dragonflies zipping through my gut.”
  2. Identify, explain and analyze the figurative language in the following example: “It helps that the morning air glides cool like a constant washcloth against my face.”

“Rainbow” – page 143

  1. Why is the poem titled “Rainbow?” Be specific.

“Black and White and Yellow and Red” – page 143

  1. Why does Ha think they (at school) are making fun of the Vietnamese flag? Refer to p. 85 and 144.

“Loud Outside” – page 14

  1. Describe the difficulties of Ha’s first day at school. Cite direct evidence to support your thinking. Explain and analyze after each piece of evidence.
  2. “I won’t let them see me run” (147). What are the circumstances of this quote? What does this reveal about Ha?

“Quiet Inside”- page 149

  1. Explain the contrast in the behavior of Ha’s brothers when they are at home.

“Fly Kick”- page 151-153

  1. On page 153, Brother Vu tells Ha, “I’ll teach you defense.” How is this different than teaching her how to fight? What does this reveal about Vu’s character?

“Chin Nod” – page 154

  1. Why does Ha feel as if she is floating?

“Feel Dumb” – page 156

  1. “So this is what dumb feels like” (157). What does Ha mean by this? Why is she so furious?

“Wishes” – page 158

  1. Reread the poem “Wishes” on p. 158. Explain which wish is the most significant. Support your thinking with evidence.

“Hiding” – page 160

  1. Explain what Ha means when she says, “I’m practicing to beseen.”

“Neighbors” – page 162

  1. Make an inference. Why doesn’t Brother Quang refuse to translate the note?
  2. Explain the contrast and contradiction which occurs on page 165.

“New Word a Day” – page 166

  1. Identify and explain the figurative language used in stanza three.

“More is Not Better” – page 168

What does Ha mean when she says, “I understand and wish I could go back to not understanding?” page 168 Cite evidence.

“HA LE LU DA” – page 169

  1. Infer: Why are Ha’s neighbors more likely to “Act like neighbors if we agree to something at Del Ray Southern Baptist Church?”
  2. What do you learn about the cowboy’s wife in HA LE LU DA?

“Can’t Help” – page 173

  1. What is the tone of the poem? Provide direct evidence from the text.
  2. Explain the poem’s title.

“Spelling Rules” – page 177

  1. In the poem “Cowboy’s Gifts”, replace the word breathing in the second stanza with a word that will keep the meaning of the sentence the same.
  2. Identify the idiom in Cowboy’s Gifts.

“Someone Knows” – 180

  1. In the poem, “Someone Knows” 181, what can you infer about Miss Washington when Ha says, “I’m still translating when her eyes get red?”

“Most Relieved Day” – page 183

  1. Explain the title of the poem.
  2. Identify and analyze the contrast and contradiction found in this poem.

“Smart Again” – page 187

  1. When did Ha last feel smart?
  2. Why are Pem’s hands trembling?

“Hair” – page 189

  1. Explain what Ha means in the last stanza.

“The Busy One” – page 192

  1. What is Vu’s effect on the neighborhood? Be specific.
  2. Why is mother smiling?

“War and Peace” -194

  1. On page 195, Ha says “No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime in Saigon over peace in Alabama.” Explain what she means by this. Do you agree with Ha? Why or why not?
  2. Is Ha’s life still inside out? What is the strongest evidence from your reading?

“Pancake Face” – page 196

  1. What does Ha mean when she says, “It doesn’t make sense until it does?”

“Mother’s Response” – page 198

  1. What is the tone of this poem? Cite evidence from the text to support your thinking.

“MiSSSiss WaSShington’s Response “- page 200

  1. Explain why the author uses different font sizes for the title of this poem?
  2. What significant information does Ha learn about Mrs. Washington in this poem?

“Boo-Da, Boo-Da” – page 205-208

  1. Identify three examples of figurative language on these pages. Analyze their meaning. Be specific.

“Hate it” – page 209

  1. At the beginning of the poem, Ha is filled with Hate, but not in the last stanza. Explain this change.

Page 212-234

  1. Explain what Ha means when she asks, “When is it going to be my turn?” page 212
  2. When mother tells Ha, “My child, how you shoulder the world,” what does she mean? Pg214
  3. How is Ha’s mother treated at the market? Explain the resolution. Pg 218
  4. Explain the contrast in Du Du Face (page 220)
  5. What happens between Ha, Pink Boy, and Brother Khoi? Be specific. (pages 221-228)
  6. Explain the Vu Lee Effect? (page 229).
  7. Identify and analyze the meaning behind the Cowboy’s gifts to each family member. (page 230)
  8. “Not the same, but not bad at all” (234). How does this sentence connect to the overall theme and title Inside Out and Back Again?

Part IV – From Now On

  1. Why does mother believe father is truly gone?
  2. Explain the resolution of the story.
  3. How will the Year of the Dragon be different from the Year of the Cat?