Reading books with my kids is one of my simplest joys.

Years ago I started a Mother-Daughter Book Club with my older girls.  Since then Piper Finn has been begging for her turn at a Book Club.

We’ve been meeting for several books now and this week we gathered again to discuss the beautiful story in Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai.

 

 

My friend Addy chose the book and I am so glad she did.  I had never heard of the story before.  It’s the story of a young girl and her family who were living in Saigon during the Vietnam War.  The family is forced to leave their country and eventually they end up in America.

It’s written in poetry form.  I chose to read this one out loud with Piper.  Its content and themes were deeper than some novels we have read and its format was unusual for us.  Also, the words and tone and cadence were so lovely that I wanted her to hear them read for maximum appeal and understanding.  Plus – I love reading poetry aloud.

 

 

The story develops in its readers a genuine sense of empathy and concern for people we don’t naturally understand or who may seem different than us.  Piper Finn frequently commented about how frustrated she was about the way the main character is treated or about the way she is misunderstood.  At times it was painful to read and heart breaking to see her struggles.  We both rejoiced when the little girl met with people of sincerity and generosity, who saw Ha and her family as people and offered them compassion and friendship.

 

 

At our book club we were able to see some items from Addy’s dad during his tour of duty during the Vietnam War.  We also tasted papaya – Ha’s favorite fruit from Vietnam.  We also tried pho and Vietnamese candy too.  We used watercolor paints to create a silhouette like the book cover.  It was a well-rounded gathering and I was reminded again that it’s a gift for my daughter to have a wide variety of friends from lovely families.  It’s a privilege to talk about books and ideas, to try new fruits and foods and to learn about history that intertwines itself into our own stories and dynamics.

It’s a treasure to read books together that have the potential to make us kinder, gentler, more compassionate people.

 

 

_______________________________