Characters
Who is the main character of the novel?
Who is Hà?
What important holiday is mentioned at the beginning of the book?
What is Tet, the Vietnamese New Year?
What does "inside out and back again" mean in the context of the novel?
What is it refers to Hà’s world turning upside down due to war and having to flee her home?
What war is happening during Ha’s childhood?
What is The Vietnam War?
What does Ha’s papaya tree symbolize?
What is hope, growth, and her connection to home?
What does Ha’s father do for a living?
What is he was a naval officer who went missing at sea.
What does Hà do on Tet that is considered bad luck?
What is she touches the floor with her toe first?
What figurative language is used in this quote to describe Hà's emotions? "The papaya is as green as the river."
What is a simile?
What event forces Ha’s family to consider leaving Vietnam?
What is the fall of Saigon?
How does the novel show the main idea of resilience?
What is Hà and her family adapt to challenges despite hardships?
How does Ha feel about her brothers?
What is she admires but also competes with them?
What decision does Ha’s family have to make regarding leaving Vietnam?
What is Whether to flee or stay during the fall of Saigon?
What does the word "refugee" mean, and how does it apply to Ha’s family?
What is someone forced to flee their home due to war, like Ha’s family
How does the war affect daily life in Saigon?
What is rationing, fear, bombings, uncertainty?
What does Mother own that symbolizes sacrifice and family heritage?
What is the amethyst ring?
What do we learn about Ha’s mother’s personality through her actions?
What is she is strong, resilient, and resourceful?
Describe a moment when Hà’s emotions are deeply expressed in a poem.
What is her frustration with being treated differently as a girl, her anger at missing her father?
What type of poetry is the book written in?
What is free verse?
What does Ha’s mother mean when she says, "We must leave before it is too late"?
What is she fears the dangers of staying as communists take over?
How does Hà feel about America at the end of Part 1?
What is uncertain, nervous, and unsure of what’s to come?
How does Brother Quang feel about leaving Vietnam?
He is resistant and critical of America.
What is significant about Ha’s papaya tree?
What is it represents home, stability, and her childhood?
The papaya tree “whispers” in the breeze is what type of figurative language?
What is personification?
Why do some Vietnamese citizens fear the communist takeover?
What is loss of freedom, persecution, and political changes
How does Hà’s experience in Vietnam relate to modern-day refugee experiences (Think about Salva's experience in a Long Walk to Water)
What is fear of the unknown, loss of home, struggles to adapt?