written by: Thanhha Lai
Published by: Harper Collins
Lexile Measure: 800L
Summary: Ten year old Ha lives in Saigan. It is 1975, her father is missing and her country is at war. As Saigon becomes more dangerous she and her family board a Navy ship heading to America. They arrive at Ellis Island where they are sponsered by a "cowboy" from Alabama. Join Ha as she shares, through poetry, the challenges of a young girl who must leave her home and travel to a new land where she faces many challenges.
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to learn about some of the challenges immigrants face through the perspective of a ten year old girl. Some of the challenges addressed in the book include:
- Feelings of loss. Ha leaves her home, her school and her beloved papaya tree.
- Feelings of inferiority. Ha suddenly feel inferior as she struggles to learn a new language and the customs of a new land. She feels stupid.
- Feelings of loneliness. A new language and customs find Ha friendless and lost.
- Feelings of fear. Other students make fun of her differences and bully Ha.
The story is shared as a series of poignant poems sharing the events of Ha's life over the course of one year. Several of the poems are worthy of standing on their own or it could be presented as an entire book.
On learning a new language:
Passing Time
I study the dictionary
because grass and trees
do not grow faster
just because
I stare.
I look up
Jane: not listed
sees: to eyeball something
Spot: a stain
run: to move really fast
Meaning: _______ eyeballs stain move.
I throw the dictionary down
and ask Brother Quang.
Jane is a name,
not in the dictionary.
Spot is a common name
for a dog.
(Girl named) Jane sees (dog named) Spot run.
I can't read
a baby book.
Who will believe
I was reading
Nhat Linh?
But then,
who here knows
who he is?
