Genre
Verse novel; historical fiction.
Setting and Context
The story is set in 1975, and moves from Saigon, Vietnam to Alabama, United States after the end of the Vietnam War.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is narrated from the point of view of its ten-year-old protagonist, Kim Hà.
Tone and Mood
The tone is poetic; the mood shifts between giddiness, despair, and resilience.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Hà; the antagonists are the invading armies of North Vietnam, and later, in America, a bully Hà nicknames Pink Boy.
Major Conflict
The major conflict centers on Hà and her family's need to flee South Vietnam after Saigon falls to the North and their subsequent struggles to overcome linguistic and cultural prejudice as they adapt to life as refugees in the United States.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Hà admits to her mother that she hates everyone and can't take any more bullying; she believes that their new lives in the US are a punishment, not a blessing.
Foreshadowing
There is an instance of foreshadowing when Hà suggests offhandedly to her brothers that maybe their father is really gone. Soon after, her mother loses her amethyst ring and comes to the same conclusion.
Understatement
Allusions
Throughout the novel, Hà mentions her brother Vū's love for Bruce Lee, an Asian-American actor famous for his kung fu movies. In America, Vū takes on the name Vū Lee.
