Inside Out and Back Again by Kenlyn Schamber

Kim Ha

schakenl — 2024-09-17 18:49:13 UTC

Kim Ha is insightful and does not like to follow tradition, yet she is still faithful. She is also nurturing as she is growing and caring for her papaya tree.

part II: Alabama

Kim Ha and her family have moved to Alabama with a sponsor. She has started school and is being bullied. She has to walk to school and back home, but Brother Vu has started to take her to school on his bike as long as mother can't see them. She is learning English.

Kim Ha slowly grows at peace with her new life and school. Pink boy now leaves her alone and she sits in the lunch room with Pam & Steven. She has grown more confident through out the book.

Mother

schakenl — 2024-09-17 18:50:24 UTC

Mother is saddened, due to father's disappearance, but she still takes care of her family and keeps up hope. But, she also makes an effort to not show her kids her sadness.

part II: Alabama

Mother is grateful to have a home and an address. As soon as they do, she writes a letter to fathers brother to tell him everything about father. Since the children started school, she has started working in a sewing factory, but cuts her hands because the machines sew too fast compared to the ones she is used to.

Mother loses her amethyst ring and finally decides that Father is gone. She puts his picture up on the mantel and everyone prays for Father one last time.

Father

schakenl — 2024-09-23 18:35:35 UTC

From what we have read so far about father, he is kind and caring. He cares for his family and is understanding.

part II: Alabama

Father is still missing.

After Mother loses the amethyst, she decides Father its really gone.

Brother Vu

schakenl — 2024-09-23 18:39:37 UTC

I think of brother Vu as sort of childish and kinda immature. Not in a bad way but he just doesn't focus much on his education or work and what not. At least not what we have read. His many obsessions, such as Bruce Lee, tells me that he fixates and looks up to celebrities.

part II: Alabama

Brother Vu has also started school with Kim Ha. He is being bullied as well but he chooses to ignore the people bullying him. He has also used his defense skills against someone but said he doesn't like to.

Brother Khoi

schakenl — 2024-09-23 18:42:14 UTC

From what I know, brother Khoi is much like Kim Ha. He is nurturing and caring as he decides to hatch and grow his egg instead of eating it. Even in the financial state his family is in and them not being able to bring home much food, he still chooses to save the chick and not eat it.

part II: Alabama

While on the ship and at the tent cities, brother Khoi was a translator for others because he knows english. Since living in Alabama, brother Khoi didn't want to, but mother made him go to college.

Brother Quang

schakenl — 2024-09-23 18:46:02 UTC

Based off of what we have read so far about brother Quang, I would say he is smart and driven. He makes an effort to be top of his class, since kindergarten, and he is studying to become an engineer. I think he is mature and values the education that he gets, knowing not everyone can get that type of schooling.

part II: Alabama

Since moving to Alabama and brother Quang was studying engineering, he works on cars instead of going to school.

Pam & Steven

schakenl — 2024-10-22 18:14:44 UTC

Pam and Steven are two of Kim Has friends in school right now. They helped her escape from pink boys cousin who was going to beat her up.

Pink Boy

schakenl — 2024-10-22 18:18:19 UTC

Pink boy is the boy who bullies Kim Ha most in school. He makes fun of her for being Vietnamese and follows her on her walk home. He convinced his cousin to beat up Kim Ha one day after school.

Cowboy

schakenl — 2024-10-22 18:20:15 UTC

Cowboy is the sponsor who brought Kim Ha and her family to Alabama. At first they were staying with him but his wife doesn't like them so he got them a house nearby. He tries to help them in any way he can. He is much more welcoming and supportive than most other people.

Mississ Washington

schakenl — 2024-10-22 18:22:06 UTC

Mississ Washington is Kim Ha's neighbor and she is tutoring them in English. She is kind and nurturing based on how she treats Kim Ha and her family.

Cowboys Wife

schakenl — 2024-10-24 18:30:00 UTC

Cowboys wife is not so welcoming towards Kim Ha and her family. She makes them all stay in the basement so the neighbors don't see them. She is very different from her husband, Cowboy.

Miss Scott

schakenl — 2024-10-24 18:39:49 UTC

Miss Scott is Kim Has new teacher in Alabama. She does not understand that Kim Ha is much smarter in Vietnamese compared to English. She fails to show the class the better parts of Vietnam and only shows the war.