Brown Girl Dreaming invites you into the heart and mind of Jacqueline as she grows up in the American South and New York, wrestling with questions of identity, family, and belonging. Like Hà in Inside Out and Back Again, Jacqueline faces upheaval and must find her place in a world that feels both familiar and foreign. The poetic format and intimate look at her transformation will resonate deeply if you were moved by Hà’s journey toward self-acceptance.

If you connected with Hà’s emotional resilience and poetic voice in Inside Out and Back Again, you’ll find Amira’s story in The Red Pencil equally compelling. Through spare, lyrical verse, Amira recounts her family’s flight from war-torn Sudan and her dreams of education. The firsthand, sensory perspective and journey through trauma toward hope mirror Hà’s experience, making this a moving companion read.

Much like Hà’s journey from Vietnam to Alabama, Jude’s emigration from Syria to America in Other Words for Home is told in heartfelt verse. You’ll relate to Jude’s struggle to adapt, her longing for home, and her gradual embrace of a new identity. The honest, hopeful tone and focus on immigrant experience make it a perfect follow-up if you valued Hà’s story.

If you appreciated the emotional payoff of Hà’s journey in Inside Out and Back Again, Counting by 7s will draw you in with Willow’s unique voice and her path through grief and discovery. As Willow builds new relationships and finds unexpected support after tragedy, the story provides a satisfying, heartfelt resolution that lingers long after the final page.

Locomotion uses spare, accessible verse to tell Lonnie’s story of loss, family, and hope. If you were drawn to the clear, evocative language and poetic structure of Inside Out and Back Again, you’ll find Lonnie’s voice similarly compelling and easy to connect with, making this a deeply moving and approachable read.