I was thrilled to see this sequel to Inside Out and Back Again, although it broke my heart nearly as much as the first book! When Hà has to say goodbye to her first real American friend and move to another state, I felt her loss and sorrow. This was a painful but realistic view of a family working hard, moving forward, and not always being together. It was often hard on my heart to read, but so important. And the hope in the end is worth it. An excellent, empathy-building novel in verse.

Thank you for letting me read When Clouds Touch Us. Thanhha Lai has a gift for the verse novel, and this is a fine follow up to Inside Out and Back Again. I appreciated the fine writing and will recommend it to friends that I think will also value it with a recommendation that they read the two in sequence since this book is infinitely better if one has read the first.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhha Lai. This is the sequel to the Newbery Honor Inside Out and Back Again based on Lai's experience as a refugee from Vietnam. After feeling somewhat settled after the events of the first book, Ha's mom decides they can be more prosperous in Texas. This is a beautifully told story through free verse that is full of heartache and hope. It was a very nice follow-up, although I did not enjoy it as much as the first. If you enjoy novels in verse, you should try this.

I was so excited when I saw this sequel to Inside Out and Back Again-but I don't feel like you HAVE to read the first book to enjoy this one. It does help to know their story before, but the way it was written was accessible to all. I love Lai's poetry-she has such a great style.

This is the sequel we've all been waiting for. I read Inside Out and Back Again with my class and we always talk about what a sequel will bring so this was exciting. Written with the same beautiful verse as the first book!

Author Thanhha Lai calls this sequel to Inside Out and Back Again “not true historical fiction” because refugees are arriving to host countries to this day. Thank you for #HarperCollinsPublishers and #NetGalley for the advanced copy of this beautiful middle grade novel in verse. The book is dynamic with the journal entries and voice of Ha. Just two years after arriving in Alabama, the family must pick up again and move to Texas for a new job. New state, new experiences, new friends are explored during the first year after moving to Texas.

When Clouds Touch Us is a novel in verse and a story of hope. They are hoping to find safety, hoping to earn enough money, hoping to fit in, and hoping for a better life.

A beautifully written follow up to Inside out and Back again. It’s exciting to learn about what came next for Ha and her family. Every refugee has a different experience and theirs is unique.

This book was much harder to follow than the first one. I would certainly attribute it to the fact that I read this without the audiobook to fall back on. The Vietnamese words are difficult to pronounce and comprehend for someone who doesn’t know the language.

One do the best parts of the book is that it’s clearly written to reflect the thoughts of a young girl.

I love when books are written in verse style. And this book did not disappoint. Although it's the second book in a series, readers do not have to read the first book to understand this book. I will be going back to read the first book though! Highly recommend this book!!!

When Clouds Touch Us is a touching novel told in verse about author Thanhhà Lai childhood experiences growing up in America, refugees of the Việt Nam War. This is a sequel to Inside Out and Back Again. Ha and her family are working hard to try to make a life for themselves in America but it is hard to save money and make a living. Two years after moving to Alabama Hà’s mom decides to leave for Texas to have a better opportunity for all thing’s necessary for her children. Of course with the move comes changes Hà’s older brother stays in Alabama to continue his studies and Hà is forced to leave her only friend she has in America. The verses in this novel make every experience of her life a reality to the reader. From her going to a new school the third sixth grade in thirty days, to her dealing with being an outsider and finally stepping up to be noticed at a class play. The struggle and grit her mom went through to not just provide but help her children thrive in a foreign land. As the novel progresses there is a transition in language for Hà, her Vietnamese brain starts being dominated by her English brain and the verse changes as her vocabulary and usage of the English language grows more familiar. Overall this book was a fascinating read that is a coming of age story of a 12 year old Vietnamese girl navigating the trials and triumphs of becoming herself.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The rhythm of the book draws the reader in. While it is a sequel, it is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy and understand this one. The issues of family are clear and make the book relatable.

Another great middle grade book, and a follow up of one of my favorite books!

This is an auto read author for me, and once again, a great book! Im a huge fan of books written in verse, and this one was perfect.

The characters and plot were spot on. I can’t wait to read more from Lai and look forward to whatever she writes.

4.5 stars
It was good to have a bit more from Ha now that she is in the 7th grade and facing puberty which doesn't seem to upset her. She is still fighting English pronunciation. Before, the grammar rules made no sense, now she wonders if mixing both languages in her brain with result in a fight and if English will win. Many readers will think there is no big, emotional action or events in this volume but I see a lot of emotion in living "in between," in being an outsider to this new country still, but now also an outsider to her native world and yo all that her mother saved her from. The mother is always a strong character holding it all together.

So glad for the questions at the start of the book that explain prose poems. Makes us want to express ourselves in the same way. A little bit of magic with words and sentences.

"Unfairness now will turn fair elsewhere; life has a way of balancing."

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

This sequel didn’t match up to the original book. It was just a continuation to Ha and her family’s story. Nothing new or earth shattering happens. I kept hoping that the father would show up. The.family did manage to save up enough to purchase a home to call their own. I love novel in verse but this one just wasn’t for me.

From the author of ‘Inside Out and Back Again’ comes another beautiful book written as a story in verse. While story in verse is not often my first choice of reading, the style fits this story well. This sequel (and the book before) are so well done and the words flow smoothly. This time, Hà and her family have to start over yet again with a new set of challenges to face. This book helped me feel renewed empathy towards immigrants and their continual challenges.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this sequel to Thanhhà Lai's critically acclaimed, award-winning book Inside Out & Back Again. After reading the first book, I was so invested in Hà's family's stories, so it was lovely getting to read more about her experiences, as well as those of her mother and brothers. I particularly appreciated the way that the author illuminated the challenges of rebuilding in a new country--learning a new language, adopting elements of a new culture while trying to preserve your own, living up to the expectations of your family while also forging your own path. I did find myself sometimes getting stuck on some of the language and having to re-read sections to make sense of them. (But I also think this was intentional on the author's part. I think she is truly trying to write in a way that mimic's Hà's train of thought as she is learning to speak English.) I have already recommended this book to my students, and I would absolutely include it when developing curriculum for middle grade readers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and Thanhhà Lai for the opportunity to read When Clouds Touch Us in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of HiLo novels-in-verse, I picked up Inside Out and Back Again back in 2018, when I was seeking cultural voice/educational novels for my classroom. This one rings true with its Vietnamese languages woven throughout and its touch upon leaving a war-torn country and making a new life in the United States. When I found out there was a sequel, of course I was already fully invested before I even opened the cover.

Hà struggles to adjust to her new life in the US, and her resilience and determination are inspiring. When her family is forced to move to Texas, Hà is devastated, knowing that starting over will be difficult. However, she soon discovers that even in the most unexpected places, there is opportunity, friendship, and the chance to find a new home.

The title is basically a touch on looking to the horizon, not focusing in the now, but seeing the future and what will come after the hard times are through. A brilliant view on Vietnamese culture and how cultural differences often harbor hardships for those who do not have a knowledge or understanding of something different than their own.

The novel beautifully captures the complexities of the immigrant experience and the importance of hope, perseverance, and resilience in the face of adversity, as well as family connections, identity, and belonging. Another brilliantly written novel-in-verse not only for a middle grade audiance, but for readers of all ages.

AAPI Heritage Month #1

Happy May! Besides finishing up some books I have previously started, I will be reading and reviewing a ton of Asian and Asian American books this month. If you have recommendations for Pacific Islander stories, I'll be taking those at this time.

Even though this is a sequel to a book I haven't read, I don't feel like I missed that much. I didn't realize this was written in verse, a form I don't usually read, but I find I quite enjoyed it. As you know, I'm trying to read more Vietnamese refugee and immigration stories, and this one hit very close to home. To be fair, most of them do. I loved the Vietnamese spelling of Texas. Giggled to myself for a while after figuring out what I was reading.

When Clouds Touch Us was a beautifully written book of poetry and trying tale to read. Once again our protagonist, Ha is uprooted and moved across a country that she is still learning. Her family struggles to make ends meet and make friends, but her mother assures her that the reward of their labor is coming. I enjoyed this continuation of Inside Out and Back Again. It was nice to be reunited with our protagonist and check in on her family and their progress. However, I did feel like many of the metaphors and imagery were to complicated for middle grade and would confuse my students. Taking into account that this is an immigrant story, it is very possible that this effect was purposeful, but again I wonder if my students would glean enough meaning from this story to stick it out to the very satisfying ending.

I was thrilled to read this sequel to Inside Out & Back Again, having loved the first book. While the verse is beautifully crafted, I did find the story as engaging as the first book. That being said, it is a great addition to a classroom library and a great book for poetry units.