For the Book Riot 2016 Read Harder challenge, this title fell under Task 5 (Read a middle grade novel) and Task 14 (Read a book that is by an author from Southeast Asia). 
 (Girl named) Jane sees (dog named) Spot run. 
 I can't read 
 a baby book. 
 Who will believe 
 I was reading 
 Nhat Linh? 
 But then, 
 who here knows 
 who he is? 
 This middle grade novel written in verse tells the story of Ha, a young girl who flees from Vietnam with her family after the Fall of Saigon, based on the author's own childhood experiences. I really liked her from the start ((view spoiler)[how sassy to tap your toe on the floor before dawn, a secret protest to the idea that only the men could bless the house! (hide spoiler)]), and felt for her as she struggled to adapt to a new school in a new country, where even well-meaning people didn't quite understand her. I hope that (as a review on the book jacket states), this story will "open hearts to newcomers displaced by war today."