Thanhha Lai is a Vietnamese-American author known for her children's and young adult literature. She gained recognition for her debut novel, Inside Out and Back Again, which is a semi-autobiographical story about a young girl’s experience as a refugee from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The book received several awards, including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Lai's writing often explores themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. In addition to her acclaimed debut, she has written other works, such as Listen, Slowly, which also addresses cultural challenges faced by young immigrants. Her stories resonate with readers of all backgrounds.