Inside Out & Back Again: Part 2

by Thanhha Lai
Fleeing to America to escape the Vietnam War, Hà and her family end up in Alabama, where they must adapt to a new culture. This novel in verse was inspired by author Thanhha Lai's own experiences.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
15 words 10992 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sardine
    small edible herring or related food fish frequently canned
    No one has offered
    to share
    what I smell:
    sardines, dried durian,
    salted eggs, toasted sesame.
    The list of edible foods here includes durian, which is considered the "king of fruits" because of its large size; but it also has thorns and a stinky smell that might discourage people who don't know about its creamy filling and delicious taste.
  2. idle
    not in action or at work
    Mother cannot allow
    idle children,
    hers or anyone else’s.
  3. stench
    a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
    He keeps clutching something
    in the left pocket,
    where the stench grows.
  4. putrid
    in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor
    Neighbors complain,
    even the ones
    eight mats away,
    saying it’s bad enough
    being trapped
    in putrid, hot air
    made from fermented bodies
    and oily sweat,
    must everybody
    also endure
    something rotten?
  5. endure
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    Neighbors complain,
    even the ones
    eight mats away,
    saying it’s bad enough
    being trapped
    in putrid, hot air
    made from fermented bodies
    and oily sweat,
    must everybody
    also endure
    something rotten?
  6. overboard
    from a position on a vessel into the water
    One woman tries to throw
    herself overboard,
    screaming that without a country
    she cannot live.
  7. ration
    the food allowance for one day
    The commander decides
    the ration is now
    half a clump of rice
    only at morning and night,
    and one cup of water
    all day.
  8. composure
    steadiness of mind under stress
    I’m grateful the boat
    starts to rock,
    so Mother hasn’t
    the composure
    to scold me,
    not just yet.
  9. souvenir
    something of sentimental value
    I roll my fuzzy souvenir
    between my thumb and finger
    and can’t help
    but smile.
  10. translator
    someone who mediates between speakers of different languages
    We have landed
    on an island
    called Guam,
    which no one can pronounce
    except Brother Quang,
    who becomes
    translator for all.
  11. lure
    provoke someone to do something through persuasion
    The Disney cartoons
    lure out the girls,
    who always surround
    Brother Vū,
    begging him to break
    yet another piece of wood.
  12. amethyst
    a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
    Mother wants to sell
    the amethyst ring
    Father brought back
    from America,
    where he trained
    in the navy
    before I was born.
  13. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
    What’s the point of
    new shirts and sandals
    if you lose the last
    tangible remnant of love?
  14. remnant
    a small part remaining after the main part no longer exists
    What’s the point of
    new shirts and sandals
    if you lose the last
    tangible remnant of love?
  15. amend
    make revisions to
    Just like that
    Mother amends our faith,
    saying all beliefs
    are pretty much the same.
Created on Tue Apr 15 19:02:39 EDT 2014 (updated Mon Jun 30 17:31:25 EDT 2025)

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