Inside Out And Back Again

Mother is the character with whom Hà is closest emotionally. Hà shares a room with Mother both in Vietnam and in the rental house in Alabama; occasionally, especially when Mother requests solitude, Hà must allow Mother to have their bedroom to herself. One night, Mother thinks Hà is sleeping and shares private words to Father. Hà, therefore, sees a private side of Mother that Hà’s brothers do not witness.

Mother fulfills the character archetype role of Mentor. She guides and instructs her children, upholding rituals and traditions, such as those on Tết. She reprimands when necessary, smacking Hà’s hand when she rudely throws away Miss Washington’s gift. Mother leads the family in remembering Father: She prays for him, shows respect in his absence, and determines when it is time to extinguish the hope that he will return. She does not hesitate to use Father’s influence on the children when she must, as when Khôi desires to stay behind in Vietnam. Mother tells Khôi that his decision will affect them all, and that he should obey to make Father proud.

Mother serves most strongly as the Mentor archetype when she coaches Hà to think openly, stay calm, chant, and fight (without violence) for what is important. Mother bears great responsibility, deciding first to leave Vietnam and later to settle in America. These weighty decisions are hers, though she diplomatically asks for family input about leaving their home. The heavy burden of these choices is clear, and Mother makes the decisions based on the best interests of Hà and Brothers Quang, Vũ, and Khôi. 

Brother Quang is Hà’s oldest brother and the firstborn of the family. He is 21, attends college for engineering, and speaks English fluently enough to serve as a translator once the family is in America. Brother Vũ is 18 and follows a variety of interests including cooking and physical fitness; inspired by legendary Kung Fu artist and movie actor Bruce Lee, Brother Vũ enjoys martial arts and fitness training. In Alabama, he teaches defense moves to Hà and others, and he wants others to call him “Vũ Lee.” Brother Khôi has a soft spot for animals, wants to stay behind in Vietnam to care for his chick, and grieves when the chick dies on the journey.

Early in the novel, Hà thinks that her brothers tease her too often. She hides their sandals in retaliation, and she feels the need to resist what she perceives as their dominance in age and gender; for example, she vows to be the first to see her papaya ripen after Quang and Vũ see the first blossom and fruit, and she wonders what many things Quang will learn before her.

Later in the novel, however, Hà recognizes all three of her brothers for the archetypal role they fulfill as her Allies. Brother Quang helpfully attends a school meeting and translates between Mother and the principal. Brother Khôi brings Hà to and from school on his bicycle so that she can avoid bullies. Brother Vũ teaches Hà defense postures that aid her well in the crucial moment of conflict with Pink Boy, and he rescues Hà on his “getaway” motorcycle.

Hà’s brothers face conflicts in the family’s refugee journey and struggle against change as the family settles in Alabama, but because they remain steady in goals and character traits, they are static characters, unlike Hà, who is a dynamic, changing character. 

“The cowboy” is Mr. Johnston, the man from Alabama who sponsors Hà’s family upon their arrival in the United States. He arrives at the Florida refugee camp seeking a young Vietnamese man to work on the cars in his sales lot. Though he wants to sponsor only one person, Mother convinces him to bring them all to his town in Alabama. He shows generosity and a kind heart by inviting the family to stay in his home, bringing them fast food and chocolate, and helping them to meet neighbors once settled in the rental house. He is not a cowboy at all, but Hà assumes that he is one because he wears a cowboy hat and smokes a cigar. Hà is excited initially to ride his horse (because all cowboys have horses) and is disappointed and confused to learn that he has no horse, “nor has he ever ridden one” (134).

Miss Washington is one of the family’s neighbors; she stands out as the kindest and most helpful among them, along with Mr. Johnston. Upon meeting the family, she hugs Mr. Johnston in happiness and offers to tutor them all in English. When Hà reveals that she eats lunch alone in the school bathroom due to the bullying behavior of some students and the awkwardness of the cafeteria set-up, Miss Washington shows that she cares by insisting on packing Hà’s lunch and informing the school; soon, Hà has a quiet classroom for eating lunch and kind companions with whom to share the time.

Later in the story, Miss Washington sees Hà’s intense emotional upset when Pink Boy and his friends tease her. She helps Hà by intervening, talking her through her feelings and getting her to laugh. Hà discovers that Miss Washington’s 20-year-old son, Tom, was killed in Vietnam and worries that Miss Washington might harbor ill will toward anyone Vietnamese, but Miss Washington reassures Hà quickly and shares with her the photographs Tom sent from his time there. Miss Washington is a Mentor figure to Hà as well as an Ally.