Answer:
In Thanhha Lai's novel, Inside Out and Back Again, Ha's character undergoes a significant transformation. In the beginning of the story, Ha struggles with her fear of her new home and being different from everyone else. After being encouraged to share her poetry for the first time and witnessing the reaction of her classmates, Ha begins to take control of her own life. She begins to make more of her own decisions, such as joining the school play despite her limited English, and speaking out against the injustices she sees around her. As the novel progresses, Ha finds confidence in her own identity and is able to overcome her fear and find her own place in the world.
-
1. Ha starts off as an innocent, naive child who is oblivious to the struggles her family faces in their new home in Alabama. She knows nothing of war or discrimination "(All I know is that she [Mama] is crying, something she does not do at home)" (Nguyen 11).
2. As time passes, Ha becomes more aware of the hardships that come with being a refugee and the realities of living in a prejudiced society. She takes on a 'big sister' role for her younger siblings, and learns to be more independent and determined. Despite facing constant negativity, she finds joy in small moments "(I hear laughter in a new language and it makes me happy ... I want to get lost in the sound of Vietnamese)" (Nguyen 135).
3. Ha matures throughout the novel and her journey leads her to become more conscious and resilient. She learns to embrace being a refugee, and finds solace in connecting to her heritage "(Maybe I will be strong like them [refugees], just not broken, like a branch that snaps back to its original shape no matter how many times it's bent)" (Nguyen 182). Through Ha's character arc, readers can see how she remains hopeful and determined despite the difficulties she faces.