Book and Author Details
Characters
Historical Context
Events
IO & BA Random
100

True or False: Inside Out & Back Again is based on a true story. 

True

100

Who is the narrator of this book? 

Kim Ha

100

What war serves as the backdrop for this novel? 


[What war is this story related to?]

The Vietnam War

100

What happened to Ha's father? 

He was captured by the North Vietnamese one year before the story takes place. 

100

Where do Ha and her family live at the start of IO & BA? 

Saigon, South Vietnam

200

Who is the author of Inside Out & Back Again? 

Thanhha Lai

200

Name Ha's three brothers. 

Brother Quang

Brother Vu

Brother Khoi

200

What were the two opposite sides during the Vietnam War? Include one country that backed each side. 

North Vietnam (backed by China) and South Vietnam (backed by the USA)

200

Why do the South Vietnamese sailors lower the flag of South Vietnam?

Saigon, and all of South Vietnam, has fallen to the Communists (North Vietnamese)

200

What does Brother Khoi sneak on to the ship?

A baby chick


300

Name three real-life film actors from this era who are mentioned in the novel. 

Bruce Lee

Clint Eastwood

John Wayne

300

Who tells Ha's mother about the navy ship waiting to take South Vietnamese people out of Saigon? 

Uncle Son

300

Who was the leader of South Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon? 

President Thieu 


300

Where do Ha and her family end up? 

Alabama, US

300

Describe the flag of South Vietnam. 

Yellow with three horizontal red stripes


400

What advanced degree did the author receive, and from what institution did she receive it? 

B.A., Journalism, University of Texas (Austin)

Master of Fine Arts, New York University

400

State two things that we know about Ha's parents. 

[Answers will vary.]

They are from North Vietnam. 

Mother comes from a wealthy family. 

Father served in the Navy of South Vietnam. 

400

For how long did the Vietnam War last? 

20 years, from 1955 - 1975

The US was involved from 1965 to 1973

400

Where did the South Vietnamese go after being rescued by the US Navy? 

Guam


400

What did Ha's father give to her mother as a symbol of their love? 

An amethyst ring

500

Name one other book written by Lai. 

[Answers will vary.]

Listen, Slowly

Butterfly Yellow

Hundred Years of Happiness

When Clouds Touch Us

500

What does mother claim on their application to increase their chances of sponsorship? 

She says that they are a Christian family. 

500

What signal alerted Americans in Saigon that it was time to evacuate? 

The US Embassy played the Christmas song "White Christmas" on the Armed Forces Radio. 

500

Why did the US side with South Vietnam? 

The US opposed the economic system of Communism. The North Vietnamese were Communist. 

500

Name one award that IO & BA received. 

Newberry Honor Award

National Book Award