Poems
"At noon today, the Communists crashed their tanks through the gates of the presidential palace and planted on the roof a flag with one huge star."
Saigon Is Gone
Ha's favorite food...
Papaya!!
the place where ha grew up
saigon
"A pink boy with white hair on his head and white eyebrows and white eyelashes pulls my arm hair."
How might Ha feel?
Confused or angry
the main character of the story
Ha
"We climb on and claim a space of two straw mats under the deck, enough for us five to lie side by side."
One Mat Each
What they ate on the ship
Clumps of rice and one cup of water each day
the place ha left before coming to america
guam
"I nibble on the last clump of cooked rice from my sack. Hard and moldy, yet chewy and sweet inside."
How might Ha feel?
Disgusted or sick
the person who went missing
Ha's father
"I don't know them, so their pain seems unreal next to Brother Khoi's, whose eyes are as wild as those of his broken chick."
Last Respects
The food that the cowboy brought, that the family didn't like
Fried chicken
the place where ha's mom wanted to go to live
"Pink boy stands at the board. He can't multiply 18 by 42. I got to the board, chalk the answer in five moves."
How might Ha feel?
confident, cocky, or smart
the person who takes in ha and her family
the cowboy
"Our uncle went south to talk with our old neighbors, to find Father's old friends. He consulted, left word, and waited until it became obvious he would know nothing more. "
Letter from the North
What Ha ate when she was at school and hiding in a bathroom.
Rolls
the state ha went to when moving to america
alabama
"One look at our cowboys wife, arms, lips, eyes contorted into knots, and we repack."
How might Ha feel?
unwelcomed
the person who bullies ha
pink boy
"Three pouches of dried papaya Chewy, Sugary, Waxy, Sticky."
Not the Same
Catfish, beef jerky, chips, and chocolate.
the country ha lived in
Vietnam
"The commander says, Thailand is much farther on one engine. It was risky to take the river route. We escaped bombs but missed the rescue ships."
How might Ha feel?
nervous or scared
the animal lover
brother khoi