Trigger Warnings: bullying, war, violence

Told in verse, this is Ha's account of running from the war in Vietnam to the United States. It's an inside look at a refugee story, based on the author's own account of immigrating from Vietnam to the US. Though the poems are short, there's a lot of feeling behind them. Lai lyrically describes an experience that is terrifying and life-changing. Definitely an important read--and one that isn't covered often in middle grade books.